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About The Red Cloud chief. (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 23, 1917)
RED CLOUD, NEBRASKA, CHIEF tfl J& VtV.t MW'.'r njr , ; jw, . LVr fr. Pi' jP '-. u ELS OF SITUATOH Administrator Issues Message on Conservation. IS GREAT PROBLEM OF WAR Commodity. TABLE NO. 1. Imports Frotluctlom Wheat 690,675.000 Corn ..,,.121,109,000 Oata 570,890,000 Harloy ... lo.201, 000 Itye ....... i8,5i3,O0O from U.S. 79,4.6.000 10.811,000 6,78.1.000 4,946,01)0 667,000 Imports Not Imports from Canada. 112,900.000 Otlmr Con- Source, sumption. 188.478.000 974.4'T.,0O0 16,690,000 6,600,000 00,000 135.675,000 aS.612,000 61,030,000 11,337,000 2C6.696.000 6S2.865.000 199,793.000 90,537,000 Total 1,436,448,000 Prohablo Commodltr. " 8 17 Whoat 678,000,000 Corn ,,..,3,124,000,000 Oata 1,413,000,000 Barloy 214.000,000 Rye 66,100,000 136,200,000 437,131.000 2,214,276,000 America's Production and Needs of the Allied Nations Set Forth What We Must Do to Keep Wolf From the Door. Washington, Aug. 20. Herbert O. Hoover, United Stntes food adminis trator, today Issued to tho American public his statement covering the food situation as it now exists and the ne cessity of conserving tho food re sources of tho nutlon to provide for tho future during the contlnuunco of the wur. The stutement follows: Food Is always more or less of a problem In every phase of Its produc tion, handling and consumption. It Is a problem wltlucvery farmer, every transporter and seller, every house holder. It Is a problem with every town, Btate and nation. And now, very conspicuously, it Is a problem with threo great groups of nations, namely, tho allies, tho central empires and tho neutrals ; in n word it is u great Inter national problem. Tho food problem today of our own nation, thcreforo has as its most con spicuous phase an international charac ter. A sufficient and regulnr supply of food for tho maintenance of tho great field armies of our fighting allies and of their no less great armies of working men and working women In tho war Industries, and finally for tho maintenance of tho women and chil dren in tho home, is an absolute ne cessity, second to no other, for tho successful prosecution of tho war for liberty. In the providing of this food for tho great allied food pool, the Unit ed States plays a predominant part. With tho present diversion of tens of millions of men from tho farms Into the fighting and industrial armies, re sulting In a marked lessening of food production, and tho present necessity of increasing the dally ration of other millions of men turned from sedentary occupations Into those of strenuous physical labor, resulting In n marked Increase of consumption, this deficiency between tho food needs and the food production of the allies becomes great er than ever, with the consequence of a largo increase In the food quantities Imperatively needed from tho United States if the allied armies aro to bo able to "carry on." World' Larder Examined. This is a general statement of a. con dition which only needs to be elabor ated In detail to show Just what we have to do. Tho time has come when this detailed statement can be made. Our harvest and the harvests of Eu rope can now bo forecast We can also survey our combined stocks of food animals'; in other words, tho slzo of thnt part of tho world's larder on which we and tho allies can draw for tho next twelve months can now be es timated. This estimate shows at once that it contains too little for our own and our allies use unless we all ad minister the supply with the greatest care and wisdom. Tho allied peoples are energetically undertaking this ad ministration. It lies now with us to do our part. If we fall, the people of the allies cannot be maintained at war. Their soldiers cannot fight without food. A certain definitely determina ble part of that food must come from us. Let us then examine carefully the world's larder as It appears today, or bo much of It as is at our disposal. I propose to review the situation first, as regards the cereals, second, as regards food animals and their prod ucts, third, as regards sugar, fourth, as regards vegetables, fifth, as regards fish and sea foods, and, finally, as re gards our duty in the matter. Cereals. The 1017 harvest Is now so far ad vanced that wo may compare it with previous production, nnd with tho de mands which are going to be made on it Table No. 1 is given to show the normal peace sources of the annual supplies of France, Italy, tho United Kingdom nnd Belgium, being nn aver ago of tho three-year pre-war period. It will be seen from this table that tho normal imports of wheat are 381, 000,000 bushels nnd of other cereals 845,000,000 bushels. Tho estimate of the 1017 harvest In the allied countries based upon crop reports from theso countries, Is as follows: Probable Av. nor- Deficiency Com- 1917 pro- mal pro- In prod'n. modltr. ductlon. Auction, due to war, Totata .6,625,100,000 102,633.000 TABLE NO. 2. Average Probabto Add poaslblo Normal U. 8. U. 8. Canadian Consumption Surplus Surplus 590.304,000 88,000,000 120,000.000 3,653,698,000 470,000.000 63.000,000 1,148.713,000 304,000.000 80.000.000 178,829.000 3C.000.000 9,000,000 35,866,000 20,200,000 18,000,000 917,200,000 239,000.000 4.607,410,000 Wheat ...893,770,000 Corn .... 