North Carolina Newspapers

The Library, Chapel Hill. The ne'ws in this publica tion is released for the press on receipt. THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA NEWS LETTER Published weekly by the University of North Carolina for its Bureau of Extension. M4Y 22,1918 CHAPEL HILL, N. C. VOL, IV, NO. 26 Edliorial Board ■ E. G. Branson, J. G, (ieK. Hamilton, L. R. Wilson, R. H. Thornton, Q. M. MoKie. Entered as second-class matter November 14,1914, at the PostoHoe at Chapel Hill, N, C., under the act of August 24,1912. THE HUNGER OF NEXT WINTER A GRAVE EMERGENCY The problem of food production is rap idly passing to the stage of crisis, Only a month remains as the outside limit for seeding land in even the most northerly areas. The American people seem capa ble of appreciating this problem only un der the menace of actual famine. They do not understand that the hunger of next VYinter must be averted now. It is assumed that if the war continues our Allies must have food. If the fighting in France this sutnmer is inconclusive, t .e fact that food will win the war will have a ghastly demonstration. Victory will not merely fall to the side that has reserves of men left, but to the side that has an extra ration. No army or people can resist the demoralization that isentaUed by extreme hunger. There is every reason to believe that the Cen tral Powers will be in worse straits than the Allies; but there is every prospect that next winter will be a period of un dreamed-of privation. Evidence is ac cumulating that wheat production in this country will fall far below the level of last season. The situation is one of gr^ve emergency calling for drastic meas ures. I It is obvious that we are incapable within a limited period of so reconstitu ting the basis of our agricultural industry as to give the farmer that which has ' been denied him for a generation—a real i chance to exist. But what we can do is { to take as war measures the urgent steps j in connection with seed, machinery, labor, farm credit, storage, transporta tion, and the packing industry, which will make less meuaciug the imminent food shortage of next winter.—The Pub lic. thing. You won't have any trouble landing—any farmer will be glad to have you. If you can’t go yourself, send men. Find idle men and send them. Give your chauffeur six months leave on half pay, if he’ll try it, and drive your car yourself. It you live in a small town, corral the citizens thereof into a big holi day a week, then everybody go out and help the farmers on that day. In the old times, when a man wanted to build a house, he called on all his neighbors— they all came and helped him, ended the day with a barbecue, and he had his house. Something like that might help out. But more—if you want to do your bit —give up your vacation at the mountains or the Seashore and take it on a farm. Sentence yourself to two weeks or more at hard labor. It won’t hurt you—it will do you good. The first day those soft muscles will seud out an S. 0. S. for first aid, but by the end of the week you’ll feel like a real husky. We’ve all got to do this. Its the only thing that’s going to help us. Whether or not we have enough to eat next winter will depend on the way we meet this em- eigeucy—as soft handed, lounge-lizards— or as regular men. WHAT YOUR $50 WILL DO It will j)rotect 1,000 soldiers from smallpox and 666 from typhoid. It will assure the safety of 139 wounded soldiers from lockjaw, the germs of which swarm in Belgian soil. It will render painless~400 opera tions, supply two miles of bandages— enough to bandage 555 wounds. If will care for 160 injuries in the way of first-aid packets. It will furnish adhesive plaster and surgical guaze enough to benefit thous ands of wounded soldiers. Every purchaser of AVar Savings Stamps—in any amount from 5>5 to J50—performs a distinct personal ser vice to his country and to our boys fighting in France.—Federal Official Bulletin. UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF EDUCATION LETTER SERIES NO. 147 GO TO WORK Prof. J. M. lohnsou of West Kaleigh reiireseiiting the Federal Agricultural De partment is now busy registering the peo ple who are ready to help our farmers during the present crop year. What he is doing is tremendously im portant. It is more than ever true that food will win the war. The army that ha.s an extra ration is the army that will win, is the word that comes from across the'seas, And it looks as though we are not going to have the food our Allies will need as the struggle drags its fearful length along; and the lack of labor on the farm.s of America is the reason. Speaking of tile dwindling food stocks of the world, and the threatening bread- and-meat shortage this winter Mar'x Swain of the Vigilantes says: The Ixigielature of North Dakota has p^sed a bill coufcripting