GOVERNMENT IS
ASKED TO HELP
FARM INDUSTRY
NATIONAL AGRICULTURIST AS
SOCIATION DISCUSSES SITU
ATION WITH PRESIDENT.
NOT ENOUGH LABORERS NOW.
Federal Authorities Are Requested to
Take Some Action Looking to Im
proving Conditions So Crops Can
be Increased.
Associated Press Correspondence
W A S II I N G T O N, — Repre
sentatives of more than two million
organized farmers met President Wil
son at the white house and discussed
with him the methods of determining
exemption of farm labor in connec
tion with the draft. The farmers
presented a memorial drawn by the
Federal Board of Farm Organiza
tions, a federation of national farm
associations, which was formed short
ly after the outbreak of our war with
Germany, as a means of giving the
farmer a voice in national affairs.
The board proposes to do for farm
ers what the American Federation of
Labor does for workers and the
Chamber of Commerce of the United
States does for organized business
interests. Joining with the board
were the legislative committee of the
National grange. The memorial fol
lows :
“Mr. President: There is an un
precedented shortage of agricultural
labor. Because of it the farmers of
the United States fear they may not
be able to do, as they desire to do,
their full share in the great common
task of winning the war. For this
reason the Federal Board of Farm
Organizations, speaking for the farm
ers of America, has asked permission
to lay certain facts before you.
Agriculture Is Undermanned.
“Agriculture is the only great in
dustry now undermanned as com
pared with the standards existing be
fore the war. Many industries have
additional help. Agriculture actual
ly has less.
“The shortage of farm labor is cut
ting down the productive power of
American farms. Transportation
* companies, contractors and industrial
plants offer for labor far higher prices
than any farmer can pay and still
produce food for the consumer at rea
sonable rates.
“Farming is a highly skilled occu
pation. Trained farm labor can not
be replaced to advantage by untrain
ed men, women and boys. Further
more, the common necessity to make
the farm laborer, whoever he may be,
a member of the family circle, still
furthr restricts the availability of
strangers.
The return to the farmer is far be
low that to men equally skilled in
any other occupation, while the spe
cial risks he runs from weather, in
sects, and diseases are greater than
theirs by far. Therefore men who
leave the farm seldom return to it.
New lork statistics.
“Official figures taken from the
school census of the state of New
York show that in June, 1917, there
were 16,000 less farm hands on the
farms of New York than there wrere
in June, 1916. On March 1, 1917,
the farm labor supply in the-United
States as a whole, as reported by the
bureau of crop estimates, was 15 per
cent below normal, which means that
one in every seven productive farm
workers had then been taken away ;
from the farm. The situation is
worse today.
“On the other hand, we are familiar \
with official statements and statistics
seeking to show that there is no
shortage of agricultural labor in the
United States. They fail to impress
us. Whatever mav be said to the
*
contrary, the farmers of America!
know, by the undeniable proof of dai- j
ly experience, that they are short of j
help. Merely to deny it gives them
no relief.
< “We do not approve of class exemp
tions from the draft. But we under
stand that it is the chief purpose of a
selective draft to keep those indus
tries which are most essential to the
winning of the war manned to the
point of highest efficiency, at least
until such time as the need of men
at the front shall compel a shortage
in every line of work. In our judg
ment the present method of execut
ing the law will result in greatly re
ducing the productive power of our
farms just at the time when an in
crease in that power is the one most
essential condition of victory. As
you yourself have said:
Rests Fate of Nations.
‘“Upon the farmers of this coun
| try, therefore, in large measure, rest
the fate of the war and the fate of
the nations.’
“If the selective service act is
based upon the desire of the govrn
ment to put each man where he may
serve his country best, then the ad
i ministration of the act should not
limit exemption to those who apply
for it, as it does now. Many farmers
who should be exempt refuse to ap
ply. Many young men voluntarily en
list in the army who can serve most
usefully elsewhere. We ourselves
know of many young farmers who
have left the farm for the army, to
the loss of the nation as a whole.
“Mere exemption or discharge of
skilled farmers from the draft would
j not meet the case. They should be
required to remain in productive la
bor on the farm during the period for
which their exemption may be neces
sary.
Because the world is short ot tood,
the government has asked the farm
! ers as a patriotic service to increase
their product. In answer to the call
I the farmers have done, and will do
| their best. But already a large pro
! portion of the farms are underman
ned, and the process of depletion pro
| eeeds unchecked.
Repeating England’s Mistake.
“America is making the same mis
take that England made, instead of
learning from her experience. We
believe that it is against the national
interest and safety, as well as against
! the purpose of the law and the gov
| eminent to let this drain go on.
