‘ afievv -" m' «'5 . "ficvag , .-_\. Yr . an“. mrI-V""‘ The Independent Farm, Home and Market Weekly, for Michigan Business Farmers Vol. V - No. 16 SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22nd, 1917; 1 PER YEAR-4% Premiums, $ Free List or Clubbing utters lNSlDE FACTS 0N ‘ POTATQ_ GRADING Editor Slocum Finds That Dealers, and Shippers Were Laigely to Blame for Putting New Grading Rules in Practice If we can but dispel the. air of mys- tery which has befogged the several is- sues in connection with the untimely, unjust and unfair potato grading rules, we shall at least have accom- plished something. And now get ready for a surprise: Neither the De- partment of Agriculture, the United States'Food Administration or any of the other authorized national or state officials or departments, has estab- lished compulsory grades of potatoes. “Then," you ask, “why all of this trouble; this tremendous loss; the en- forcement of certain grading rules by the potato buyers?” The dealers are acting upon the suggestion of the U. S. Food Administration; they are fol- lowing the line of least resistance, re- gardless of the loss that may be borne by the potato grower. Before me lies a little four-page bul- letin issued by the Bureau of Mar- kets, it was printed on September 10, 1917, and distributed about October 1st. “Potato Grades Recommended by the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Food Administration.” Just keep in mind the word “Recommended,” while we examine this little bulletin a little closer. The grades as recommended are as follows: U. s. GRADE No. 1. This grade shall consist of sound po- tatoes of similar varietal characteristics, which are practically free from dirt or other foreign matter, frost injury, sun- burn, second growth, cuts, scab, blight, dry rot, and damage caused by disease, insects, or mechanical means. The min— imum diameter of potatoes of the round varieties shall be one and seven-eighths (1%) inches, and of potatoes of the long varieties one and three-fourths (1%) inches. In order to allow for variations inexdent to commercial grading and hand— ling, five per centum by weight of any lot may be under the prescribed size, and, in addition, three per centum by weight of any such lot may be below the remain- ing requirements of this grade. U. S. GRADE No. 2 This grade shall consist of potatoes of similar varietal characteristics, which are practically free from frost injury and de- cay, and which are’free from serious damage caused by dirt or other foreign matter, sunburn, second growth, cuts scab, blight, dry rot. or other disease. in— sects, or mechanical means. The mini— mum diameter shall be one and one-half (1%) inches. In order to allow for var- iations incident to commercial grading and handling, five per centum by weight of any lot may be under the prescribed size. and, in addition. five per centum by weight of any such lot may be below the remaining requirements of this grade. Three reasons are given for rec- ommending th'L adoptioon of these grades: ' , (a)—The prospect for a record- breaking crop of potatoes this season and the general situation with regard to food supplies. (b)—The over-taxed condition of the transportation facilities of the country. (c)-The recent ruling of the Fed- eral Reserve Board with reference to being put into effect this year. rules. buyers of other states have not. observe the rules this ‘year. their conscience will permit. matter and probably won’t have. deny this. despaircd. to alleviate the situation. lllllllllillllllllllllllllllllllilllllllllllllmilllllllillilllllllilllmlliillllilllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllfllllflllllllllllilllllllllllllillilL. EnEilllllllllllllillllllllllllllllllilliIlllllllIlllllllIlllilili||IllIiillIlllllllillllill|llllIlll|IIIIlilUlllllllllllllllllllilllll”NLHIIUIIiilmllillliiilllllilllilllllll securing loans against warehouse re- ceipts. The first reason (a) given for rec- ommending the adoption of grading rules, would do very well indeed, as a means of penalizing the potato grow- ers for their obedience to the express- ed wishes of the President of the Unit- ed States, and the insistent demands made by the Food Administration, working through the Agricultural col- leges and their agents. The farmers have worked early and late to loyally and patriotically comply with the na- tion’s demands; they have, through the sweat of their brows,‘ brought forth an abundant harvest; and this, too, Without even a guarantee of a min- ' imum price on the part of the Govern- ment. Shall we now dismiss the whole matter, by establishing new rules for grading, which will make from 20 to 40 per cent of the farmer’s crop unmarketable? Has the general situation changed as regards the food supplies? Are the workingmen’s families in the large cities provided with all of the potatoes they need, at \ / ‘z 75/ __ .