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The Commoner
VOE 17, NO. 5,
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atlon problems, government agencies should do
all in their power to bring About a relatively
adequate supply of cars for moving food and
other necessities.
Communities, counties, and cities should be
urged to tako stops that -will lead toward a
larger degroo of local and district self-support,
especially in porlshablo products, by making in
ventories of food needs and surveys of 'neighbor
ing possibilities of production and in general by
closor .co-operation of the local consuming and
producing interests, and by the provision of
local marketing facllites.
PRICE PUBLICITY
To bring about a greater equality of distribu
tion considering the consumptive demands of
population centers, the market information fa
cilities of tho United States department of agri
culture should bo extended and made aB effective
as possible. It should Include tho publishing,
as widely as possible for tho information of pro
ducers, and consumers of farm products, of aver
age prices of foods, feeds, and live stock, and
particularly those paid by tho war department,
if purchases are made direct in the open market
instead of by tho usual contract method.
If not incompatible with wise policy, the war
department should determine rind state whore
training camps are to be located, so that local
production can bo expanded to care in some de
greo for tho increased consumption as a meas
ure of general economy, and to effect a further
relief of transportation facilities.
Appropriate steps should bo taken through
suitable federal authorities, such as tho council
of national defense, tho department of agricul
ture, tho department of commerce, and the fed
eral trade commission, to facilitate the supply
ing of agricultural implements and machinery,
particularly for seeding and harvesting, by
bringing about reasonable deliveries of tho
necessary materials, in preference to filling or
ders for such products as are not required in
tho existing emergency.
Steps should bo taken at once to secure the
preference movement of freight shipments of
farm machinery, seeds, fertilizers, and Bpraying
materials.
PRICE FIXING, IF NECESSARY
Tho very low food reserves of the world, due
to, last year's short crops, the increased demands
due to the consumption and waste of war, and
tho disappointing condition of the winter grain
crop givcf ample assurance of profitable prices to
producers this year. Therefore, the fixing of
maximum or minimum prices need not bo un
dertaken at this time, but the fact that such a
course may become necessary in the future ad
vises the creation of agencies which will enable
tho government to act wisely when the necessity
may arise. To this end, it would be well for
the congress of the United States to authorize
tho council of national defense, if deemed neces
sary, to purchase, store, and subsequently dis
tribute food prpducts, or to fix prices in any na
tional emergency caused by a temporary or local
overproduction, or by a sudden ending of the
war, or by restraints of trade, manipulations or
uneconomic speculation, in order that producers
may not be required to suffer loss on account of
the extraordinary efforts they are now asked to
make, and in order that consumers may not be
required to pay oppressive prices in case of dis
organized or inadequate transportation. In?
formation should be continuingly maintained by
the department of agriculture that will afford
the council intelligent data upon which to act
Wisely and fairly in any emergency.
INCREASED HOME ECONOMY
We are the most wasteful people in the world
in our ways of living. Our tastes and desires
have, been educated beyond our incomes.
Almost as great a saving may be made
through the more economical manufacture, pur
chase, and use of food as can be made through
processes of production which are immediately
feasible.
Our breadstuff supply may be increased by one
twelfth, or 18,000,000 barrels of flour a year, by
milling our wheat so as to mako 81 per cent of
the kernel into flour, instead of 73 per cent as
at present. This flour would have as high nu
tritive value as that which wo now U3e.
An important saving may be effected by mafc
ing the diet as largely vegetarian as possible,
without lowering food efficiency, by a partial
substitution of such foods as beans and peaa
and of milk and its products, Including skimmed
milk, for tho moro expensive meats.
At present prices a larger nso of corn and
rice products as partial substitutes for tho moro
'expensive wheat products is suggested.
Tho substitution of the home-grown and
home-prepared grain products for tho much
moro oxponsivo refined commercial foods, known
as breakfast foods, will make a largo saving.
Adequate gardens should provide the home sup
ply of vegetables, which are expensive foods
when purchased at existing prices. The home
storago and preservation of foods, such as eggs,
vegetables, fruits, and meats, should bo In
creased. The serious food wastes that occur in many
households through a lack of culinary knowl
edge and skill may bo minimized through in
struction in better methods.
