Pieces of Iowa’s Past This Week:

Legislation to Increase Iowa’s Food Production April 4, 2017

The following are Governor Harding’s requests to the 37th General Assembly to enact legislation that would increase Iowa’s food production and, in so doing, help with the worldwide shortages of food.

March 28, 1917

Communication from the Governor By unanimous consent the following communication from the Governor was read and ordered printed in the Journal: Members of the Senate and House of the Thirty-seventh General Assembly:

Your attention is respectfully directed at this time to the world’s shortage of food supplies. While this subject is not primarily one for legislation yet I feel that it is entitled to consideration at your hands. Never before in the history of any living person has there been such universal demand for food and such universal lack of it as now. The beneficent bounty of the God of the universe in making Iowa a food producing state not equaled anywhere, and this world need, is an opportunity for our people to render a real service to all humanity.

To feed the hungry is a mission worthy of a great state and a great people. Those without food across the waters are our neighbors. Our ideals of

Pieces of Iowa’s Past, published by the Iowa State Capitol Tour Guides weekly during the Legislative Session, features historical facts about Iowa, the Capitol, and the early workings of state government. All italicized text/block quotes in this document are taken directly from historical publications with the

actual spelling, punctuation, and grammar retained.

Senate Journal

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representative government and modern inventions, all have blotted out distance, so that the cry for food in any part of the world is heard in our own homes. We approach the seed time. It is the business of the patriot to see to it that the harvest is great. I want to draw the attention of this legislature to this world-wide opportunity to render a service to humanity and call upon our people to be vigilant in the duty they owe to a neighbor who suffers. I think it is conceded by all that our state, rich as she is, is not producing anywhere near the amount of food stuff possible at this time and that a concerted movement all along the line by all our folks will be rewarded by a great increase in yield. The season is late for the most effective work but even now there is opportunity to do much that is helpful if we can only have the concentrated thought and action of all. The food stuffs grown in this state are well known and easily group themselves into four classes: grains, meats, vegetables and fruits. This legislature can be of assistance in this work of increasing the supply by encouraging various associations and our Agricultural College, by appropriation if necessary, to extend aid to those who are already or maybe in the producing field. I suggest that you call to your advice on this matter the leading farmers of the state and others who are interested and I am sure ways of being of assistance will be found that will greatly help in this temporary crisis and be of lasting benefit to the state. As a suggestion for activity I ask you to consider the advisability of taking some action for preventing the slaughtering of young “she stuff.” This might well be called to the attention of the federal authorities with request for action. I am sure that merely calling this to the attention of our people at a time like this will be helpful, but if put into legislative enactment would have a marked effect. Other phases of activity and ways of rendering assistance will suggest themselves to you and the people of the state only limited by your opportunity and that you will make use of your great office to direct action along these lines as well as along lines that will directly increase the production of food supplies.

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If it is not out of keeping on this occasion I desire to call your attention and the attention of the people of Iowa to the part they can have in increasing materially the food supplies for the use of the world. The public of our state should be awakened to the great responsibility and opportunity that is at their door. Newspapers, I know, will be glad to give space for the publication of facts and information and communities and organizations will consider this problem in a practical way and give assistance to all who may desire it and thus materially increase these supplies. Iowa has never had greater opportunity to render real service to the world than is offered in this world food shortage. We pride ourselves on our form of government and its adaptability to meet all needs and requirements. It ought to respond now to this world hunger call. Every hearth stone in Iowa ought to be an altar and every man and woman an evangelist in this Christ-like work of feeding the hungry. I call upon this legislature to use the power and influence you have as a body and as individuals to take up this work. I am confident that your endeavor will meet a cordial response at every fireside in this great state and that the good that will come from encouraging our people will not only be of service to humanity today but for many years to come. I bespeak your careful consideration and hearty co-operation. —W. L. Harding, Governor.

April 6, 1917

Communication from the Governor To the Members of the Senate and House of the Thirty-seventh General Assembly: In harmony with a communication made to you some days ago in reference to the world food shortage, I am again addressing you to direct attention to this, and for the further purpose of offering opportunity for definite action. At the suggestion of many citizens, a conference of leading farmers and others interested in and connected with agriculture was held in the state house April 3rd to discuss ways and means, and to gather the sentiment of our people on this vital subject. Resolutions were adopted at this meeting summing up the

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result of their deliberations and copy of same is hereto attached and made a part of this message. There is herein a request made for an appropriation of money to be used by and through state agencies already in existence to immediately crystallize into action, public sentiment that is already well developed on this subject. The request for an appropriation to do this work, in my judgment, should meet the same response that a request for money to raise and equip an army would meet at your hands. To be prepared to feed those who wear the uniform in honor and defense of the colors is of primary and fundamental importance. An added argument in defense of such an appropriation is the thrift and saving that will be inculcated in our people by such a campaign. These prime virtues will last for at least a generation, for the boys and girls in our public schools will all be influenced. A committee composed of one member from each congressional district has been appointed to take up immediately the work of voluntary organization in the counties and down to the township. Many organizations such as the grange and livestock associations have already volunteered to do their part in assisting in this work. I am sure we will have the co-operation of every association in the state that has to do with the production of food stuff. I share with you the knowledge that many demands are made for money from the state treasury. However, I am firm in the opinion that this appropriation which is asked will be an investment that will return many fold and at the same time be a preparedness measure that will be a bulwark in any emergency that may confront our common country. I bespeak your earnest, patriotic consideration of this matter. —W. L. Harding, Governor. Whereas, there is a great shortage of food throughout the world and in an enormous agricultural area the food output is being restricted on account of war, and Whereas, the rate of food production in the United States is not keeping pace with the increasing home demands, resulting in a serious food shortage in this country which is accentuated by reason of the conditions abroad, and

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Whereas, the Honorable W. L. Harding, Governor of Iowa, has called this conference of officers of agricultural organizations and other farmers and business men to consider the situation from the standpoint of our state and nation; now, therefore Be It Resolved: 1. That on this momentous day we recognize our country is facing the greatest crisis in our history, and 2. That it is our solemn and patriotic duty to be prepared as fully as possible for whatever events may be before us, and 3. That at this time every state and every individual citizen should make the best use possible of all resources and facilities at their command, in so far as such resources and facilities may be made consistently to serve the needs of the nation, and 4. That a special duty is laid upon this agricultural state to largely increase its production of food, and 5. That we in attendance at this conference, believing we represent the sentiment throughout the state of Iowa, respectfully recommend to the general assembly the passage of a joint resolution calling upon all the people in the state to give their aid to increasing food production by using improved methods, by utilizing land that now is idle, and by inducing martyable persons not now employed to generously aid in these undertakings, and 6. That, believing in statewide organized efforts, we hereby respectfully urge the general assembly to make a special emergency appropriation to the agricultural extension department of the Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, for use in stimulating the production and preservation and proper use of foods for people and animals, and not less than $100,000 to be available immediately for the calendar year 1917; and a like amount additional for the calendar year 1918, provided, that the sum appropriated for the year 1918 in the judgment of the executive council its use is unnecessary or unwise.

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Newspaper Articles of Interest

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Rationing (USA) World War I: United States Food Administration

Links of Interest