Evening star., 1917-11-11
POTATO ASSOCIATION
REFLECTS PRESIDENT
L. D. Sweet Honored by Convention
at Closing Session-0ther
Officers Chosen.

Lou D. Sweet Of Denver, Col. a mem
Der OF the United States Food Admin
istration. was reelected president of
the Potato Association Of America at
the closing session of the two-day con-
vention Of that body yesterday in the
auditorium Of the New National Mu-
scum. Other officers elected were: Vice
Canada; secretary-treasure W. Stuart
of the Department of Agriculture; ex-
ecutive committee. Lou D. Sweet, Henry
6. Bell OF Chicago, ILL.,: Daniel Dean of
Nichols. New York: w. Stuart of Wash
ington, and H. E. Hornton of Chicago.
Ill.
Reports of committees occupied the
greater part of the closing session.
Next years convention will be held In
a western city, 1t was announced.
Advises Less Food.
Direct reduction Of the consumption
of foods by the people Of the United
States was urged as one Of the three
great methods for winning the war by
Herbert C. Hoover. United States food
administrator. at the convention of the
Potato Association OF America In the
scum Friday night
The United States has increased its
food consumption by IL per cent since
the beginning Of the war" said Mr.,
Hoover. III we can only get back to
our pre-war basis Of food consumption
We Will find ourselves able to supply
our allies with the so0.oo0.o00 bushels
chance Of giving them this immense
amount OF grain does not look good
this year. but with Is per cent reduc-
tion OF food consumption in this coun-
dangering the public health. we shall
be able to take care Of ALL their needs
and our own. too
The substitution Of corn for wheat
In bread has lowered the consumption
OF wheat in the allied countries, not
ably in France. by some 80 per cent,
and It Is my desire to see wheat con-
sumption In the United States cut down
by a similar amount, leaving 70 per
cent OF the wheat crop available for
bread and other foods"
Speaking Of Germany's economic con-
dition with regard to foodstufYs, Mr..
Hoover appeared not over-sanguine Of
the success of the German crops this
year and limited at a total failure of
tho crop In the next year Of war.
Why German Crops May Fail.
have been sown in Germany" he said.
NO country can go on reaping the har-
vest without replenishing the produc-
tive elements OF the soil, which Ger
many has done since the war began.
Her food reserves, which were un-
doubtedly immense at the outbreak of
hostilities. have been wiped out and
all we have to do is to hold her for
year or possibly two years on the west
ern front. when she will be forced to
oh
economic situation. We need do moth
ing else to win the war than to hold
our own on the line which stretches
from the English channel to Switzer-
land.
The immediate problem which con-
fronts the food administration is that
OF securing control Of food necessities
We can reach down past the middle
man in this matter and reach the pro-
ducer. and we believe that we now have
a thorough grasp on the situation"
With regard to the special demands
OF potato growers Mr.. Hoover stated
that the administration would not at
tempt to NIX the price OF potatoes, as
the laws Of supply and demand in this
instance were overthrown by the pre-
vailing freight congestion.
Government and Railroads.
Cooperation between tho goyern-
ment and the railroads in the country
in the transportation Of foodstuffs and
military supplies was explained at the
meeting yesterday by Howard Elliott Of
the New York, New Haven and Hartford
railroad. who is connected with the
car service commission of the food ad-
ministration.
The system now in use in the United
States differs from that used by Eng
| land" said Mr.. Elliott. ION the out
break OF war England seized all the
railroads OF the country. agreeing to
repair all breakages and wear on roll
Ing stock after the war. The United
states has put the transportation prob
lem up to the RAILROADS. themselves.
with the Capitalization OF tn. executive
ond IN the car service ronninsion"
f. Percy hiller OF tho United States
food standardization spoke Of the dis
tr1bution OF the potato crop from the
standpoint OF the chusImcr Other
| speakers were II. j. Whesier of hos
! ton and Daniel Dsan Of Nichols, New
York.