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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
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