Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (May 1, 1917)
0 f-y JHV' , U-V. The Commoner VOL. 17, NO. 5 5 ' IV V& h of wheat so as to make 81 por cent of tho ker nel Into flour instead of 73 per cont as at pres ent. Tho problem, however, has many sides and various Important Issues aro Involved. How far tho increased milling should bo pressed and how rapidly aro important questions to bo con sidered. Such action as tho results of further inquiry may detormino should bo promptly taken. Somo of tho European nations have secured a considerable addition to tho food supply either by reducing tho production of malt liquors or by reducing or prohibiting tho production of distlllod liquors. It has boon roughly estimated that tho valuo of food materials entering into tho manufacture of alcoholic beverages in this country in one year, on tho basis of prices lower than those now prevailing, is approximately $145,000,000. (4) Immediate enlargement of the depart ment's forces doallng with tho conservation of perishables on farms and elsewhere to prevent losses of useful food crops which occur through insufficient supplies of cans and containers to moot tho requirements. (5) Safeguarding of seed stocks for 1918 in case untoward climatic or other conditions af fecting important crops make such action neces sary in restricted regions. It would be imprac ticable to undertake to supply seed in a nation wide way for all or any of the great staple crops. The most that could be done' in any event through government agencies would bo to supply seed In restricted areas where serious emergencies have presented themselves. If the congress should provide an emergency fund, tho secretary should be authorized to furnish, in a limited way, relief as indicated, and, if deemed advisable, to take stops to locate, secure, and store for next year good seed for a least a por tion of certain staple crops. Such seed would not bo furnished free but at cost, and any funds -expended for this purpose would, in largo part, be returned to the treasury. DISTRIBUTION , Tho plans outlined involve problems of food production only. No lesB important than in creased production is the establishment of sat isfactory and efficient arrangements for distri bution. The producer of foodstuffs is entitled to assurances that the channels of distribution will be open and that a free, competitive, and unmanipulated market will exist, and the un economic speculation will be either controlled or prevented. To meet this situation the de partment of agriculture should be given the following authority and power: , (1) To make a complete survey of the food supply of tho nation, with a view to secure full Information as to its location, ownership, and where it is needed, and complete knowledge as to the instrumentalities and agencies that own, control, manufacture, and distributo food products. (2) After investigation, and in co-operation with the trade interests involved, to 'establish market grades and classes of farm products, Including seeds, and standards for receptacles for such products, together with authority to effect a suitable degree of supervision of their application through such inspection service as may bo necessary. (3) To license and supervise the operation of all plants, mills, packing houses, canneries, slaughterhouses, breweries, distilleries, storage houses, or other establishments or factories in Which food or feeds, agricultural implements and machinery and materials therefor, fertil- isers, insecticides, fungicides, serums, toxins, viruses, and any other articles required for agricultural purposes aro prepared, manufac tured, or kept for sale or distribution. This power should include authority to make rules and regulations governing the use and opera tion of such enterprises, Including tho taking over and operation of them' whenever such course may bo necessary in the public interest. (4) To require the preference movement by the common carriers of the United States . of seeds, fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides, and farm implements or machinery, or the materials required in their manufacture. (5) To enlarge the existing telegraphic map r. ' ,. )tet news service of the department which now covers live stock and meats and certain foods, . vegetables, and perishables, in order to assist, q " by securing comprehensive information from call shipping areas, in the distribution of prod- ucts according to the proportionate require ments of the consuming centers. Enlargement of this service would also tend to prevent un duo shortage in any consuming center and pro vide against wastes duo" to temporary oversup ply of perishables in particular communities. Tho service would further assist in securing direct routings and thereby relieve, to some ex tent at least, congestion of transportation lines. It would also directly aid farmers by furnish ing information which would put them on an equality with buyers and enable them to con sign unsold products to points where there is tho greatest need for them. (6) In case of extreme emergency, the gov ernment should have power to purchase, store, and subsequently dispose of food products to groups of people or communities organized in some form, and to fix maximum or minimum prices. Perhaps the exercise of this power should bo lodged in the Council of National Defense to be used 'only when directed by the President. It is possible that the mere exist ence of the power would make action unneces sary. The government should have full dis cretion in the matter. It might be wise to fix a minimum price to producers for only one im portant commodity, just as it might be wise to fix a maximum price which consumers might be expected to pay for only on or several products. -""'"""" (7) I greatly need one, possibly two, more assistant secretaries, and such number of assist ants to the secretary as the circumstances may demand. At present there Js only one assistant secretary. The work of the department has in creased enormously in the last few years. It had greatly extended before the European war broke