04.464.000 Oata 837,235,000 Barley ... 93,686,000 Rye 41,732,000 690.676.000 121,109.000 670.890,000 125,201,000 78,673,000 196,906,000 26,646,000 233,665.000 31,616,000 36,841,000 Total ..960,786,000 1,488,443,000 626,662,000 In order to provide normal consump tion it would therefore be necessary to import in the next 12 months a total ef 677,000,000 bushels of wheat and 74,000,000 bushels of other cereals. The prospective position of our own and the Canadian harvest Is given In table No. 2. Onr crops, especially our corn crop, fcannot yet be considered as certain, trot If all mature safely, North Amer ica will have an apparent surplus of .wheat of 208,000,000 bushels and of other cereals of about 050,000,000 bushels. Demand on Our Crops. The nllles aro Isolated from those market, ether than Canada and tho United States, on which they were ac customed to rely before tho war. Tho Hussion supply cannot be got out. Bulgarian nnd Itoumnnlnn supplies are In the hands of tho central empires. The voyage from Australia and India Is threo times ns long and therefore requires three times ns many tons of shipping as Is required from North At lantic ports. It is also twice ns dan gerous because of the longer exposure to submarine attack. There has been a large failure In tho South American countries nnd the new hnrvest from that quarter will not be available In Europe until next spring. As already said, nil the allied countries are nnd have been for some time rigorously ad ministering nnd economizing their food. In Belgium, the relief commis sion has been compelled to reduce the consumption of cereals by nearly 50 per cent; this brings the food supply so low thnt tho population are In capable of labor. From the nbove tables It will be seen that on normal bnses of consump tion the total allied wheat Import re niilrements nro 577.000,000 bushels ngnlnst n North American surplus of 203,000,000 bushels and from our United States supplies we must re serve a certain amount for neutrals from which we receive vital supplies nnd also nn nmount to protect our stocks better next yenr than this Inst. Tiiom la thnrnfore on normal con sumption a deficit of over 400,000,000 bushels. In the other cereals used in Europe mostly for anlmnl feed, the Import necessities of the allies on nor mal consumption bnsls are about 074. 000,000 ngnlnst a North American sur plus of 050,000,000. But again a re serve for neutrals and Increased "car ry over" will absorb all tho margin. In any event It means we must multi ply our exports of these cereals 20 times. However, upon the bnslH of our present crop prospects we should be able to supply their requirements In cereals other than wheat. Wheat Situation Difficult The situation in wheat is one of great difficulty and concern, and must be met by nn elimination of waste and reduction of consumption on the part of the allied peoples and ourselves, In one word, by an effective administra tion of the available supply. The allies nro unable to use other cereals alone for bread. They can use them only as added to wheat flour to make the war bread now in uni versal use in European countries. Ex cept In Italy, whose people normally consume much corn, our allies have few corn mills and cornmcnl Is not a durable commodity and therefore can not be shipped In great quantities. Moreover, for generations they nave bought bread from tho bakeries ; they have no equipment nor do they know how to bako in the household. Every American knows thnt It is Infeasible to distribute corn bread from bakeries, nnd it Is therefore necessary for us to furnish our allies with sufficient wheat to cnnblo them to have a wheat basis for tho loaf. However, they can use and must use other cereals for mixture In their war bread, and by this substitution and by savings on their part a great deal can bo accom plished. On the other hand, a deficit of 400,000,000 bushels can bo at least partially overcome If we can Increase our exports from 88,000,000 to 