New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-15
Food Conservation and Prices

Food Conservation and Prices
Barring the MASTERS, the conscientious
objectors' and the downright enemies, 1t
may be taken for granted that the people
of this country will respond Loyalty to
whatever demands for self-denial, even for
actual deprivation, the authorities may
deem necessary in order that the United
States may contribute its due share toward
winning the war. If the porkless day and
the meatless and wheatless meals which
Mr.. Hoover advocates must be added to
the meatless and wheatless days which
most of the people are observing, 1t will be
done. Also sugar will be conserved, as he
recommends.
There remains big question TO be an
swered, however-how this is to be done
and the people who must keep the work OF
the nation going are to keep working. Ihey
are willing enough; but they need much
help. Unfortunately, that help is not forth
coming as it ought to be.
Mr.. Hoover and all his aids, official and
voluntary, talk of food substitution. That
is all well and good, but the wage-earners
and small salaried men cannot substitute
fish for meat, for instance, when they ma
fish is more expensive than meat. That is
the case in this city and in neighboring
cities. They cannot substitute rye
bread for white bread when it costs as
much-or relatively more. They cannot
substitute corn bread for white bread for
many reasons-in some cases the wives
cannot bake it; in other cases, when faclli-
ties for home baking are present they find
it costs more. on account of the eggs and
milk necessary. Honey cannot be substi-
tuted for sugar because it is hard to pro-
cure and expensive. Cheese and milk may
be, relatively, cheaper than meat; but both
are dear enough according to past eX-
perience. and neither fills the stomach of
the meat-eating American workingman.
1t is preposterous TO urge, as some of
the food canvassers did in workingmen's
homes recently-doubtless with the best in
tention in the world-that food substitutes
should be used, even if they cost more than
the articles which they would replace. Most
people in this great city and in the nation
at large are having all they can do now
to buy enough food of any kind at prevail
ing prices to keep them fit for their daily
tasks. There is great saving of food due
to the high prices which have forced the
cutting down of meals. That is not pre-
cisely the kind Of conservation which the
Food Administration desires, for if it con-
tinued it would produce a condition of
disease and malnutrition here equivalent
TO that said TO exist in Germany.
The day the fish dealers are so curbed
that the present ridiculous prices are re-
duced to a level below those of meat, the
day the bakers are so regulated that rye
bread is really cheaper, pound for pound,
than wheat, the food campaign will be won
without more ado. The people who are
driven by the necessity of finding the
cheapest thing they can buy to keep life
anu WI hIiiB pONtl III IHeHl VIII save ali
the meat and wheat Mr.. Hoover could de-
sire to have saved. Meantime, all the
tender-handed methods now being en-
ployed will be futile-the mere revocation
of the licenses of couple of sugar dealers
who, having overcharged customers accord
ing to the government scale, are to be per-
mitted to refund and get out of business
temporarily; and the promise, made one
day and denied the next, of intent TO pub
lish what are considered to be fair retail
prices for foodstuffs.
Food regulation has not yet meant price
regulation TO the consumers. What doesn't
reach and affect them might as well not be.
The food situation depends on them. and
the government might as we'll get to work
ing with them. When they can buy cheap
~ what the government advises them TO
eat, there will assuredly be no reluctance
on their part; but they'll not be able TO do
their part effectively until the government
steps in and labors assiduously with the
retailers as we'll as the wholesalers.