out and within the last three years it has been charged with the duty' of administering a number of very important laws, including the -following: (1) Co-operative agricultural exten sion act; (2) cotton futures act; (3) United States grain standard act; (4) United States warehouse act; (5) Federal aid road act. I need not set forth tho burdens which have been placed upon the central office because of the present emergency. They are vast and com plex and it is urgently essential that additional assistance bo provided. Furthermore the ap peals from different sections of the Union for responsible representatives who can keep inti mately in touch with them and furnish advice and suggestions are numerous and growing. It is estimated that approximately $25,000, 000 will be required to carry out the plans out lined herein. In order that prompt steps may be taken to put them into effect it is urged that immediate action be taken to give the depart ment the requisite authority and to make avail able the necessary funds. Respectfully, D. F. HOUSTON, Secretary. If the- concerted effort being made to turn back to the farms the thousands whom the city has lured away is successful even in a ' small measure, war will not seem so had. The high cost of living vexes every family in the land, but the principle of letting somebody else leave town and go to the farm and thus start to bring about a reduction in the number of consumers and a corresponding increase in the number of producers seems to govern this so-called movement. War lights a fire of hatred that never goes out. Unlike the fires that ancient religious rites proscribed should be kept burning, the fire that war kindles needs no attendants with piles of fagots at hand. The clash of arms, the thrust and parry of the combatants, the bitter words of the publicists, leave an impress on men's minds that never fades so long as the pages of history remain undlmmed. VJ ' . It is always considered the safest strategy in -J!?e!:.war,t0 In'tern a11 aUen enemies who may b0 within the confines of a country. How con gress can escape applying this principle to old John Barleycorn is a question that body will find difficult to answer if it does-not take the obvious courso. "YOU MEN KNOW WHAT A SOLDIER WANTS'' Tho following by Major General John p OTtyan, commanding New York Division printed from "Association Men," Anril iqiT r Ed. pr" 1J17- Good intentions do not go very far in tim of war. Hell is paved with them. But tEU Young Men's Christan Association denend upon something more than good intention!, When our troops moved to tho Mexican border tho Association Knew just what to do and how to do it without any guesswork. So it has ho como an institution in tho army. In the first place, its efficiency was markpri When we reached the border, a secretary cmm En?? fr Permission t0 ereo an Association building. We gave permission with mental reservations, knowing the difficulties to bo mil in securing lumber. Within a few days tho building was up! I don't know to this dav wiiere that lumber came from out of the clear sky, I guess. l Then, too, the Association's organization is supreme. Its leadership was accurate in its un derstanding of our soldiers' needs. I liked tho way the rough man was made to feel at home I liked the Christian-like manner in which the secretary met the diffident young man who was not over-awed. No system will ever succeed without proper leadership. Certainly the Association had such local leaders. They were not holier-than-thou men, but good, red-blooded fellows who boro every evidence of being helpful without being obtrusive. They were a wonderful power for good! I could tell by the attitude of the many men who went into, the buildings that uncon sciously and subconsciously they were being raised to higher levels, that they were quieter, that they had'better mastery of themselves, bet ter ideals and were better soldiers. When the order went out that houses of prostitution were to be put under guard, when w.o watched every woman who got off a train until her business was known, when, If neces sary, she was put out of that vicinity, when we ordered disuse of whiskey and other liquors, the Association joined us in helping to mako soldier sentiment in favor of that very action. If America goes to war, money can be turned oyer to the Young Men's Christian Association with every confidence that It will be expended scientifically and along lines most acceptable to soldiers. . T0?61,1111111 Hollweg seems to have an ir resistible Inclination to blow down tho barrel nght eiK 9e didnt ain m1 would LET THE PEOPLE JUDGE BETWEEN THEM There are two men in this country upon whom the eyes of the nation have looked and marveled for twenty years. Public opinion has differed as to the type and character and the quality of the statesman ship of -each. They have been more cussed and discussed in the public press than any other two states men in this country.- It is because each stands for something. Each has individuality. Each has a strong following; The one is a warrior. The other a man of peace. During all of the past two years of tryin times, pending the troubles with Germany the one has insisted that we should go to war, no lens volens. A During the same period, the other has in sisted that honorable peace was possible and honorable peace should be secured. . Since the declaration of congress of the ex istence of a state of war between this country and Germany, both of these notable men have offered their services to the country. Of the tender of his services to his country of the man of peace, the Commercial Appeal makes this "significant editorial mention: "Mr. Bryan fought for peace until there was no peace. Now he offers his services to his country as a private soldier not as a major general." The Jacksonville Times-Union puts it more directly, rather straight from the shoulder. It says: "Colonel Bryan offers his services to bjs country to be used in any capacity that is deemed best. Colonel Roosevelt volunteers to bo a major-general." Montgomery, (Ala.) Herald, . .y ", I - P I- , . "