220, 000,000 or nearly triple.' This can be accomplished If we will substitute one nound of other cereals for one pound of wheat flour weekly per person ; that Is, If wo reduce our consumption of wheat flour from five pounds per week to four pounds per week per person. It will bo no privation to us and will reduce tho privation of our allies. Food Animals. Owing to tho ascending standard of living, the world was already strained to supply enough animal products to meet tho demand before tho war be gnn. Tho war has injected into an al ready difficult situation n number of vicious conditions which ore Jeopardiz ing tho ultimate animal products sup ply of tho world. The production of fodder In Europe has been diminished by tho diversion of productive labor to war, and Its Import has been curtailed by shortage in shipping nnd by tho isolation of markets by belligerent. Hnes. From these causes not only nro the actual numbers of animals de creasing In Europe, but the average weight and the annual output of dairy products per animal, are decreasing. A careful estimate of the world's food animal position shows the follow ing position: Decrease Increase or In other decrease Decreaae countries United western Including Total net States allies enemies decrease Cattle 7,090,000 8,420,000 26,760,000 28,080,000 Sheep 8,000,000 17,600,000 34,000,000 64,600,000 Hogs 6,276,000 7,100,000 31,600,000 32,425,000 day tho decreasing production, ns ship ping becomes further shortened by con tinued submarine destruction, less ton nage can bo devoted to fodder, nnd fur ther reduction of the herds must en sue. These destructive forces have given rise to reactions In mnny direc tions. The world's supply of ment nntl dairy products, of niilinnl fats nnd In dustrial fats, wool and hides, are all Involved not only now, but for far Into the future. Meats. Tho Immediate problem Is to fur nish Increased meat supplies to the al lies to maintain them during the wur. An Important factor contributing to the present situation lies In the disturb ance to the world's trade by destruc tion of shipping resulting In throwing n larger burden on North Amerlcn, the nearest market. Shipments from the Australasian, South American nnd from the continental countries Into tho allied countries have been Interfered with. Their contributions must be re placed by increased shipments from North Amerlcn. i The growth of American meat ex ports since tho war began, most of which hnvo been supplied by allied nu tlons, Is revealed by the following fig ures : Three-year pre-war average, 403, 818,000 pounds. Yenr ending Juno 30, 1010, 1,330,- 11)3.000 pounds. , Tho Impact of European demnnd upon our animal products will bo maintained for a long period of years after peace. Wo can contemplate a high range of prices, for meat and for nnlmnl products for mnny years to come. We must undertake to meet tho demand not only during the war, so as to enable our allies to continue to light, but wo must be prepared to meet tho demand after the war. Our herd can not be increased In a slnglo night or In a single year. Our producers will not only be working In their own ul timate Interest In laying the founda tion of lnrgcr herds and flocks, but will servo our national Interest nnd the Interest of humanity, for years to come, If the best strains of young animals are preserved. The Increase In herds can only be accomplished if we savo more of our roughage and raise more fodder grains. It is worth noting that after the war Europe with lessened herds will, pending their recuperation, require less fodder nnd will therefore produce more bread grains and Im port less of them, so that we can after tho war safely reduce our bread grain production to Increase our fodder. But we must lay our foundation In the menntimo to increase our herds. There Is only one Immediate solution to the short supply of meat for ex port pending the Increase In our herds nnd flocks which will take years. Dur ing the course of tho wnr, wo can, Just as with tho cereals, reduce tho con sumption and eliminate tho wasto par ticularly among those classes which can best afford It In the meantime, In order to protect all of our people, wo must carefully control our meat ex ports In order that' tho people shall not be denied this prime necessity of life. Dairy Products. The world's dairy supplies are de creasing rapidly for two Important rea sons. First, the dairy cattle of Eu rope are diminishing, for Europe Is be ing driven to eat its cattle for meat; second, the diversion of labor to warv has decreased the roaaer supplies ana the shortage of shipping has limited the amount of Imported fodder and