\ Santa Claus finds that the Coal y lllilllillllllilllllllilllIllIllilliIlllillillllllilllllIillilllllllllillllllilllllllllllllllliillllllllillllllllli|lillilli9illllIllllllillllllllllllllllllllllflllllllllllllilllllIllillillllli|IlllllliillliiilllllllllllilllIlllIllllllillll||lllllillllllliilllllll' THE CAUSE—THE EFFECT—THE OUTCOME Investigations to determine the responsibility for the putting into effect of the potato grades this year, disclosed the following facts: ‘ FIRST—The potato grades were recommended by the Department of Agri- culture and approved by the Food Administration, with no thought of their SECOND—No attempt has been made to enforce the observance of these The buyers of some states have acted upon the recommendations; the The organized buyers of Michigan elected to The farmers of Michigan are suffering as a result, while the farmers of other states are putting every potato on the market that THIRD—Mr. E. P. Miller of the commission firm of Albert Miller of Chi— cago seems to dominate the situation, and to date has succeeded in winning over practically all the dealers of the state. The farmers have had no say in the Mr. Miller claims to have authority to compel observance of these rules; certain persons connected with the Bureau of markets FOURTH—Tho outcome is doubtful. The dealers of the state, rather than the government, seem to be largely responsible for these grades being adopted this year, and the growers will have less influence over the dealers than they have over the government. However, Michigan Business Farming has not yet If the potato growers of the state will stay by the ship we will cor- ratl all the forces and make one last mighty appeal to the Foot] Administration Situation interferes é “record—breaking crop” prices? Well, hardly, when on the public markets of HM Fitv of Washington, I this day paid at the rate of $2.40 per bushel for po- tatoes, and every potato in the pur- chase Would have fallen headlong through the screen, the use of which Michigan dealers claim, in many in- stances, is required by the govern- ment. We can dispose of the second (b) reason very quickly. In the name of common sense, what has the grading proposition to do with the “overtaxed condition of the transportation fa- cilities of the country? No attempt has been made to enforce these grad- ing rules. There isn’t a single mar- ket in the United States today that is conforming to any established grades for potatoes. On the Wash- ington market potatoes of all kinds and sizes were being sold; and if you wanted the large potatoes the dealer would pick them out for you; but in- variably he would make this sugges- tion: “Most people like the smaller (Continued on page 12) with the Pursuit of Business a Will You Help Boost—and add Ten Thousand New Subscribers to Your Farm and Market Weeklyt BEANS RETAIL At $12.89_ PER BU. Farmers of Michigan Get $7 per Bushel for Beans That Sell at 40 Cents per Quart in Washington The lowly bean is selling in the city of Washington today for exactly 40 cents per quart, or $12.80 per bushel. This was the discovery of Editor Slocum on his recent visit to the Capitol city. It is apparent that the “huge” crop of Manchurian beans that have been on their way to this country since the first of September must have met up with a submarine and now repose on the bed of the ocean. Any way. they haven’t reached Washington. Neither have any of those cheap California and Colorado pinto and kidney beans put in an appearance. About the only beans that are selling in Washington . today are an unpicked, nondescript variety, which might have come, so far as our editor was able to deter- mine, from Michigan. He bought a quart of them—at 40 cents good U. S. money—~and shipped them home. If you watch these columns next week you will see an interesting photo— graph of these beans. Mr. W. J. Orr has been sending out some more “bearish”,——very “bearish” warnings to the members of the asso— ciation. They read something like this: Saginaw, Michigan, Nov. 30, 1917. TO THE MEMBERS OF THE MICHI~ CAN BEAN JOBBERS ASS’N.: Dear Sir: l have just received the following wire