The War on the Homefront: A Farmer's Angry Rebuke

To the Editor: Some weeks ago when the war first started each school district in the state was organized into a food conservation district with a committee in charge whose purpose it was to advocate the production of the maximum amount of food for the nation in this war crisis. Throughout Benton County generally the farmers seemed to think they were doing all they could do and practically no effort was made to further the aims for which the committees were appointed. It was suggested that the farmers devote special attention to live stock, procuring pigs, especially brood sows, and raising their bull calves, but the results lead me to believe that practical patriotism is dead in the lower valley. We will attend lectures, ice cream benefits for the Red Cross and flag raisings, but when we are asked to sacrifice a little time and convenience, we say, 'What's the use?' So far as I have been able to find, there are only three farmers today making the practice of raising the smaller breeds of bull calves, and even they are ridiculed by some of their neighbors. As for hogs, there were practically none in the valley six months ago. We farmers are not living up to the part the nation has a right to expect of us. Many of us are even claiming exemption from military service on the grounds that we are farmers, but when it comes to making a personal sacrifice when no one is there to applaud, we are falling down hard.