New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-29
Proof Is at Hand

Proof Is at Hand
Contrary proof is immeditely at our
door, and our people have already dem
onstrated their ability to mobilize, or
ganize, endure and prepare voluntarily
and efficiently in many directions and
upon a mere word of inspiration, aside
from the remarkable assemblage of our
army and finances.
1--WE entered the war four months
ago, and it was announced by the Presi-
dent that one of the great problems of
the war would be food-that we must
prepare to increase and to save our
| foodstuffs for a year in advance, not
only for ourselves, but for our Allies
as well.
There has been no consequential ma
tional or local legislation, yet the
1 greatest spontaneous volunteer effort
ever made in history has not only pro-
vided us with larger stock of food
supply, as result of patriotic plant
ing in every quarter, but waste is being
! eliminated out of every crack and
! Granny of our homes and of our in
dustries, and this is being done with
/ out compulsion of the law, but by
/ spontaneous effort and self-denial OF
! the people.
( Promising Outlook
"Our present prospects indicate an
| increase of production of cereals by
$50, 100000 bushels, and, although oul
! farmers planted an increased acreage
of wheat, the weather has not re-
sponded for this product. Literally
millions of new gardens have beer
planted or extended everywhere. We
have the largest supply of vegetables
ever in our history.
"The wolf is at the door of Europe
and with all these SURPRISES our stoci
Of foodstuffs would still have been .oC
little for the demand upon US durin,
the coming year if our people had no
responded to the call for wise use
economy and elimination of waste. Thu
response not only in planting, but alst
IN conservation, has been Of such
spontaneous, magnificent order as t
give confident optimism in the abilit!
of our people TO prepare and to pre-
serve.
Gamers Are Ready
"Our American Gamers will this yea
produce about 1,700,000,000 cans o
L. fruit and vegetables. Our government
and the Allies will require about 200,
100000 of these cans. The returns We
have from various state organization
indicate from the results obtained TO
the first half of the season that tn
American women will preserve 200,
600 900 lars and cans this year Of frui
and vegetables, and will thus suppl.
any deficiency called for by the armies
"The elimination of waste in tn
country has been most gratifying. TIT
best index of this saving is in garbag'
returns from our large cities. w
have the returns from the month %
! June from cities of a population %
100000, showing reduction OF thei'
garbage by 80 per cent under tn
month Of June last year.
"Now that we make broad surve
o. the country after four months "
find every state spontaneously creating
a definite and active food organization
presided over by capable and devote
men and women, who have sacrifice
4 every interest in this national service
We find a well-considered and well-de
! fired organization Of sub-committees il
the various phases of food production
and conservation, and we see these re
duplicated by REORGANIZATION il
counties and municipalities.
Proof of Democracy
"This is the organization of democ
racy, and this is positive proof tina
only upon call of national duty on
PEOPLE will rise, and rise overnight, I
the real defence of their faith. hav
70 fear that the superior intelligenc
Of our people and their capacity o
self-denial, their will 10 persevere, vii
not prove a wall against which tn
Germans may battle for the next fiv
years if it be necessary.
"Even though the situation in Europ
nay be gloomy to-day, no American
who has knowledge Of the results al
ready obtained In every direction nee,
have one atom of fear that democrac,
will not defend itself in these Unite,
States"