from Washington D. C ' "Army and Navy have elected con— tinue present bean prices until December fifteenth. “(Signed) Food Administration." The present bean schedule provides the following prices for Michigan whites in double bags—~11 5-8. The Army and Navy have full requirements of colored beans for present use. Same are offered at any price the Government may care to make. The Government price of ii 5—8 for Michigan whites to December fifteenth doesn’t warrant present paying prices un— less you have them sold as fast as pur— chases are made. December, l9i7 may long be remembered by many bean deal— ers. All speculation eliminated. who will hold the BAG. Have frequent interviews with yourself as to the wisest course to pursue. I unhesitatingly recommend buying only as you can sell. This will be most satisfactory to all interests concerned. In fact your license practically means that on this crop. W. J. ORR. President. Now the facts are that the govern- ment has made no attempt to requisi- tion beans from dealers. They have been buying in the open market like any consumer, and to date have been able to purchase sufficient to meet their needs at their stipulated prices. We are inclined to believe that the numerous warnings that have been given to the jobbers to refrain from paying more than the government price to farmers is largely “bunk,” and not based upon actual facts. In any caSe they do not seem to have much of an effect upon the dealers, (Continued on page 12) The THE MOTE IN MCBRIDE’S EYE Attempt of State Market Direc- tor to Oust Grange Editor, Pure Spite, Declares “Tim” Helme. There has been much ado about the attempt of State Market Director Mc- Bride at the recent state Grange meet. ing to oust Jas. Helme from the rudder of the Michigan Patron, the Grange’s oflicial publication, on the charge of disloyalty to ‘the government, but a closer scrutiny of the affair shows that it was much ado‘ about nothing. Mr. Helme claims that Mr. McBride is af- ter his scalp for no other reason than because he is “sore” at some of the things Helme has been telling the farmers about McBride’s administra- tion of the State Marketing depart- ment. In a recent issue of the Adrian Telegram. Mr. Helme defends himself as follows: “Newspaper dispatches do not give a full account of. the proceedings of the late State Grange so far as it affected me. The inside of the whole matter is as follows: For the last two or three years Thc Patron and the Glcan- or. official organ of the Gleaners have severely criticised the state market de- partment, conducted at the Agricultur- al college by .I. N. McBride. This has been irritating to the college board and a motion to dismiss McBride recently resulted in a tie vote. McBride was then called in and informed he must stop the attack or lose his job. “McBride came to Jackson to get my goat, armed with an August Patron containing the ad. of a peace meeting which he claimed ‘came near to treas- on.’ He went to the state master and demanded that he appoint a committee to consider certain grange matter and threatened the state master that if he did not do this he would raise a row on the floor of the Grange. He also ‘11an a list of names to be appointed on this committee. This list was compos- ed entirely of men who had been fight.- ing me for years and most of whom were not delegates to the state Grange. “The master very foolishly appoint- ed this committee ‘for harmony’s sake’ althou sh he openly told the Secretary not, to record it in the minutes. “The master added to this list of names the executive committee of which I am a member and a meeting of this committee was called for 1 pm. Thursday in the basement At that time only four members of the execu- tive committee showed up but nine of my bitterest enemies were there with their hatchets. McBride led the at— tack, flourishing the August Patron and talking about ‘near treason.” Some bitter recrimination followed and it soon developed that the worst treason T had been guilty of, even more than the famous ad. was criticism of the Agricultural college. This committee finally passed a resolution deposing me as editor of the official organ and or- amwi 11 to be reported to the state Grange at its evening session. I told them to ‘go to it’ and arranged my forces for battle. During the supper recess an emissary was sent. me advis- ing me to ‘resign and promote har— mony.’ I said. ‘nothing doing.’ Again I was approached and shown a resolu- tion, which was afterwards passed, re- pudiating the ad. I told them I hadn't the slightest objection to their repud- iating any ad. in the paper. I was next asked if I would control my hot-headed friends and agreed that they would not attack the resolution when it, was pre- sented. I told them I would try and did. although my friends thought I made a great mistake, as they thought I ought to show up the inside of the whole business I was there when the resolution was presented and there was no discussion “A few minutes after a resolution was passed without dissent to contin- ue the Patroa for another year ‘on the same or similar lines as at present.’ ENT MICHIGAN “Yesterday the executive committee by a unanimous vote appointed me manager of the paper for the ensuing year. “At no time was there ever a discus— sion of me or the Patron at any session of the State Grange. All the so—calle‘d attacks on me were made in committee rooms and hotel lobbys by people who were not delegates to the state Grange. “J. W. Helme. BENZIE GLEANE—Rs OFFI- , CIALLY PROTEST GRADES To the Secretary of the State Federa- tion: We, the members of the Benzie County Federation of Arbors of the Ancient Or- der of Gleaners do hereby Resolve, that the present system of two grades of potatoes is unjust and not fair to the farmers. Therefore, we respectfully petition our State Organization to further use their influence to correct the injustice of the present potato grading law. Second, that the Government establish a minimum price to be guaranteed to the farmer for his products, and that such price be sufficient to Cover the high cost of production and to guarantee the pro- ducer at least ten per cent profit on his products the same as is now done for the manufacturer Third that the Government take more vigorous steps toward providing trans- portation at marketing time for all farm products at a minimum price and also provide a penalty in case of failure to provide cars within a reasonable time. Respectfully, A. C. WILSON. F. WEIF‘ENBACH, GEORGE SNELL, Committee on Resolutions BELLAIRE SITES—613131212 AND HIS TRUSTY MULES Subscriber C. W. Brunger of Bel- laire sends us in the photograph that appears below of himself and his two trusty mules. “Follow these fellows and the advice in MICHIGAN BUSINESS FARMING," says Mr. Brunger, “and. you won’t go very far wrong." Which leaves it up to us to prove ourselves as dependable and trustworthy as Mr. Brunger’s mules. ‘ It is always a pleasure to receive photographs of our readers or scenes about. their farms. They brighten up the page, and add a spice to the other- wise rather dry and essential same- ness of market reports and crop con- ditions. We wish every subscriber who’s got a few kodak pictures tucked away in the bureau or writing desk drawer, would fish them out and send them to us for publication. All prints will be returned upon request in good condition. Let‘s hear from you, please. “You can see that the Elevators want to do the Speculating,” A McBain subscriber sends us the above clipping from his local paper and for the enlightenment and amuse— ment of our readers we have repro- duced in reduced size. Our subscriber DON’T SPECULATE On Those Beans—- ’The quality is not good enough, on account of excess moisture and heavy pickage. There is too much difference between the price of Colorado. California and Man- chierian beans and the price of Michigan beans. Either the former must, go up or Michigan down and the odds are against Michigan. We are buying both yvet and dry beans, but we do not. hold them. We are offering you more than the government will pay us. GET THE MONEY WHILE THE GETTING IS GOOD When you have anything to sell, be friend- ly; come and see us. RED ELEVATOR McBain Grain Co Both Phones McBain, Michigan succintly remarks: “You can see they want to do the speculating.” Now, dear reader, just read this ad. carefully and ask yourself if you are really the durn tool that the McBain Grain Company must take you for if it expects you to swallow such sugar- coated stuff and nonsense as this. Note that the elevator springs the same old gag thatfithe jobbers have been chew- ing on the last three months about western and Manchurian beans. If that old threat won’t jar McBain farmers into selling, why we’ll use a little persuasion. “We are offering you more than the government will pay us.” What’s the answer? You farmers are not supposed to know. You are expected to believe that out of the pure good- ness of heart the McBain Grain Co., and other individually or corporation