therefore tho jcattle which can bo sup ported nnd tho productivity of tho Indi vidual cow have been reduced. Even our own dairy supplies aro not keeping paco with our growth of population, for our per capita milk supply has fallen from 00 to 75 gallons annually In tho past 15 years. Yet today we must ship Increasing amounts of dairy products to our allies. The dairy supplies of the allies In normal times came to a considerable degree from western Scandlntivla, Hol land and Switzerland, but under Ger man pressure these supplies nro now partly diverted to Germany. Tho men under arms nnd tho wounded must be supplied with condensed milk In lnrgo quantities. The not result of theso conditions, despite rigorous reduction of consumption among the adults of tho civil population In Europe, Is that our allies are still short of large quantities and again tho burden of tho replace ment of this shortage must fall on North America. The growing exports of dairy products from tho United Stntes to the allies are shown In the following table: Three year average. Cutter 4,457,000 lbs. Cheese 3,780,000 lbs. Cond. mlllc. . . .17,792,000 lbs. 83,020,000 92,350,000 116,005,000 The problem facing tho American people Is not only one of supplying the Immediate demand of the allies, but ono which Is more far-reaching In Its future significance. As tho wnr goes on there will bo a constant lessening of tho capital stock of food animals of tho world. Among our western al lies the demand outruns further every Year ending June 30,1913. 13,487,000 lbs. 44.394,000 lbs. 169,677,000 lbs. The high price of fodder and meat In tho United States during tho past few months induced by tho pressing Euro pean demand hns set up dangerous cur rents In this country, especially In thoso regions dependent ,upon butter and tho salo of milk to municipalities having made it more profitable to sell tho cattle for meat than to keep them and produce dairy products. There fore; tho dairy cattio aro decreasing In some sections. The only sections in which dairy products have had a rise In price In npproprlate proportion to the Increaso In most of feeds aro those producing condensed milk and cheese. Our home milk and butter supplies nro therefore looked nt In n broad way, decreasing while our population Is In creasing. This deficiency of dairy but ter Is shown by tho lucreased sales of mnrgarlne, which show nn Increaso of several million pounds per month over similar periods In 1015. Dairy butter, however, has qualities which render It vltnlly necessary for children. Milk hns no substitute and Is not only In trinsically ono of our cheapest nnlmnl footls, but Is absolutely fundamental to the roaring of the children. Tho dairy situation resolves Itself Into several phases. First, It Is to be hoped thnt the forthcoming abundant harvest together with a proper restric tion upon exports of feeding stuffs will result In lower prices of feed nnd di minish the Impetus to sell tho cattle for meat. Second, the Industry needs encouragement so ns to Increase" the dairy herd nnd thus our dairy supplies, for the sake Hist of our own people and second of the allies. The people must realize the vital dependence of the well-being of their children, nnd thus of the nation, upon the encourage ment and upbuilding of the Industry. Third, we must save the wastes In milk nnd butter during the war If we are to provide milk supplies to nil. We waste large quantities of our milk value from our lack of national demand for prod ucts of skimmed nnd sour milk. Pork Products. The hog Is the most efficient of ma chines for the production of nnlmnl fat. The hog not only makes moro fat from n given nmount of feed, but nlso the products made are specially cupablo of preservation anil most economical for commercial handling. The swine of Europe nro rapidly de creasing and the consumption demnnd Induced by the war Is much Incrensed, this particularly because bacon, ham and lard are so adaptable for military supplies. Moreover, our allies are Iso lated from many markets nnd a large amount from northern neutrals Is being diverted to Germany. While our hogs have Increased In number by 3,000,000 animals, the aver age weight at slaughter la falling and our production Is probnbly only about mnlntnlned. The Increasing uemnnu upon us since tho wnr began is shown by tho following figures of comparntlvo exports : Three-year, pre-war period, 1,055, 014,000 pounds. Yenr ending June 30, 1010, 1,512, 370,000 pounds. Wool and Leather. Our national supply of both wool and leather aro less than our needs, and we ore Importing them moro nnd more largely, as shown by the follow ing figures: Importations