Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 April 1918 — WAR FINANCES AND THE FARMER [ARTICLE]

WAR FINANCES AND THE FARMER

Lee ns begin by stating that w? every possible regard for the inti Mess ami well-being of the farmer. amd are fatly aware that he is the tackteae of the nation. .Bmlftr. Bet us analyze the present prosperity of the farmer. American farm products io 191* amounted to lie sSapettdous value of ninetee® aod one-half billion dollars, whit* was in 'ioereaSe- of six bil35c® Aoullars over 1918. and of alinßst tuatoe billions over 1915. “this enormous increase in valve ’ “>i the farm products of the iCwrannry represent a larger increase >«■ goodoctBO*? ; Frankly, no. Tne ! artmai oartpet of the farms has in- ’ creased very little. The value of thaa ouiipat Elis practically doubled. jSo. that we witness the farmers of tine ecxE-atry realizing, twice as much f-er nhear produce as

.two years ±go. and that at only a slight increase* in the cost of proI d aetac®.. Det as s®ppose that the German 'navy rs&td the tanog of the ocean. Let as suppose that the markets lof Engßand. of France, of Italy and like central ceuMries of the north were ctosed ■to our exports, what then* Woold'i American wheat sell ■at per bushel? Would our eottea hrfn# 3» cents per pound? Woaij all our other farm products seil at proportionately high prices? Experience of past years, when these cximmbs needed not our wares, sbouad WHEximee us that but for presfatt OH World conditions oiir redacts would be almost a drug o® the market. ' What. the®, is responsible for the aapregedented prosperity of the The armies and navies of powers. France, Engt—rd.. Italy have.' thrown the wealth of the estire nations into the task of the ocean lanes free. They have not hesitated to sacrifice wherever sacrifice was called

for to accomplish this task. During the past year they have been seconded by our own navy. Now, these armies and navies, and the peoples of these allies who have given up practically their all in the struggle, MUST be sustained. Who should be first to offer help in this task of sustenance? Who* but the man whose dollars have doubled purely as a result cf the labors and sacrifices of these fighting, .forces? Mr. Farmer of America, now that the Liberty loan is launched, \gill you look your duty..in the face, and seeing it, will you go to it? The desperate German drive on the western front had* one effect tha't will not give any satisfaction to Germany. It has resulted in the United States speeding up preparation. and troops are to be rushed to France as fast as the combined transportation facilities of both the United States and Great Britain can put them across. As they arrive cn the other side they will be absorbed into the armies of the allies, and what they may lack in training will be rubbed into them in short order. This will prove of benefit to the troops themselves as well as materially strengthening the allied front. With the heln of Great Britain we should be able to make our power felt at the front vefy soon now. And surely there is need of the help our troops can give. America will watch y ith feverish interest the transporting of our troops, and 'hail the day when we shall have sent enough to turn the tide of battle into an allied victory.