“What we seek is a more perfect
administration of the purpose of the
act to protect the essential occupa
i tions. We ask you to see to it that
farm laborers and farm owners may
be kept or placed where they may
serve the nation best.
“The situation demands prompt and
effective action on the part of the
government. There is growing un
rest and dissatisfaction on the farms,
| based in great part upon the well
founded belief that the purpose of the
! government is not carried out. The
i
| organized farmers of America look to
| you to set this matter right. They
await anxiously the news, and thejr
| will consider carefully the nature, of
i
j your action for their relief. Re
spectfully submitted:
“W. T. Creasy, chairman, Catawis
' sa, Pa.; Charles S. Barrett, Union
City, Ga.; J. W. Shorthill, York,
iNebr.; Gifford Pinchot, Milford, Pa.;
Charles McCarthy, Madison, Wis.,
members of Executive committee.
! Charles W. Holman, general secre
; tary, Washington, D. C.”
PRESIDENT URGED
TO VISIT EUROPE
PARIS NEWSPAPERS SAY SUCH
ACTION WOULD FOSTER DEM
OCRATIC IDEALS IN EUROPE.
PARIS, Oct. 13.—Paris newspapers
in editorials are suggesting that Pres
ident Woodrow Wilson, of the United
States, visit England and France.
They declare such a visit on his part
would exert a powerful influence to
ward fostering and strengthening
democratic ideals in Europe.
SOLDIERS ROUTED
FROM BED BY FIRE
DES MOINES, la., Oct. 13.—One
hundred and twenty-five soldiers were
driven in their night clothes from
bed by a fire that reduced to ashes
the barracks of Company A, of the
First Provisional regiment at Camp
Dodge, near here.
The origin of the blaze has not yet
been asceitained definitely, but it is
believed to have resulted from de
fective electric light wiring.
THE RANCH
u^n^iyEKSi^^iysGKiycUUE^iueiUEiuEnsiusfuaijEarausneuEnji.
10 PLOW THEIR
FREDERICK E. RADER SAYS
THAT FLAT CULTURE SHOULD
BE FOLLOWED HERE.
DRAINAGE IS IMPORTANT.
Government Expert Is Very Enthusi
astic Over Agricultural Possibi
ties of This Section of Territory of
Alaska.
Frederick E. Rader, superintendent
of the government agricultural sta
tion, two miles northwest of Matanus
ka, says that seven aci-es of the gov
ernment tract have been cleared and
that at the present time five men are
at work getting the ground into shape
for cultivation next summer.
Mr. Rader advises ail farmers and
: gardeners, who are ambitious to raise
good crops, to plow this fall any
ground they intend cultivating next
season. Plowing at this time will
give the ground a chance to dry out
during the early spring and will in
crease its yield considerably.
I' lat culture should be adopted by
the gardeners as well as the farmers,
especially near Anchorage, according
to Mr. Rader, who is of the opinion
S that in working the ground into hills,
and raising the surface of the ground
under cultivation, a better opportunity
is afforded for worms and parasites.
In view of the fact that the soil in
Anchorage is shallow the question of
drainage is important. In order that
natural drainage advantages may be
used, it is better that the soil be al
; lowed to remain on the general level
i of the surrounding soil.
Paths between the beds cultivated
and which are lower than the ground
under cultivation should be avoided
and the plan of “flat culture” should
be adopted.
Mr. Rader is very enthusiastic re
garding the possibilities of the Mat
anuska valley. He is very anxious to
prove to a skeptical world the pro
ductivity of the soil in this section of
Alaska. He anticipates a very suc
cessful season next summer.
While here he is staying at the Ho
tel Anchorage.
CROP OF SUGAR
BEETS BETTER
TRAN IN 1910
GOVERNMENT REPORTS CONDI
TION EIGHTY - NINE AND
SEVEN-TENNTHS NORMAL.
TOTAL IS ONE MILLION TONS
Demand Is Not Likely to Increase and
Belief Is Entertained that Price will
Be Downward Rather Than Up
ward.
By Anchorage Radio.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10.—Sugar
beet crop conditions ar eighty-nine and
seven-tenths per cent of normal, ac
cording to the report made public by
the United States department of agri
culture. An even 1,000,000 tons is the
estimate of this season’s yield by the
federal authorities.
The condition of the crop, notwith
standing unfavorable weather condi
tions this year, is better than it was
at this period last season and agricul
tural experts predict that as harvest
ing continues, crop conditions will im
prove rather than deteriorate.
There is no likelihood, it is said, of
any increase in the sugar demand that
has prevailed for the last few months,
and with this year’s crop the tendency
of prices, it is predicted, if there is
any changes at all, will be slightly
downward instead of upward.
I Ucl Im&JUc=J UcU UcsJ lies’
P. T. McCARTIN WILL RAISE
PORKERS INSTEAD OF VEGE
TABLES FOR MARKET.
