The Mena weekly star., 1917-08-30


 but eat wisely and without waste.
 Food conservation has other aspects Of utmost importance. Wars must be paid for by savings. We must save In the consumption in commodities and the consumption of unproductive In. bor in order that we may divert our manhood to the army and to the shops If by the reduction in consumption of labor and the commodities that if pro- duces and the diversion of this saving to that labor and those commodities demanded by the war, we shall be able to fight to eternity. We can mortgage our future savings for a little while. but piling up of mortgages Is but short step toward bankruptcy. Every atom that We save is available for sub scription to Liberty bonds.
 The whole of Europe has been en- gagged ever since the war began in the elimination of waste. the simplihcation of life, and the increase of it's indus trial capacity. When the war is over the consuming power of the world will be reduced by the loss of prosperity l and man power and we shall enter a period of competition without parallel In terocity. After the war, we must maintain our foreign markets If our working people are to be employed. We shall be in no position to compete if We continue to live on the same basis of waste and extpavagance on which we have lived hitherto Simple. temperate living is moral issue of the first order at any time, and any other basis of conduct during the war be- comes q wrong against the interest of the country and the interest of democracy.
 The impact of the food shortage of Europe has knocked at every door of the United States during the past three years. The prices of foodstuffs have nearly doubled, and the reverberations of Europe's increasing shortage would have thundered twice as loudly dur ! ing the coming year even had we not entered the war, and it can now only be mitigated if we can exert a strong control and this in many directions. We are today in an era of high prices. We must maintain prices at such level as will stimulate produc- tion, for we are faced by a starving world and the value of commodity to the hungry Is greater than it's 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 have increased with the rise in food prices, fin others, it has been difficult to main. tain our high standard of nutrition.
 By the elimination of waste in all classes. by the reduction in the con- sumption of foodstuffs by the more for l tunate. we shall increase our supplies not only for export but for home, and 1 ny increased supplies we can help in the amelioration of prices.
 For Better Distribution Beyond this the duty has been laid upon the food administration to coop crate with the patriotic men in trades and commerce. that we may eliminate the evils which have grown into our system of distribution, that the bur den may fall equitably upon all by res toration, so far as may be, of the nor nal course of trade. If is the purpose of the food administration to use it's utmost power and the utmost ability that patriotism can assemble to ameli- crate this situation to such degree as may be possible.
 | Tho fnaI aI e-f aosat.1- bling the best expert advice in the country on nome economics. on food utilization, on trade practices and trade wastes, and on the conduct of public eating places, and we shall out line from time to time detailed sugges- tons. which if honestly carried out by such individuals in the country, we be- lieye will effect the result which we must attain. We are asking every home, every public eating place and many trades, to sign a pledge card to accept these directions. so far as their circumstances permit, and we are organizing various instrumentalities to ameliorate speculation. We are ask 1 ing the men of the country who are not actually engaged in the handling of food to sign similar pledges that | they shall see to it, so far as they are able, that these directions are followed and this k the essence of democracy itself.
 Autocracy finds its strength in its ability to impose organization by force from the top. The essence of democracy consists in the application of the initiative in it's 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 | the top. We are asking the American people to organize from the bottom up.
 The call of patriotism, of humanity and of duty rings clear and insisteni We must heed it if we are te defend our ideals, maintain our form of gov- ernment, and safeguard our future wei- fare.
 
 Save the Best For Seed.