men for labor on the farms. If this bill is made a law —^itliin six months, forty-seven states will fall into line behind South Dakota, and trail her to the safe haven of food security. This iconoclastic legislature has rid dled the objection of the Philistines to a labor draft—by the United States govern ment—which is .summed up in the sen- ten-:e, “you can’t draft men to enrich private individuals.” Tliey liave been broal enoiigli to .see that it isn’t a ques tion of iiiakitig money for the farmer, but of getting enough for us all to eat. (And the orijectors, it would seem, pre fer Uii all to go liungry, rather tliaii tliat we sliould meet tiie prolilciii in an un- couveiiUoual way. Ttieir attitude is mu il) like tiiat of tlie circumlocution of fice of Dickens, only instead of ‘How not to do it,’ tliey sliriek ‘It can’t be done.’ North DaKota Leads Dorlh Dakota lias biazed tiie trail. Other State.s will loilow'. President A\'il- Bou iiae called on tiie boys from 16 to 21 to do f irm work. New Jersey lias an idler’.s law, so lias Maryland. And it is not too late yet, to iielp tiie siUiatiou some, perhaps a great deal. It ■ i,'dc[ioii(ls on each one of us, eacli and ..a'tjeveiy one. if you’1C able to work, and it i.-i possi- "Isihle f'rr you to leave your usual avoca- Ition for a few montlis, get in toucli witli Ittio nearest agricultural bureau and con- |nect with a farm. You’re only one man -but every little b't helps. Per.suade every fiiend you have to do the same CHEAP FOODS Coffee, prunes, and rice are cheap foods in these days of sky-high prices. At least, they duglit to be—market con ditions considered. If anybody is paying more for these table supplies than tliey paid in 1914, then somebody is profiteering. When coffee of the same grade differs 18 cents a pound in two towns not 30 miles apart, tne local retailers fall under suspicion. As for rice, there is no shortage in America, in spite of tiie fact tliat Europe has recently bargained for a million bags. The surplus in sight in tiie United States is 150 million pounds; whicli is consider ed an ample supply for liome consump tion. Jhe retail price ouglit to drop ac cordingly. EAT POTATOES SAVE WHEAT Mr. Hoover, National Food Adminis trator, is urging Irish potatoes upon tiie iiousewives of the country. Because our Allies need our wheat, our wheat ration is already cut down half and soon must be cut out altogether. We must learn to depend on potatoes for bread—along with corn meal and rice. And potatoes are clieap because last year’s crop was the largest ever produced ill tiie United States. It ran 150 million bushels beyond the crop of 1916, and 92 million bushels beyond the annual aver age of tiie preceding six years. The potato stock on liand in the United States on April 1st was over 50 million bnshels, which is far beyond what is cus tomary at tliat time of the year. Old potatoes ought to retail around 25 cents a peck or $1.00 a bushel. If con sumers are paying more tlian this at the local grocery stores, the matter is worth investigating. Tiie Mountain Growers’ Exchange at AVaynesville, N.-C. is shipping a number one grade of old potatoes in 150 lb. sacks at $2.85 per sack delivered; which is less tlian $1.10 per bushel. Tiie jobbing price of old potatoes ranges from 60 to 7o cents per bushel in tiie northern markets. The new crop is already going to the jobbers and early potatoes are selling at from $3.00 to $4,50 a barrel of 11 pecks at Hastings, one of tiie early shipping centers of Flor ida. A LIFE-AND-DEATH MATTER Tiie war will be won by tile nation witii the extra sack of w lieat. Tliat is tlie registered judgment of Roland E. I’rolliero wlio lieads tiie Eng- lish Board of .Agriculture. And if tiie American fanner does not iiiid tiie last sack of wheat witli wliich tlie war is to be won—says lie—beyond all dispute tlie German fanner will. Tlie wlieat field of Europe is the battle field of today. The French crop fell off more tlian lialf last year and will fall even lower tiiis je.ir. The wheat situa tion in Italy is equally alarming. The Canadian farmer has gone to war in such large numbers tliat the Canadian wlieat supply is below the mark.