NEW COMPANY INCORPORATES
More Than 400 Acres Will Be Put.
Under Cultivation Next Season in
Order to Produce All Feed Required
By Animals.
Pittman, formerly Camp 166 on the
main line of the government railroad,
1 eighteen miles west of Matanuska,
| will soon be the main shipping point
for the hog industry which just now
! is in its infancy, according to P. T.
McCartin, whose ranch adjoins the
town of Pittman.
After the railroad had been con
i structed beyond Pittman the govern
i ment left a number of buildings on the
! camp site, which are used by Mr. Mc
! Cartin and his associates fer the pur
i pose of storing the winter feed for the
j animals.
Will Cultivate 400 Acres.
Two hundred and fifty tens of farm
products have been raised by Mr. Mc
j Cartin and his six partners and they
| expect to have under cultivation more
I than 400 acres next summer.
The raising of potatoes will cease to
interest them next year as much
greater profit, they declare can be
realized from the hog industry.
They have organized themselves
into a company under the name of the
Alaska Hog Ranch company.
Farm Machinery Ordered.
I A powerful tractor, and all of the
necessary farm equipment such as
plows, harrows, etc., have been order
| ed and active work will start early in
j the spring in putting the 400 acres
under cultivation.
Negotiations are now in progress
for a threshing machin? to take care
of the grain crops.
The farmers around Pittman are
showing a keen interest in the under
taking and are very optimistic con
cerning the future of the hog raising
industry in Alaska, where a market of
unlimited scope exists.
IN MASSACRE
PLAN TO EXTIRPATE ALL OF
CHRISTIAN RACE WAS CON
CEIVED BY TEUTONS.
TURKS INDUCED TO MURDER,/
Kaiser’s Soldiers, in Some Instances,
Used Their Cannon to Subdue Vic
tims Who Made Desperate Battle
for Their Lives.
Associated Press Correspondence
NEW YORK, N. Y.—The plan to
extirpate the Armenian Christians
from Turkey was “made in Germany
and suggested to the Turks by Ger
man officials,” and where the Arme
nians made a stand against their
Moslem oppressors it was German of
ficers and German cannon that broke
them up, according to the Rev. A1
pheus Newell Andrus, senior mission
ary for the Congregational station at
Martin, Mesopotamia, who told of his
experiences here. The farsight
ed Germans, he said, were looking for
ward to the time when they expected to
gain complete dominion in Turkey and
they wanted to eliminate the Armen
ian question by getting rid of the Ar
menian race.
“One of the ways the Turks went
about it was to load Armenian men
on goatskin rafts on the understand
ing that they were to be deported—
and then they were takefl out and
dumped into the Tigris river and
drowned,” he said. “This was the
fate of at least 2,500 men from the
vicinity of Diarbekir and its suburbs
in northern Mesopotamia.
“Armed soldiers were on the rafts,
each of which carried about 75
to a hundred victims. Kurd boatmen
rowed them out into deep water. Then
the soldiers would drive the Armeni
ans to one side of the rafts until they
tilted and dumped them into the river.
If they tried to climb back on the
rafts the soldiers and boatmen beat
them and shot them until all per
ished.”
The Germans and Turkish govern
ment, Dr. Andrus said, looked upon
the destruction of the Armenians in
Turkey as a cold-blooded political
move, and gave the actual execution of
it into the hands of the Kurds and
Turkish soldiers who went about it
with the ferocity of Moslem religious
fanaticism.
“At first the Turkish government
objected to the German suggestion of
the removal of the Armenians on the
grounds that they were valuable as
artisans and business men and neces
sary to the economic life of the coun
try,” continued Dr. Andrus, “but the
Germans promised to supply men to
take their places. Having persuaded
the Turks,the Germans left it to them
to put the plan into effect.
“But the Turkish soldiers in some
places could not overcome the Arme
nians. At Urfa, the city of suffer
ing, the Armenians resolved to resist
deportation and defend their innocent
| families and their church. They bar
1 ricaded themselves in their stone
1 houses in their uarter. For ten days
j they withstood all efForts of the Turk
I ish soldiery to dislodge them! In the
end they would have prevailed but
that German officers brought and
trained cannon upon their stronghold
and forced them to flee.
burely such a people should not be
i allowed to perish. There still remain
| of them to be cared for 6,300 in Urfa
and nearby. Will not the American
people help care for them ? Conditions
| m Mesopotamia have not been brought
| much to the public's attention, for the
| reason that there has not been anyone
to report the state of things there and
because no report could get past the
rigid Turkish censorship.
“IVJore than 30,000 Armenians were
deported from Diarbekir and its sub
urbs. It was some of these who were
dumped into the Tigris and drowned.
