OCR Text |
Show U K H:ANt K AND THE K. KM Kit. Let us begin by stating that we have every possible regard for the interest and well-being of the farmer, and are fully aware that he is the backbone of the nation. Briefly, let us analyze the present prosperity of the farmer. American farm products in l'jl? amounted to the stupendous value of nineteen and one-half billion dollars, w hich was an increase of six billion dollars over 1916, and of almost nine billions over 1915. Does this enormous increase in value val-ue of the farm products of ihe country coun-try represent a large increase in production? Frankly, no. The actual ac-tual output of the farms has increased in-creased very little. The value of that output has practically doubled. So that we witness the farmers of the country realizing twice as much for their produce as they realized two years ago, and that at only a slight increase in the cost of production. produc-tion. Let us suppose that the German navy ruled the lanes of the ocean. Let us suppose that the markets of England, of France, of Italy and the neutral countries of the north were closed to our experts, what then? Would American wheat sell at J2.00 per bushel? Would our cotton bring JO cents per pound? Would all our farm products sell at proportionately high prices? Experience of past years, when lliese nations needed not our wares, should convince us that but for present Old World. conditions our products would be almost a drug on the market. What, then, is responsible for the unprecedented prosperity of ' the farmer? The armies and navies of the allied powers. France, England, Italy have thrown the wealth of the entire nations into the task of keeping keep-ing the ocean lanes free. They have not hesitated to sacrifice wherever sacrifice was callefjMj.aeornsn' this task. Pi';g the past year they ' ueen ably 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 of the labors and sacrifices of these fighting fight-ing forces? Mr. Farmer of America, now that the Liberty Loan is launched, 'will you look your duty in the face, and seeing it, will you go to it? |