owned elevators, are Willing to pay says a McBain Subscriber you a pro :;1i1.1111 price for beans and then tuin around and sell them to the government at a loss. ‘v'oll, do you believe it! (‘crtainly you don‘t. The i111cllai11 Grain Company wants your be his; they want them badly; they 11.21111 them NOW. They are us- ing subterfuge and playing upon your fears to get them. Why? Not to sell to the government at a loss; no, sir— _. ee; but to fill some good fat eastern contract that needs immediate atten— tion, or else to hold them as long as their g0v>rnment license will permit .ilnally to dispose of them on an ad- vancing market. “Don’t, speculate on those beans, Mr. Farmer.” Sell ’em quick before that hull= >ll= >3? Colorado in 1916 produced 70,914,087 pounds of lead. >lt= =l‘s =lt< United States pays $800,000 daily for food for soloiers. as at: at: 3crmuda expects a 1017 potato crop in excess of 00,000 .bushels. O Ttaly this year exported 67, 204 boxes of lemons to the United States. United States last year exported 128 - 755 tons of sulphur, valued at $3,505, 857. st: a: #- tlak Park, Ill., prohibits automobiles being driven by children under 10 ycars of age. ilk >)i< =li= will raise hospital $500,000 fol‘ ll Milwaukcc . ' to be built mi- Ncw (‘olumbia mediatcly. at: at as Up to November 1,~United States has ginncd 7,150,254 bales of cotton of the 1017 crop. at at at New Zealan’s wheat crop has been purchased by the government at $1.41 per bushel. .91: at: at The Curtis Aeroplane and Motor Cor- poration is turning out eleven complete aeroplanes a day. at: at: at: The island of Cuba offcrs every resource, it possesses to the furtherance of a com— plete American victory. =lt= it it: Fifty—nine banks and trust companies were admitted to the federal reserve sys— tem during the month of November, rais— ing the total of state institution mem- bers to 176. =ltl Ill: It The Food Administration advises that thesugar used in the United States for candy making alone, is sufficient to meet all the needs of England under the ration- ing system adopted there. it =1: St. Louis has added $19,498,364 to the manufacturing capital represented in the industries in the city. They have re— OOOPDicd over 2,200,000 square feet which was vacant during the first ten months of 1917 and have erected and oc— CUDY 3,300,000 square feet of industrial Space in addition. g .. me Kicks nus 111.3783 - IF you could feed today’s $20 pork on yesterday’s 50 cent corn, your profits would automatically increase. If you could run your gas engine today on yesterday’s 10 cent gasoline, there would be another immediate increase in your profits because of an immediate decrease in your cost of’ production. With the new Evinrude Oil Engine you use kerosene and low grade fuel oils—the cheapest fuels obtainable—and realize a clean saving of four—fifths of the fuel cost. Every atom of fuel is converted into energy. Consider what that means. You get the same efficiency and power from these low priced fuels that you do from costly gasoline, yet four-fifths of the cost is saved, a four-fifths which goes directly into your pocket as added profit. Combined with the economy factor are other features which make this the ideal farm power. (3%?de <11 m @ E tag 1> (unconditionally guaranteed) is heir to none of' the usual gas engine difficulties. No carburetor or mixing valve, batteries, magneto, timer or spark plug to cause annoyance or create expence. It can be operated by the hired man or your boy as easfly as by yourself. The fuel is introduced directly into the cylinder by a patented spraying device and ignited by the high temperature generated by compression. The engine starts readily, even in zero weather and will run without attention as long as there is fuel in the storage tank. Tear out this page, write your name and address on the margin, and mail to us for catalog and fully descriptive literature. DEALERS. Responsible dealers are invited to write for full information as to exclusive temntory. 727 Evinrude Block . Evmrude Motor (30., MILWAUKEE, WIS. Also Manufacturers of the Evinrude Detachable 'crnd nu N 8 on Rowboat and Canoe Motor unassuming. e on... orANY on. THAT .FFOW3t 4...» (‘anudzt has become a crcditor nation since thc wzu‘, although shc is" hcuvily indcbtcd to the l'nitcd Status. 