^Tiie Argentine crop is always late and uncer tain. The wdieat areas of Russia and Ruman ia are now Germany’s, not ours: That’s Why That’s why farming has been taken over iiy tiie government in England and AVales, and a million and a half new acres brouglit under tlie plow this year. That’s why English farm lands are plowed and cultivated with government tractor machinery, enriched witli govern ment fertilizers, sown with govern ment seeds, and farmed with drafted la bor day and night. Tliat’s why tlie women of England are in tlie fields busy with farming, just as tliey are in tlie shipyards, the munition plants, and tlie aero factories. They must work in order tliat their men ipay flglit—and tliey are d'vng it by the mil lions. Tliat’s wiiy our own farmers must have all the labor and labor saving machinery tliey need tliis year; even if the able bodied loafers must be drafted and work ed if necessary at the point of the bayo net. That’s why every farm must feed itself this year and send surplus food abroad, no matter what else it produces. Tliat’s wily we must go upon a wheat- less diet in America without a clay’s de lay. It’s a life and death matter—that’s wily. ^ DISLOYAL TEACHERS A prominent citizen in this state said to us the other day tliat the teachers are not paying much attention right now to the matter of certification, summer schools or_ institutes. He went on to say that their attitude is explained by tlie idea that owing to the scarcity of teacliers next fall scliool committees will not investigate too carefully a candidate’s professional qualifications and standing. Tlien too there will he plenty of places, so tliey argue, whicli will have to run tlieir scliools but will liave no teachers and will be compelled to put in some one whetlier tliat some one holds a certificate or not. At any rate, they say, it will be easy to get a teaching permit and that is j all that is necessary, so why worry about summer schools or institutes. Slacker Teachers Sucli so-called teachers are a disgrace to tlie profession and slackers in the na tion’s cause. Tliey are comparable with the profiteers in business and the sort of citizens who would, if they dared, lend aid and comfort to the enemy. AYhile our boys are over there giving their lives in an effort to make this world' a decent! place to live in, these teacher-slackers are I failing to do tlieir part helping to make ! decent men and women to live in this ! world. How can tliey feel tliat they are even respectable citizens? talff about doing tlieir bit? They are trait- SHELBY’S GREAT RECORD There'are 576 children in the Shelby Graded School and 404 of them belong to the AVar Savings Society. Their grand total of sales and pur chases to Jlay 6 is $32,458. Tlie average of purchases by the pupils themselves is now $18.80 apiece. The mark they have set is Every pu pil in the scliool in the A\'. S. S. by May 31, and average purchases amounting to $20 apiece. A great record! The explanation? A live school superintendent! It looks as though tlie Shelby School leads the state. If there is a better school record we want to know about it. Tliat reminds us to ask about tlie ord of the school in your town, about your scliool superintendent. As Captain Cuttle used to say, Ts live ’un or a dead ’an? rec- and he a SUMMER MILITARY CAMP Tlie University of North Carolina will conduct a Summer Military Camp at Biiigliam Heights, Asheville, N. C., for a term of six weeks, beginning J une 14tli. Tlie training will consist of close and ex tended order drill, musketry practice, bayonet practice, hikes, and military en gineering. There is no other place in the country wliere outdoor training of tliis nature can be given under sucli ideal con ditions. Accommodations at tlie Bingliam Alili- tary Scliool are limited to 150 boys. Over lialf tills numlier (witli ages ranging from 16 to 20 years) liave been accepted. Tliose wlio wisli to attend tliis Camp are urged to send in their applications at once to T. F. llickerson, Cliapel Hill, N. C. Tlie Camp will be directed by Captain J. Stuart xUIen of tlie Canadian Light In fantry (ill service two years on tlie AVest- teaching profession is not made up of men and women of such small calibre. Per haps tliere are a few—«ven that is hard to believe—but they are a woeful minority or we do not know the teachers of this state. AA e believe in the loyalty of our teach ers and shall continue to believe in it un til definite proof is given us to the con trary. Teachers will have to accept rela tively low wages and live on sliort rations, but they have been accustomed to living close all their lives long and they will now rally to the needs of state and Nation without being driven to their places like dumb beasts before an autocratic despot. All reports as to summer school applica tions and daily correspondence with teachers from all over the state give us confidence that our brothers and sisters in tlie great family of teachers are exert ing every last ounce of energy to preserve decency and humanity to the world. A Personal Appeal If there is one teacher anywhere in this state who has had even the suggestion of such a tiiought or plan we beg of iiim not to harbor it for an instant. The nation’s need is too great, the opportunity for us to iive by the law of our best selves is ^■orth too much for us to forget the call How can they ■ "^**'*^-® children have upon us and to They are trait-1 of Cain. ors and disloyal citizens who would take ® hrothei s keeper and to