l6 THE FOOD CRISIS AND AMERICANISM 



eight hours the basic day's work. This would release 

 one in five of their number, to be employed in agri- 

 culture, or to take the place of those less skilled, who 

 would in turn be released for farm labor. Though 

 far from adequate, this would help. With the un- 

 precedented high wages now being paid them, this 

 should not overtax or be a crucial test of their patriot- 

 ism. No other class is doing so little. 



The other avenue of relief is through Chinese labor. 

 White labor is unavailable, as man power is already 

 overtaxed in every civilized country on the globe. 

 Agencies on the Pacific Coast have offered immedi- 

 ately to furnish, as fast as ships can bring them, a 

 half million of Chinese laborers, to be followed, if 

 necessary, by millions more. These laborers would at 

 once be efficient aid in our sugar beet fields, vegetable 

 and fruit growing sections, as well as in the dairy in- 

 dustries; and shortly would become effective and effi- 

 cient help on the average farm. Arguments against 

 the importation of Chinese labor in time of peace lose 

 force and should not apply when it becomes a question 

 as to whether or not our Allies and armies shall fail 

 for lack of food, and the world's liberty be lost on one 

 hand, or employment of these laborers on the other. 



Those in high authority and in the best position to 

 know are not predicting an early termination of this 

 awful struggle, and if the present battle on the West 

 Front fails to result in decisive victory in favor of the 

 Allies, the war is likely to resolve itself into one of 

 economic endurance, in which food stuffs are an all- 

 important factor. The American farms are the last 

 resort. If they fail, our cause is hopeless. Without 