96 4% =X= 'l‘hirtccu tlrcat liukcs stcamcrs owucd by Ann-ricau shipping intcrcsts and six ships of thc (Tanndizui Steamship liucs havc bccu ordcrcd to the coast. The thir— tccu ships, having :1, gross tonnage of 32.708 loos, will bc cut in twoviu ordcr thcy can bc takcn thru the \Vclland canal. =21: =X= 5:? ’l‘hc t‘ullilluc automobilc cililt'cl'li is doing ib bit to i'clicyc I'lllll‘utttl cougcstiou by transporting complctcd cars to their dcstiutitioo umlcr thcir own powcr. \ i'cglil.ti‘ driving N'llclllllc is mulutulucrl betwccn thcir llcti‘oli factory and t‘hi~ cago and also Hruud ltapids, not :t cor bciugr scut by l'rcight to cithcr point. :24: r as Mrs. Maurice llcwlitt, wil'c of [Ho novelist, was the first, woman to sum an air pilot‘s license in l‘lnglond. and :hc has now become the lirst \vomau hcml of 2111 ziii'plziuc factory. The factory cmploys girls and womcu almost t‘Xt‘llerchlN. Girls and womcn cannot tly during; thc war as thc plum-s cannot be spared to tcach thcm but thcy can make planes, and they are doing so by tho scorcs, according to Mrs. llcwlclt. a: at at St, Louis, Mo, is taking cztrc ol' the fucl shortagc by selling the entire output of two mines to the poor people of that city at, 10c pcr bushcl. .\ maximum of live bushcls is :Lllowcd to each person and thcy are obliged to carry it homc. The lease of these mines was originally made by that city for thc supply of its civic institutions, but in ordcr to relieve the in— yards have been opcncrl for the distribu- tion of this coal. 7‘? l. 1..‘.’ . . ".‘il‘ l‘ 1‘! ‘wltlllh‘l til‘Llilh‘ilHillllllllllllltllllllllIlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll"‘f ’ll. Enclosed tind one dollar to pay my subscription to IVY. B. F. which is the best paper I ever took. '9. Change my address from Harriettu, Michigan, to lt‘ranklinville, N. Y, R. No'. 2, right away as I don't want to miss one copy. I am cs— pccially interested in the potato news as I have quite a few to sell. Why is it a government doings, grading the farmers’ potatoes? They don't do it in all states. They do not here and the price is $1.50 t $1.75 a bushel. I hope you have good success with your paper H. A. IL Frank— linvlle, N. Y. llllltlIHHl 1i llli|IIlllllllIlllllillllllllllllllllllllillllllltlillilillltt} if .AlllIlllltllilillllllllllllllllllllIlllllllllllll|ll|lllll||lllllllll|tllllllllllllllll|lllll|llllllllIlllllllllllllllllllllfié ‘I'W'W'm WW 1 1' rut . '01..wittilllllililllllllltlllllllltllE County Crop Reports 1tlllllIllltlllltIllllillHtllllllllliltllllllilt‘:illlltlt‘tlli:..l'ili‘ ""11 i"li‘ .l.:‘ i: t‘ItllllllltllllllltllttWilla Late in l l ANTIHM (South)---»—~lt‘ztrmcrs are kept pretty busy doing chorcs and g‘cttiug Wood ttho cold (lays, as snow: is about eight inches deep and thcrc is vcry good swig-hi ing. [Varmcrs zii'c sclliug thcir hogs :llltl czittlc as pricc: arc prctty good. Two corlouds ot‘ hogs and cultlc wcrc shipped ycstcrday the 15th. 'I‘hcrc lich bccn scy- r-i“il cm" of stock shippctl from hcrc this fall. Ilay is SOllllli: hcrc :it 3113‘} ocr ton. ‘.‘itp' :ii'c lit-ing: murkctctl :It ubout $1 pcr hundred, sorted over the large scrccn. t‘oal is much nccdcd hcrc in .\l'lcil, and wood is not \‘cry plcntit‘iil.~~~(‘. l”, V\'., Al— - den, Dec. 16. ISABELLA ((‘cntruD—Vchitlici' is vcry cold. l“armcrs kccp busy cutting \vood owing to tho Rolll'cily of Hull, The farmers seem to llp holding back thcir potatoes and bcnus. owing to the dc— crcase in price. Some t‘armcrs beans crops were put in stacks so wet that hun- dreds of bushels have been \\':l*'ll"l. .\ number of farmers in my immediate vi— cinity have. not been able to get a bean machine to do their threshing :is yet, I am one of these myself. Not much doing on farms at present.»hl+‘. “7., Mt, l‘leas— ant, Dec. 19. \VEXFORD (South (‘entraU—(lne foot of snow and lt‘cbruary wcathcr has put farmers on the retired list. unless they have had to hustle for Wood or run all over the country for a little sugar. The wheat and rye fields are covered \vcll with snow. Potato buyers are moving out some stock which they have liccu holding for some time, but are not buy- ing any new stock.