of wool nnd manufac tures of wool (value) for the three- year pre-war period, 802,457,005; for tho fiscal yenr ending June SO, 1010, $158,078,271. Importations (value) of hides, leath er, and manufactures of leather aver age of tho three-year pre-war period, $133,171,308; for tho year endlug Juno 30, 1010, $177,880,002. At tho present time the world's de mand for these products has Incrensed far above tho peace level owing to the extra consumption in supplying tho nrmlcs. This demand Is now ngaln In creased by tho mobilization of a largo American army. In tho faco of this, not only is the European herd decreas ing, .but also American sheep have de creased about 3,000,000 slnco tho war began. After the war is over, the va rious countries of the world from which we formerly drew our wool nro likely to retain It for their own use until their flocks again become normal. Sugar. The sugar supply on which our allies In Europe normally draw has been tremendously reduced, so that they must have recourso to other sources. In consequence of the shipping situa tion the area from which they must draw Is also curtailed and, ns a result, they are driven Into thoso markets from which our own supply normally arises. Furthermore, their own pro duction has been greatly diminished. Before tho war, Europe supplied In a largo measure its own needs, through the production of beet sugar, as will appear from the following table show ing tho uvernge yearly production and consumption for tho five years before the wnr (1000-1013), In some of the chief countries of Europo : Prod'n. Consump. Surp. (t) (short (short or den tons) tons) cloncy () Germany 2,625,890 Austria 1,651.883 nussla 1,659,947 United Kingdom Franco 762,642 Italy 211.050 Belgium 279.918 Holland 246,146 As appears from tho table, Franco, Italy, Russia and Belgium were self supporting, while tho United Kingdom drew Its entire sugar supply from ex terior sources. Tho supply of tho Unit ed Kingdom came to the umount of nbout 70 per cent from countries from which It Is now cut off by the wnr. Ten per cent enmo from the East In dies nnd 20 per cent from tho United Stntes and tho West Indies. Tho prospective 1018 crop In Frnnce has diminished to 207,000 tons nnd thnt of Italy to 75,000 tons, and thoy nro thcreforo short 500,000 tons. Tho displacement of United Kingdom sup plies amounts to 1,435,000 tons; nnd therefore, In totul, these three allied countries must import nbout 2,700,000 tons in order to mnlntnin their normal consumption. Of this, 2,000,000 tons must como from now sources. The disturlmnco of' shipping re duces tho tonnge available and drives tho demund to a lnrgo degreo upon tho 1,299.685 679,204 1,322,285 2,066,000 704,830 190.000 120,358 131,538 tl.226,314 t 972,685 t 337,662 -2,056,000 t 47.712 t 21.050 t 169,060 t 114,606 nearest mnrkcts, tho United Stntes nnd the West Indies. This field hns since the wnr Increased Its production by 1,000,000 tons per annum. How fur this demnnd will interfere with tho American supply of 4,000,000 tons is difficult to forecast, first, because soiuo Incrensed supplies may bo obtnlned by the allies from tho East Indies, nnd, second, becuuso ,tho nllles have re duced their consumption to somo ex tent. In nny event, If nil tho enemies of Germany nre to bo supplied, there must bo economy In consumption everywhere. The normal American consumption Is nbout 00 pounds per person per nnuum and Is Just double tho French consumption. Vegetables. We hnve this year u most abundant crop of vegetables for our use ns n re sult of n patriotic endenvor almost universal throughout the country. Our potato harvest nlono promises nn In crease from 285.000,000 bushels last year to over 400,000,000 bushels this year. Tho other vegetables are like wise enormously Incrensed through the planting and extension of millions of gardens. The sweet potato crop promises to be from 10 to 20 per cent nbove whnt It was last year, and the commercial crop of sweet corn for canning purposes Is estlmnted to bo from 20 to 30 per cent nbove that of last year. The commercial crop of tomatoes for canning purposes will probably be somewhere between 10 ami 20 per cent nbove whnt It was last year. There is nn Incrense In the acre age of late onions of nbout 54 per cent over tho nrea harvested In 1010. Fish and Sea Foods. Tho waters of our coasts nnd lnkes are enormously rich In food fish nnd shell fish. Our streams, too, contribute n great quantity of fish. Mnny varie ties aro now not used for human food, but nre thrown away or used for ferti lizer. Habit has confined our use of fish to n few varieties, and Inadequate methods of commercial handling