The Owosso times., 1921-10-21
GiFT-GRAIN PLEA
LAUNCHED FROM
HISTORIC farm
1T HOME OF WHITNEY WAT
kINS IN JACKSON COUNTY:
ISSUES NEAR EAST APPEAL.
100000 BUSHELS REQUIRED
TO RESCUE DYING CHILDREN


For the first time in the annals
NJ IN American relief organization, a
Earm-one of the oldest and finest in
Michigan-served as the meeting
place recently of Statewide group
assembled to appeal to their fellow
farmers as a class to contribute OF
their grain against want in foreign
lind.
Mr.. and Mrs. L. Whitney Watkins,
gf Watkins Farms, in Jackson
County, were luncheon hosts to
tfse Emergency Grain Board of the
. Michigan Committee of Near East
Relief, and Immediately after lunch.
con the board formally organized
1a.seIf and named an executive
committee to launch and manage
campaign among the farmers
OF the State for 100000 bushels of
grain, or it's equivalent, to be sent as
Kichigan's share Of Americas gift of
to Armenia, Syria, Assyria and ad'
iacent lands of Asia Minor. Resultant
of starvation and exposure there,
cholera and typhus have broken out,
and thousands Of orphaned children
and destitute adults are dying in the
streets and by the roadsides.
Governor Phones Board.
Kept by official business from at.
lending the meeting as honorary
chairman of the Near East Commit
zee, Governor Groesbeck telephoned
his regret from Lansing to Watkins
Farms, and sent to James j. Spillane,
State Director, letter backing the
campaign.
Former Lieutenant Governor Luren
d. Dickinson, chairman of the State
organization, presided as temporary
elected for the board: Chairman, Her.
man H. Halliday of Lansing, Com
missioner of Agriculture; vice-chair
nan, Professor David Friday, presi
dent-elect of Michigan Agricultural
College; secretary, l.. Whitney Wat
kins of Manchester; executive com
mittee-Mr Halliday, Professor Fri
day and Mr.. Watkins. Others mem.
hers Of the Emergency Grain Board
are: James Nicol of South Hayen
president of the Michigan Farm Bu'
Eeau; Grant Slocum of Detroit, presi.
dent of The Cleaners; A. B. Cook OF
Owosso, master of the State Grange;
I. r. Waterbury Of Detroit, manager
OF the Michigan Farmer; Forrest
Lord of Mt. Clemens, editor of the
Michigan Business Farmer; Frank B,
Drees Of Lansing, secretary Of the
Michigan Bean Jobbers Association;
former State Senator Charles B.
Scully of Almont, A. Edward Illen
den of Adrian, farmer, and Alfred AL
len, president of the Michigan Asso
citation of Farmers Clubs.
Under Historic Roof.
In welcoming his guests Mr.. Wat
Kins spoke feelingly OF the pride he
as farmer took in having the first
meeting Of such an organization al
viz BChCJ vi dlh DOdlu Ou tue
xsxrn which his grandfather, coming
Kere from New Hampshire in 1882
had selected. and under the root
which for Ga continuous years haG
Gheltered his parents-tho home tc
which the fourth generation, three
Gons, will return as farmers wher
th y have finished their college terms |
Z have the utmost faith" Mr.. Wat |
Hi; concluded, "in the response the |
Tarmsrs Of Michigan will make to thi,
Chrigtian people across the seas who |
are tillers of the soil too, for l know
the homely, kindly, sympathetic spirit
60 help which is to be found every |
where in the farmhouses of this |
State"
NE. Dickinson spoke briefly of hii
yomplete confidence that the farmer,
as a class will ensure the success O |
the campaign for grain.
Divine blessing on the appeal wal
invoked by the Rev. e. H. HuelsteI
Of Cleveland. a Near East field work |
ar recently returned from Asia Minor
Halliday: "Up to U.s."
Chairman Halliday expressed vigor
ously the sentiment: This undertak
ing Of mercy, here dedicated In thi
historic farmhouse where sympath,
Cor suffering has abode through tn,
generations, we must push forward
aud show that Michigan farms ar,
prepared to do their full share in tn,
national undertaking."
Director Spillane outlined brief,
the immediate need for 100000,
bushels of grain from America
100000 bushels from Michigan.
Former Senator Scully likene,
America in this undertaking to tn,
white ship Of mercy"-the hospital
ship-which follows the fighting fleet
He reminded the farmers of the Stat
that the charge often Is heard agains
Them in the cities that they In thet
organizations never have put any
thing big across because they neve
hang, together" and he said this wa
an unequalled opportunity for ther
A. th.k oka hx, k1t. |