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The Commoner
VOL. 17, NO. 5
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IV
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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, .
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