GENERAL NOTES < 13 



final phases. Sociologists tell us that the food sup- 

 ply question is basic in relation to warfare move- 

 ments. People who feel that they have land enough 

 to supply food enough do not wish to fight excepting 

 when they are misled by their politicians; the lat- 

 ter belonging to the non-producing social element. 



War is not brought about in civilized countries by 

 the useful people. It is brought about by the poli- 

 tician and tariffist who cannot think internationally 

 and whose mind represents a reversal to the prim- 

 itive or clan type. Take away from that kind of 

 politician his argument about food supply and he 

 will find ever-increasing difficulty in persuading 

 fathers and mothers to send their fine sons to play 

 his ruthless game and to pay his bills. 



Agricultural experts in our state colleges can 

 make people feel that we have land enough to supply 

 food enough. The question is one of distribution 

 of knowledge among the people, a function of the 

 state. Not only may abandoned farms be made 

 more profitable to-morrow than they were when at 

 their best yesterday, but many of the so-called waste 

 lands may be made to produce more food than has 

 been commonly produced by soil of first choice up 

 to this date in our own history. Even the swamp 

 lands hold out an attractive feature for the producer 

 who finds joy in new fields calling for a wider range 

 of his keen interest and knowledge. Doubtless there 

 are some swamps and wet lands which may be 

 drained to advantage but legislators must carefully 

 avoid granting privileges carelessly in the matter. 