neg- advantage of a national crisis to increase ' L® ^ help® us to bea better their personal gain. They are worse trait-} ors than Benedict Arnold and more con temptible citizens than the craven liearted ,. , , deserter from the ranks of the army. j and above all we cannot fail our : bt'st seivea in any such way as this Is It Xrtl8. j possibility would imply. Let’s adopt the AVe cannot believe that there is any Boy Scout slogan, at least for this once very large number of such teachers. The and—BE PREPARED! keeper is to merit the full punishment I meted oat to fratricides. AYe must not in these harassing ern Front) and Professor T. F. Hickerson of tiie Civil Engineering Department of the University, assisted by Messrs. Bing ham McKee andvV/illiam Blount, Cap tains in the University Battalion. THE 1918 COMMENCEMENT The commencement exercises of the University of North Carolina are to be held June 2, 3, 4 and 5, according to in formation from President Graham’s office given out today. The program for the ex ercises has been arranged, but the speak ers have not yet been announced. The commencement exercises proper will be held in Memorial Hall Wednesday, June fifth. The following is the program as given out at the president’s office: Sunday, June 2 11:00 a. m.—Baccalaureate sermon. 8:00 p. m.—Sermon before the Young Men’s Christian Association. Monday, June 3 9:30 a. m.—Seniors form in front of Memorial Hall and march to chapel for prayer. 10:30 a. m.—Senior class day exercises in Gerrard Hall. Orations by members of the graduating class in the contest for the AViliie P. Mangum medal. 5:30 p.m.—Closing exercises of the senior class. 7:30 p.m.—Annual joint banquet of tlie Dialectic and Philanthropic literary societies in the dining hall. 9:30 p. m.—Anniversary meeting of tlie societies in tlieir respective halls. Tuesday, June 4 10.-30 a. m.—Alumni address. Class re unions of tlie classes of 1858, 1868, 1888, 1893, 1898, 1903, 1908^1913 and 1917. 12:20 p.m.—Business meeting of the Alumni Association. 1:80 p. m.—Alumni luncheon in Swain liali. 8:00 p m.—Annual meeting of board of trustees in cliemistry liall. 8:30 p. m.—Annual debate lietween representatives of tlie Dialectic and Pliil- anthropic literary societies. 10:00 p. m.—Reception in tlie library l)y tiie president and faculty. Wednesday, June 5 10:45 a. m.—Academic procession forms in front of tlie aluninni building. 11:00 a. m.—Commencement exercises in iMemorial Hall. Commencement ad dress. Announcements by tlie president. Degrees conferred. Presentation of Bibles. Benediction. THE GALLANT 1917 (The class of 1917 at the University of North Carolina will play a gallant part in the world war. Called from its ordinary campus duties,. 65 of its members volunteered in May for officers training camps or other forma of the service, with the result that on com mencement day its ranks were badly de pleted. One year from the date of the call to camp, out of the total 155 receiving degrees in 1917, forty were commissioned officers, 32 non-commissioned officers and privates, 30 teachers, 11 chemists or en gaged in business essential to the war, 17 students (principally in medicine,) with one United States consul, one minister, two lawyers, and twenty supposed to be in service of whom the University has no record. Every member of the class heard from has given a good account of himself, and is doing his bit to spoil tiie Kaiser’s plans. So far the records show that, since the call to the colors a year ago, the Univer sity has sent 1053 men into the service of -their country. TICKLING THE KAISER The Germans laugh us to scorn, be cause, in their opinion, we do not really believe in education in America. They say that democracies are fatally cursed with ignorance and futility; that we talk about education a good deal, and the pol iticians sliout themselves hoarse about public scliools but tliat, on a show-down, tlie people led by these same politicians, vote as a rule against local scliool taxes. As a matter of fact, do we really believe in education? A half dozen counties in North Carolina come before the bar of judgment in this matter tins montli. Le noir county among others is considering a 30-cent county-wide school tax. The Kinston Free I’ress in a recent is sue shows in detail what burden a 30-cent school tax lays on an acre of land, at the present average tax value. Tliree cents is tlie scliool tax on one acre of land in Lenoir. A pint of corn or a single egg will pay it. Or one and two-tiiird ounces of pork or cotton. A 5-cent sack of smoking tobacco will pay it on one and two-tliirds acres. A 6-cent cigar wdll pay tlie scliool tax on two acres; a gallon of gasoline, on 9 acres; and a 50-pound shoat, on 400 acres. If Lenoir vote.s down a 30-cent schoil tax, it will tickle tlie Kaiser immensely— if lie ever hears of it.