The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-02-05
Ne1O England Council
Lauds Farmers Work
President Edward E. Chase of Portland, Maine
Issues Appeal to 5000 Members for Corpo-
ration, Proper Appreciation of
Food Situation.
kM =

Boston, February 5. - Especially
A communication addressed to more
than 5000 New England business
leaders inviting the active coopera-
ton Of the business community with
the New England farmer was issued
today by Council President Edward
e. Chase Of Portland, Maine. The
complete text Of the letter follows:
MAY I address a word to you, as
q member of the New England bus
mess community, in behalf Of our
friend, neighbor, and co-worker in
the war - the New England farmer.
prom here out, we are dependent
not only for victory but for survival,
upon the farmers Of New England
and the rest Of the country. Men
can't fight, sail the seas, and make
munitions without food and plenty
of 1t. Food Is the primary sinew Of
war and the cornerstone Of civilian
morale. For the first time since the
days Of the Pilgrims, the American
people are confronted with definite
and serious food shortages. Ger
man submarines prevent us from
drawing on other countries; we
must grow ourselves all we are to
have. Foodstuffs are a product Of
the soil plus human endeavor. Our
soil remains, but our man-power
Immediately available for food pro-
duction has shrunk enormously just
when we need 1t most. SelectiVe
Service has taken Its quota Of young
farmers and farm workers; many
men have left the farm to build
ships, make munitions, or engage
in other better-paid war time Jobs.
ing employment at the farm gate.
There Is no line Of new men seek
Food Important
New England does not feed itself,
but that doesn't mean that the food
produced on our farms isn't import
ant. On the contrary, 1t Is of>tre-
mendous Importance - more this
year than ever before. We produce
most Of our fluid milk - that most
essential Of all foods more po-
tatoes than we eat, and enormous
quantities Of poultry, eggs, fruits
and vegetables. Last year, with
diminishing labor supply and other
difficulties the New England farmer
achieved now high records In food
production. Nineteen forty-two
was an exceptionally good crop year.
This year, with the demands OF
Selective Service and our war in
dustries approaching new peaks, he
Is being asked to produce even
more than last year; more milk,
more poultry and eggs, more pota-
toes, more fruits and vegetables.
1.-THE result Is that today our
friend and neighbor Is a worried
and overworked man. AS a loyal
citizen, he Is eager to do his full
part, yet like the business man, he
hesitates to make new commit
ments until he sees how he Is go
ing to fulfill them. No more than
you and does he want to end the
year in the position Of having
failed to keep his promise to his
government - which means to you
and me, and to the men Of the
fighting forces and their allies.
Frankly, I agree with the Coun-
ellis agricultural advisors that the
New England farmer can't do all
that is asked Of him unless he has
help-help from governmental agen-
cieS, yes, but also help from his
friends and neighbors in the New
England community. The first thing
he needs from the rest of us Is
standing Of his problem. The farm
er Is relatively speaking, a small
business man; he works alone much.
He has no department heads report
ing to him every morning: he de-
ponds on his radio and daily news
paper to keep in touch with the
world beyond his fields. It doesn't
encourage him much to find him.
self accused therein Of selfish trying
to take Advantage Of the war needs
through higher prices for his
products. He knows that his costs
labor and materials - are up; he
knows he cannot produce at wartime
costs and sell for peace time prices.
any more than can our manufacture
ers. But. so far as he can see, that's
what the rest Of us expect him to
do, so say, let's tell him right
away that we do agree that he is
entitled to the same consideration
rs TO price that Is accorded any
other producer. But let's 90 further.
suppose each OF us endeavors to
become better acquainted with his
situation. We can do more reading
about his problem, but we shall
learn more by talking with our
farmer friends and acquaintance.
Let as open our business meetings
10 the farmer, BY inviting him and
his spokeanen 10 tell Us Slrst hand
what he 4 up against and how we
can help. I recommend that each
one OF as who "a q member Of q
service club Or q Chamber Of Com
meFco see 70 Il that The farmer and
MS problem - which y cur food
pFoblaIn-be on their programs with.
IN the next few weeks. Let ls slig-
gest 10 cur friends the lieWnpaper