——A. A. ‘Fl., Tloon, Dc- cember l7. " SAGINAW (Wash—Farmers are gct— ting up wood, doing chores. attending auction sales which average three or four a week. 12 below zero this morn— ing. Great deal of corn standing in the shock. Saginaw county goes under the county road act state road law. in Jan- nary. Gleaner rally and installation of officers at Nelson Dec, 22,—M. S. (l, Hem— lock, Dec. 15. \VEST CENTRAL NIONROE—We have had a. week of old fashioned winter and it is with us yet. it keeps the farmer pretty busy doing his chores and looking after the wood pile. We are having fair sleighing at this writing. Some hay and stock being sold. - I I Tasman, . Jackson State Prison Head Wants Government to Give Him Au- thority to Can Wet Beans Some time ago Edward Frensdorf, acting warden of the Jackson state prison, sent to Assistant Secretary of Agriculture Carl C. Vrooman, a re- quest that immediate action be taken to save Michigan’s vast crop of moist beans by canning. He asked for auth- ority to use the canning facilities of the state prison for this purpose. Mr. Vrooman referred Mr. Frensdorf’s re- quest to the Food Administration, ask- ing that immediate action be taken. Such at least was the substance of a statement made by Mr. Vrooman to Grant Slocum upon the latter’s recent visit to Washington. In an interview with a MICHIGAN BUSINESS FARMING representative Mr. Frensdorf laid great emphasis upon the immediate necessity of taking steps to prevent the utter waste of thesa beans. “There are $5,000.000 worth of beans in this state which might be saved for human consumption," said Mr. Frensdorf, “if immediate action was taken to can them. Four months from now they’ll be worth about five hun- dred thousand dollars as hog feed. These beans are slowly going to waste just because those whose business it ought to be to prevent it, are negli- gent of their duty. There are alto- gether too many men “holding” a job in the Food Administration, instead of filling it. I’m willing. like all loyal Americans, to put in twenty-four hours a day if necessary to help Uncle Sam win the war, but it, peeves me. and that is a mild word to express my feelings. when fellows who ought to be getting down to business and solving some of these production and conservation problems sit idle with hands folded. “If the producers of this state are financially able to hear the loss of their wet beans. and if the consum- ers are so plentifully supplied with foodstuffs that they don’t need these beans, why it’s something I don’t. know anything about. I don’t believe any such situation exists. But I can tell you one thing. that if the Food Ad- ministration doesn’t get a hustle on itself mighty soon, there’s going to be a tremendous waste of beans in this state Which can’t be prevented after another couple of months.” A. B. coox NAMED LABOR ADMINISTRATOR Mr. A. B. Cook. president of the Michigan Bean Growers’ Ass’n, has been named labor administrator for the state of Michigan. Mr. Cook’s principal duties. it is understood, will he the solving of the farm labor prob— lem. and the securing of sufficient help to take the place of farmers and farm laborers. drafted into army service. Another responsibility he will share. it is stated, is passing upon agricul- tural exemptions. Under the new draft regulations, skilled farm laborers are exempted from the first call, and it will doubtless devolve upon Mr. Cook to determine as between skilled and unskilled labor, “EAT HORsEfiwnow URGES VETERINARY Increased use of horse meat in place of the flesh of other animals as a means of lowering the cost of living was strongly advocated by W. Horace Hoskins, dean of the New York Veter- inary college. He declared there were 2,000,000 horses in the west too small for army use which could be killed, Dean Hoskins said he served horse meat, which cost 15 cents a pound, at his own family table. """"‘"""""“"‘ 'llllllllllllllllllllillIIllllllllllllilllllflllllllllllflmlfli I ”1" ' ”I?“ him-mun I w " "i'W‘ ll‘ljiti'h’! Hr .u.,-»,-,.: ,’ ‘5I1'lll""l"'I ‘ 1'” IIWHIWHHHNL’W'Z 2513!}3'3".'13111"'I‘-"?§ WMIMIUMMWHHW later direct to this office.) On Boosters Day, Monday, Dec. 31 F riends:-: , . . 1 ' Have you read the stories from “over-there”, of how the tedious days andlweeks and months of drillling—j-the =‘Ceaseless, monotonous grind of make-believe war behind the lines are fin— ally rewarded by being brought down to the first-line trenches ——of more days or weeks and often months that pass until finally one day down the line comes the thrilling command—“,OVER THE TOP!”——-and then how they rush maddened by menths of waiting, headlong toward the enemy! , .. If you have, then you know what we mean'when we ask every farmer or farmer’s wife who believe in what Michigan Business Farming is fight. ing for to Go-Over-The-Top for this weekly, and bring back ten thousand new names before January first; 1918! I .Can it be done Can we multiply the fighting force of Michigan busi- ness farmers by ten thousand in a single day ?