The Leading of the False God — "Production" 49 



The conclusion reached by the highest Government 

 authority is that, allowing for all the machinery and 

 improved methods we have or are likely to have, another 

 15 years will see America absolutely dependent upon 

 the outside world for food. To quote Mr. Cline: 



"Fifteen years is the period of grace given us, un- 

 less conditions change materially, before we will become 

 dependent upon overseas imports of bread and meat 

 and other staple foodstuffs. 



"Fifteen years before the peril of famine may hang 

 like a black shadow over the land ! 



"Fifteen years before keeping the ocean-ways open 

 to our food ships may be vital to our national life, 

 calling for armaments which would be an ever-increas- 

 ing burden ! 



"And it is fifteen years we have in which to evolve 

 and put in operation an agricultural policy which shall 

 save us from the fate of Europe." 



Fifteen momentous years, big with the late of Ameri- 

 can civilization ! 



So far as the facts are concerned, the answer to the 

 new school of thought that sees nothing unfortunate 

 in the rotting away of our rural foundations, is that 

 they are not facts. Even from the standpoint of pro- 

 duction, machinery is not now making good the loss 

 of man-power on the farm; machinery is not now pro- 

 viding a barrier between our people and prohibitive 

 cost of living; machinery is not now preserving the 

 nation against the danger of dependence on foreign 

 food supplies within the next two decades. In the 

 judgment of those who are in the best position to form 