The leading and rich men were among
these. The others were detailed to
dig trenches and to do other work
with only an insufficient allowance of
bread daily. Later they were shot in
groups, when no longer able to en
dure the hardships imposed.
“There followed an epidemic of
choiera and then a scourge of typhus.
Before the war and deportations the
city contained some 60,000 inhabitants.
The last I heard there were only 7,000
citizens left there.
“Women were clubbed, stabbed or
shot down on the Msopotamian plains
and left for dead in piles on the
ground or thrown into old cisterns.
Some, coming to consciousness, crawl
ed out from the piles and up from the
cisterns and dragged themselves up
the mountain to our hospital at Mar
din to have their wounds dressed.
“Some of the Moslems at Mardin
took pity upon more than a thousand
babies of deported women who, in
passing through, left those they had
no milk to feed nor strength to carry
as they went on to their lingering
deaths on the plains below. When the
local government officials learned
that Moslems had the little ones they
issued an order that whoever harbored
any Armenian would be visited with
the treatment dealt to the Armenians.
“The Moslems therefore, secretly
turned the little ones over to Christian
families who clandestinely cared for
them until their resources were ex
hausted. And now the latest informa
tion from Mardin is that unless funds
are immediately forthcoming the
thousand orphans must be turned out
upon the streets to starve.
“Help must be regular and contin
uous. The committee for Armenian
and Syrian Relief has decided that $5
a month per child will be necessary.
That is about 17 cents a day. Who
will add one more child to his family
and reckon the 17 cents along with
SENATE APPROVES $4,000,000
ITEM AS PASSED BY HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES.
NO DISPUTE IN CONFERENCE.
Both Branches of Congress Differ on
Other Details of Bill Carrying Alas
ka Provision, But Will Soon Settle
Them.
By Anchorase Radio.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 11.—In con
sidering, item by item, the bill contain
ing the appropriation of $4,000,000 for
-he continuation of construction work
on the government railroad in Alaska,
die senate unanimously approved the
Alaska railroad item, and this appro
priation is now absolutely sure to be
made at the present session of con
gress.
As passed by the senate, the bill,
which contains the Alaska railroad
provision, differs in some other details
from the measure as it was passed by
the house, and this fact necessitates a
conference by committees representing
both branches of congress. The con
ference committees, however, are au
thorized to consider only items on
which the senate and the house have
legislated along different lines.
The Alaska railroad item was pas
[ sed in identical form by both branches,
j and, as a consequence, cannot be alter
j ed in conference.
ihe bill is now in conference, and
agreement is expected in a few days
on the few minor points at issue.
Mrs. A. Irwin, who for the past two
years conducted the road house at
i McDougall, accompanied by her son
! Clarence Stewart and daughter Mis *
Ellen Stewart, left on the Alaska for
• the middie-western states. It is their
1 intention to locate there after visiting
1 with relatives for a short time.
! _
what he is spending daily on his other
children and at the end of each month
send the $5 to the committee?”
Dr. Andrus himsell narrowly escap
ed execution at the hands of the
Turks because of his work at Mardin
in succoring the suffering. He was
ordered to be courtmartialed, which
under the conditions, he said, meant a
“mock trial and the cutting off of the
defendant’s head.” The American em- '
bassy, however, heard of the order and
interfered so that it was rescinded and
a decree of exile issued instead.
Dr. Andrus, who teas born in New
York city and graduated from Wil
liams college in 1864 and Union Theo
logical seminary in 1867, spent fifty
years in missionary work at Mardin.
ANCHORAGE MAN
TO SEEK STEAMER
To recover the steamer Allie J.,
which was stolen with a cargo of dy
namite in her hold in the harbor of
Honolulu two years ago, is the plan
of Fred D. McCullough, former owner
of the Pioneer Grocery store, at the
' corner of Fifth avenue and D street
in this city.
Mr. McCullough recently disposed
of his business and real estate hold
ings here in order that he might be
at liberty to make a diligent search
for the lost boat. He owned a con
trolling interest in her. He will leave
on the steamer Admiral Farragut for
Seattle, from which city, after spend
ing a few weeks with friends and rel
atives, he will sail for the Hawaiian
islands, where he will begin an ener
getic search for his stolen boat.
Mr. McCullough is one of the pio
neer residents and business men of
Anchorage, having come here in the
early spring of 1915. He started the
first grocery store in the tent town.
He will return to Anchorage next
spring and will begin the erection of
a cannery at the lower end of Cook in
let, having as a business partner
Ching Kaey, a well known Chinese
merchant of Seattle. Mr. McCullough
recently visited the Seldovia country
where he has completed all arrange
ments for the cannery site.