These economies will bo secured chiefly, if
not fully, through the further education of
housewives. It is highly important that, all ed
ucational agencies available for this purpose en
gage in widespread propaganda and instruction
concerning the economical uso of human foods.
NATIONAL
AND STATE
NEEDED
ORGANIZATION
The council of national defense is charged
with tho duty of mobilizing tho resources of the
nation, having as one of its members, the secre
tary of agriculture. "Wo recommend additional
machinery! as follows:
A relatively small central agricultural body,
whose services and presence might be required
in Washington constantly, to be composed of
men who have wide knowledge of agricultural
matters and executive experience. In selecting
those men, attention should be paid to geo
graphical distribution.
A large national advisory body composed of
representatives of the leading agricultural
agencies and associations, concerned not only in
production but in distributing and handling
commodities. " J j;
A small central agricultural body in each
state representing various agricultural interests',
Including agricultural officials, representatives
of agricultural colleges, bankers', business,
farmers', and women's 6rganizatioris, etc., con
cerned in the production, distribution, and util
ization of food supplies and agricultural ' raw
materials. This body should be designated by
the governor and, if the state has a central
council of safety or defense should be co-ordinated
with it.
Such county, urban, and other local bodies
as the state authorities, including this state
central agency, may see fit to suggest. '
The national central body and the state cen
tral bodies will be expected to keep in intimate
contact and to work in close co-operation.
AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION
To meet the extraordinary needs of agri
culture in this emergency we recommend an, ap
propriation of $36,000,000, or so much thereof
as may be needed, to bo available immediately
for the use of the secretary of agriculture in
such a manner as he may deem best.
The situation which now confronts our coun
try is a great emergency the, greatest, perhaps,
in its history. Emergency measures are needed
to meet unusual conditions. The recommenda
tions made in this statement have been formu
lated because it is. believed they are necessary
in order to meet present conditions. They are
war measures. It is strongly urged that com
gress and state legislatures, in passing laws or
in making appropriations intended to carry out
these or other plans for -assuring an adequate
food and clothing supply, should, so far as pos
sible be governed by the principle that when the
emergency ceases much permanent reconstruc
tion in agricultural policies and plans may be'
necessary.
The recommendations m tho main call for
federal action, but state governments can and
should co-operate to the fullest degree in con
sidering and executing plans of co-operation and
of supplemental legislation and appropriation
for the great common purpose herein enuncl-
Let us hope that no concerted effort will bo
SntVnf ltGrfert "? h6ving, boisterous
crowd of men who, it is reasonable to expect
wero that we should enter the war. ' . .
HEW COMMONER KEADKna
Below is a partial list of the new clnh .
The Commoner since the last issul o 12
page may be found a blank which onv rp??ep
are using in pushing tho circulation St?
Commoner in their localities. Will you
Mr. Bryan in his efforts to tototSnt
terests out of the democratic party and nf .
the nation? The club raisers and the nZf
of subscriptions' secured follows: mber
Hue, Phil W Va., 6; Ely, n ra Tr
Hunting, A. L., Colo. 3 Starr, Jas A ?nd' I
Tichenor, Geo., Ind., 2; Burke, A . L il ' ll
Luginbill, A. J., Colo., 6; McCarty, Thos ' V
Coughlan, D., Minn., 6; Copland? J c olt' V
McCorkle. T. M.. W. vk. a. "T 7 hIo 3J
2; Hartsell, E la., 2; Healy, Geo. P h ft
Sandford, T. J.. Colo.. 5- tc, t, 17 ,.?"
