The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-10-31
THREE GREAT NEEDS.
HOOVER SAYS AMERICANS MUST
PRODUCE MORE FOOD AND
EAT LESS.
rood Administrator i'm Reviewing
World Situation Declares United
States Must Stimulate Production
OF Ships, Wheat and Hogs to Win
the War.

lood situation, Herbert Hoover, food
administrator said the fight against
The submarine would be won if the
United States and Canada could stim-
ulate production and effect economies
SO as to feed the allies from this con-
tinent without sending shin fartber
afield than the American Atlantic
seaboard.
Ships. wheat and hogs are the
great needs emphasized by Hoover. |
He said deepest concern had been
caused by the fact that in spite of |
higher prices, pork consumption had
increased during the var until pro-
duction had been outstripped and
the situation must be changed.
III we discontinue exports" Mr.
Hoover added, I'VE will move the Ger
man line from France to the Atlantic
seaboard. Pork products have an in
fiuence in this present world situation
wider than one would ordinarily at
tribute to them. The human body
must have certain amount of fat.
we must increase production of hogs
II we are to answer the worlds crav-
ing.
Every pound of fat is as sure of
service as every bullet, and every hog
is of greater value to the winning of
this war than a she'll"
AS to wheat the administrator said
the allies deficiency Of production is
100000 bushels with imports
of 577,700.O0O bushels required to
maintain normal consumption. He
estimated the aggregate American,
Canadian, Austrian. Indian and Ar
gentine export surplus at 10000
900 bushels.
THE problem is thus simply one
of ships" he said. IF ample shipping
existed, there would be no need for
saving or increased production of
wheat on the part of the American
people. But if we can produce
economies and stimulate production
in the United States and Canada as
will enable us to feed the allies alb
solutely from this continent and thus
enable them to live without sending "a
ship farther afield than our Atlantic
seaboard, we can resist the subma-
rine indefinitely"
Placing the United .'tates' wheat
export surplus from this years crop
at S0.000,000 bushels and Canada's at
15O, 900, 900 bushels, Mr.. Hoover urg-
ed domestic economies to increase
this country's surplus to 10000
900 bushels.
This we could do" he said, "if
our people would eat one pound less
Of wheat -four per week and onn
pound of corn meal instead"
l If peace should come, Mr. Hoover
Pcontinued, large numbers Of ships
would be released and European
wheat production increased. If cli-
matte conditions next year are right
he estimated q wheat crop of this
country Of 100000. 900 bushels. For
this the food control law guarantees
a minimum price Of So per bushel.
IF war continues this wheat will
be vitality necessary" Mr. Hoover said.
but If the war should come to IN
end. there will be no foreign market
for at least 4OO,O00,O00 brsheis The
government must then take over the
wheat and probably find a market
for it at very great loss. should
anticipate that the government might
lose from $SOO,OOO,OOO to $780,
100000 on this wheat guaranty if
peace arrives before the 1918 harvest
is harvested"
Mr.. Hoover expressed the opinion
that the fixed guarantee was un-
necessary and that reasonable pro-
fit guaranteed to the farmer would
have been sufficient to stimulate pro-
duction.
However, the guaranty has been
fixed" he added "It is an insurance
against the submarine and an esti-
mate of what it may cost we must
leave to the future"
Turning to the meat situation the |
said pork products were |
more vitality needed by the allies than |
beef.
"In the matter of beef" he sail,
'the allies can support themselves
without any consequential expansion
Of imports from the United States"
In view of the European situation
md the shortage in hogs, he pointed
mt thot yharo upOrlI ho liol, ovor