hnvo limited our use of theso largely to only certnln days In the week. With better mnrketlng facilities, with better under standing of how to use tho most varie ties, with proper preservation by si 'ng nnd snltlng nnd by establish Inu plants for frozen fish, we can In crease grently our supply nnd thus re lievo largely the pressuro due to tho Inadequate supply of meat. We only have to harvest our own fish supply. It feeds Itself. Every fish eaten Is that much gained In solving tho pres ent problem of lhlng. The products of the land ui! conserved by eating those of the sea. Our Duty. I have endeavored to show In previ ous articles that tho world Is short of food: that Europo is confronted with tho grim specter of starvation unless from our abundance and our wasto we keep tho wolf from tho door. Not only must wo have a proper uso of our food Bupply In order that wo may furnish our allies with tho sinews with which they may fight our battles, byt it is an net of humanity towards fellow men, women and children. By tho diversion of millions of men from production to war, by tho occu pation of lund by armies, by the Iso lation of markets, by belligerent lines, and by the destruction of shipping by submarines, not only has tho homo pro duction of our allies fallen by over 500,000,000 bushels of grain, but they are thrown upon us for n much larger proportion of their normal Imports for merly obtained from other markets. They have reduced consumption at every point, but men In tho trenches, men In the shops, and the millions of women plnced at physical labor re quire moro food than during peace times, and the Incidence of their saving nnd nny shortngo which they may suf fer, falls first upon women nnd chil dren. If this privation becomes too great, their peoples cannot bo main tained constant In tho wnr, and wo will be left alone to fight the battle of democracy with Germany. The problem of food conservation Is one of mnny complexions. Wo cannot, nnd wo do not wish, with our free In stitutions nnd our largo resources of food, to Imitate Europo In its policed rationing, but wo must voluntarily and Intelligently assume tho responsibility beforo us as ono in which everyone has a direct and Inescapable Interest Wo must increaso our export of foods to tho nllles, and In tho circumstances of our shipping situation, theso exports must bo of tho most concentrated foods. Theso aro wheat, flour, beef, pork and dairy products. Wo huvo oth er foods In great abundance which wo can uso instead of these commodities, and wo can prevent wastes In a thou sand directions. Wo must guard tho drainage of exports from tho United States, that wo retain a proper supply for our own country, and we must adopt such measures as will amelior ate, so far as may be, the prlco condi tions of our less fortunate. Wo might so drain tho supplies from tho country to Europe ns by tho high prices that would follow to forco our people to shorten their consumption. This oper ntlon of "normal economic forces" would starvo that element of the com munity to whom we owe tho most pro tection. Wo must try to Impose tho burden equally upon all. Action Must Be Voluntary. There is no royal road to food con servation. We can only accomplish this by the voluntary action of our whole people, each element In propor tion to its means. It Is n matter of equality of burden; a matter of mln uto saving nnd substitution nt every point In tho 20,000,000 kitchens, on the 20,000,000 dinner tables and In tho 2, 000,000 manufacturing, wholesale nnd retail establishments of tho country. Tho task Is thus In Us essence the dally Individual service of all the people. Every group can substitute ami even tho grent majority of thrifty pcoplo enn snve a little and the more luxuri ous elements of tho population can by reduction to simple living savo much. Tho final result of substituting other products nnd saving ono pound of wheat flour, two ounces of fnt,s, seven ounces of sugar ami seven ounces of ment weekly, by each person, will, when wo hnvo multiplied this by ono hundred million, hnvo Increased our exports to tho amounts absolutely re quired by our nllles. This means no more thnn thnt wo should cnt plenty, but eat wisely and without waste. Food conservation has other nspects of utmost Itnporthncc. Wars must bo paid for by savings. Wo must save In the consumption In commodities nnd tho consumption of unproductive- la bor In order that we mny divert our manhood to the army nnd to tho shops. If by tho reduction In consumption of labor nnd the commodities that It pro duces and tho diversion of this saving to thnt labor and those commodities demnmled by tho wur, we