Hackenberg, H. W., Ohio, 2; Holloway Jn0 p'
Tex., 3; Lorey, F. W., Tex., 6; Stuart, Prank t
Wis., 2;-Hawk, Theo., Ohio, 6; Chi Ids 1 r '
Okla., 5; Glover, C. M., Tenn., 2 j Smith rJh
H. Wash., 5; Osterhout Geo. E., Colo 8 ' ront
Geo. W., Mo. 3; Luther Peter T.? id' 2- Hal'
verstadt, D. S., Kans., 3; Lowrey c W Ok '
6; Peters, P. H., Mich., 6; Terry,' Geo S' Tex"
2; Milwee, p., Okla., 2; Johnson, J. L, W Va"
6; Rose, Wm. H., Oreg., 6; Hickernell, c B
Fla 6; Browning, J. p., m., 6; Burbacher fi
W, Ohio, 3; Way, A. M., Wash., 5; CanC
ton, O. E., Ohio, 2; Stallings, J. L., Tex f
Welsh, Wm., Wis., 3; Johnson, Laura E., Pa 2i
Moore, W. B., Wash, 3; Freeman, Root., Wis
6; Saunders, P. B., 111., 5; Davis, J. M., Mo., 5j
lye?' '53U' Ia" 4; Hanna' - pf Calif., 6
Sheets, Elizabeth, Ohio, 2; Lester, L. B., Miss.
2; Duncan, A. T.,Mo 7; Mabens, H. A., Ia., 6
Williamson, P. E., 111., 5; Kuhn, J. W Kans., 5
Henley, J. H., Ga., 8; Taylor, H. B., S. D.-, 4;
Hopkins, H. B., Calif., 6; Field, Albert, 111., 3j
Stinson, J. H., Mo., 5; Pryce, J. R., Mont., 4
Weichering, P., N. Y., 2; Lesser, E. J., W. Va.,
6; Mollenhoff, J. P., Ia., 2; Lane, Mrs. 11 A
Mo., 3; Ayers, E. G., Calif., 4; Jordan, Walter
M., Mont., 6; Hobbs, Prank P., N. H., 10;
Shade!, Chas. P., Ind., 3; Hoge, H. M Va., 5
Swaney, Jacob H., Pa., Bj Baxter, G. S., "W. Va.,'
2; Van Boskirk, D. R.,.Kans., 2; Smith, N. H.,
Wis.,' 2; Brown, T. O., Mo., 6; Lowrey:, S. U,
Pa., 2; Mann., O. S., Va., 2; Prantz, D. J., Pa.,
6; Garrett, T. H., Oreg., 4; Hedges, J. W.t Mo.,
5; Hamlett, Wm. H.,.W. Va., 2; Sever, W. L.,
N. Mex., 2; Porter, J. C, Tex., 3; Cummins,
Mrs. David B., Cal. 2; Gainor, Jas. A., N. Y., 3;
Stafford, P. A., Ia., 4; Safford, E. W., Pa., 6;
Olson, M., Mich., 7; Herpenheide, J. C, Pa., 3
Sutherland, Thos. B., Neb., 6; Joslin, Geo. 0.,
N. H., 5; Senior, J. G., Mo 6; Lambert, G. H.,
111., 2 ; Schlemmer, A., Minn., 6 ; Mounce, A. V.,
Ida., 2; Jarvis, T. J., Kans., 5; Miles, B. P., Ark.,
2; Bickley, Mrs. L. V., Neb., 5; Hess, Wm., 111.,
9; Swinehart, Rev. A. O., Wash., 2; Sinton, Dr.
W. K Colo., B; Koltz, M. W., Ia,, 2; Farner, S.
.W.,"Neb., 3; Wittaker, Harry, Ohio, 2; Barnard,
Chas.,.G N. H., 6; mine, Allen, Ind. C;
The chaps who made it a business in ancient
times in a large city to cry out "stop thief" in
order that they might pick the pockets of tho
citizens thereby aroused to excitement and con
fusion were worthy forerunners of the food
speculators of America who berated everybody
for not joining in a demand for war while they
were getting ready the machinery for plunder
ing the pockets of the people.
While it may prove a matter of embarrass
ment, we trust that no one will ascribe im
proper motives behind the inquiry as to whether
the silence of Colonel Harvey is because he is
busy thinking up some harsh things to say of
William Hohenzollern or whether he is earnestly
trying to discover what happened last fall to
that old reliable presidential predicting ma
chine of his.
While on -the subject of significant things, it
may be pertinent to Inquire when the metr
politan newspapers, having successfully en
gineered the nation through the task of con
scripting men to fight the nation's battles, p
begin backing the equally necessary and aoso
lutely fair proposition of conscripting weaitu w
pay the men for fighting in its defense?
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