——From every corner of this great peninsular state have come the letters—the response that says “yes! you set the day and we will show what the‘ farmers of Michigan can do for a proposition they believe in! ” ~ And so the day has been set—we are going over the top, Monday, December 3lst, and the new- year will find Michigan Business Farming more fully entrenched than these four eventful . months have made it! . Will you do your share—we know you will—We know we can count on every loyal supporter of this paper and the principles it represents—for after all a publication is not just so much white paper and black ink——at least, we know you will agree this weekly it not! Michigan Business Farming is more than a paper—it is a living, breathing movement among the farmers of one great state in this Union to get honest prices for what they have to sell—to get part of the war-time prices which are being paid for what they raise—to be represented as a body at every council which concerns the farming interests and to have behind them a force in numbers SO Powerful that they can demand, not beg for that which is their rightful share! So when you go over-the-top for Michigan Business Farming between the hour you read this and the Monday night you mail in your report, you work not alone that your neighbor may receive the same benefits as yourself, but that he, é’nlisted in a common cause with 37011, Will help YOU get what you are striving for! Every business farmer and farmer’s wife in the state of Michigan are vitally concerned in the successful growth of this weekly and the cause. it represents as you, yourself. They are as anxious to lend their hand—to help with their hit, and therein lies the great secret of this Booster ’s Day! We ask YOU between now and Monday night, December 3lst, to show this copy of your weekly to every neighbor within riding or driving distance of your home! Tell them what we—and this includes you who already have lent your support—are trying to accomplish. How in these few months we have shown up how badly Michigan needed a real publication, around which all the farmers of the state, irrespective of their creed, organization or local interests could rally! What this kind of a paper is going to mean to every farmer in Michigan in dollars and cents! You know what you like in M. B. F.—now tell your neighbors, for they want what you want and they will thank you for telling them! Surely we do not ask that any business farmer or his wife should appear as a canvasser—you are not asked to act as our agent—we ask only in the name of the farmer’s cause that you secure one, five, ten volunteers from among your neighboring farms who will in turn help furnish the ammuni- tion for Michigan Business Farming! We set the price at a dollar for a year, so that every farmer, rich or poor, can afford to take it and profit by it! The dollar a year will hardly more than cover the bare cost of paper and printing of the 52 issues, but we’ve dedicated the largest .. - . . . , -— —- _ —— _. __ __ __ _ —- magazmc press In Michigan to the farmers cause ’— "— — — —— —— .— and supplied with your ammunition in the shape of dollar-subscriptions it becomes a giant Howitzer in the defense of your rights. BOOSTER DAY COUPON (Pin this to your report mailed if possible before 1918) MICHIGAN BUSINESS FARMING, Mt. Clemens, Mich. I’ve gone over the top for M. B. F. and the cause it represents! Enclosed find check, or money-order or currency to In this December 22nd issue, an envelope is enclosed which you are to return with your re- port a week from Monday night. How many names can you be proud'to have enlisted in this cause? We ask only that you do your best! (P. S-—If any farmer you call on for any rcason desires to pay later, 30, 60 or 90 days, simply have him write—“I want M. B. F. and 7} subscribers whose names I have marked paid, also ..... subscribers who have promised to send you One Dollar 9 each on the dates noted. I’ll send you One Dollar on or before ........ 800ster ..L ........... . . . . . . . . . . ....... . ......... . . . . ' z ' r ceivin you Cdn seed hls D 11119 SO he W111 Start f3 g P. o. ............... ......... RFD. No....... the paper right away and he can send his dollar County .......................... State .............. I I I I I I amount of $ .............. , in payment of ........ ‘. ... I I I I I I -——.-——..—.—-__————— ,..mmmummmum IAIII'” .lltllnl lllm' ”Aim 1,...» rm IIIIIHIIH ":l'" t. .l .m m u.y.uu,1 II. tI-tIH .ulllldlll‘l t. ILIIIIHIIHHHEIIIICIIII‘UIIIIIII'IIII 'Illl'i ————.——w.—.——-——‘ .‘F‘ 2%. Li?