shull bo ablo to fight to eternity. We can mortgngo our future Biivlugs for it little while, but n piling up of mortgages Is but n short step toward bankruptcy. Every atom thnt we save Is available for sub scription to Liberty bonds. The whole of Europe has been en gaged over slnco the wnr began In tho elimination of wnste, the simplification of life, nnd the incrense of Its Indus trial capacity. When the wur is over the consuming power of tho world will bo reduced by tho loss of prosperity und man power, nnd wo shall enter a period of competition without parallel In ferocity. After tho wnr, wo must mnlntnin our foreign markets If our working people nro to be employed. Wo shall be In no position to competo If we continue to llvo on tho samo basis of wasto and extrnvaganco on which wo have lived hitherto. Simple, temperate living Is a moral Issue of tho first order at any time, and any other basis of conduct during tho war be comes a wrong ngnlnst tho Interest of tho country and tho Interest of democracy. Tho lmpnct of the food shortage of Europo hns knocked nt every door of tho United States during tho past threo years. Tho prices of foodstuffs havo nearly doubled, and the rovcrberatlons of Europo's Increasing shortage would huvo thundered twice ns loudly dur ing tho coming yenr even had we not entered tho war, and It can now only bo mitigated if wo can exert a strong control nnd this In many directions. We nre today in an era of high prices. Wo must mnlntaln prices ut such a level as will stimulate produc tion, for wo nre faced by a starving world and tho value of a commodity to the hungry Is greater than its price. As a result of the world shortage of supplies, our consumers have suffered from speculation and extortion. While wages for some kinds of labor hava Increased with the rise in food prices, in others, it has been difficult to main tain our high standard of-nutritlon. By the elimination of wasto In all classes, by tho reduction In the con sumption of foodstuffs by the more for tunatc, wo shall Increaso our supplies not only for export but for home, and by Increased supplies wo can help In the amelioration of prices. For Better Distribution. Beyond this the duty has been laid upon the food administration to co-operate with tho patriotic men in trades and commerce, that wo may eliminate the evils which have grown Into our system of distribution, that the bur den mny fall equitably upon all by res toration, so far as may be, of the nor mal course of trade. It Is tho purpose of tho food administration to use its utmost power and tho utmost ability, that patriotism can assemble to ameli orate this situation to such a degree aa may be possible The food administration Is assem bling the best expert advice In tha country on homo economics, on food utilization, on trade practices and trade wastes, and on the conduct of public eating places, and wo shall out llno from time to time detailed sugges tions, which If honestly carried out by, such individuals In tho country, we be lieve will effect the result which we must attain. We nro asking every home, every public eating place and many trades, to sign a pledge card to accept theso directions, so far as their circumstances permit and we nre organizing various Instrumentalities to ameliorate speculation. We aro ask lng tho men of the country who ar9 not actually engaged In tho handling of food to sign similar pledges that they shall see to It, bo far as they are able, that theso directions nro followed. Wo aro nsklng all who wish us well nnd who undertake our service to be-, come actual members of tho food ad ministration, just as much volunteers In national service ns we ourselves are, ' so that thus tho food administration may not bo composed of a small body of men In Washington nnd a small representation In each state, but may becomo a body of 50,000,000 people, devoted absolutely to tho services of democracy. Wo hope to see the in signia of membership In every patrl otic window In tho country. Autocracy finds its strength In Its ability to lraposo organization by force from tho top. Tho essence of democracy consists In the application of the Initiative in its own people. If Individualism cannot be so organized as to defend itself, then democracy is a faith which cannot stand. We are seeking to impose no organization from tho top. Wo tiro nsklng the American pcoplo to organlzo from the bottom up, and thta is tho essenco of democracy, Itself. Tho call of patriotism, of humanity, and of duty rings clear nnd Insistent Wo must heed it if wo aro to defend our Ideals, mnlntnin our form of gov ernment, und sufegunrd our future wel fare. tfl V