The Dermott news., 1917-08-23

AH#fft AHAH HAA~NEt~ H- VIII HHtetfb- rate. ~o far as may be. the price eondi- lions of our less fortunate. We might so drain the supplies from the country te Europe as by the high prices that would follow to force cur people to shorten their consumption. This oper alton af normal economic forces" would starve that element of the com. maHity to whom we owe the most pro teetion. We must try Co impose the burden equally upon all.
 Action Mus, Be Voluntary.
 There is no royal road to food con servation. We can only accomplish this by the voluntary action of our whole people. each element in propor- ton te ifs paeans |, Is q matter of equality of burden; matter of min Ute saving and substitution at every point in the 2Oopo.OOu Kitchens, on the 20,eoeoo dinner tables and in the 2.e0.0p manufacturing. wholesale and retail establishments of the country The task Is thus Ih It's essence the daily individual service of all the people Every group can substitute and even the great majority of thrifty people can save little-and the more luxuri. ous clements of the population can by reduction to simple living save much The final result of substituting other products and saving one pound of wheat flour. two ounces of fats. seven ounces ef sugar and seven ounces of meat weekly by each person will. when we have multiplied this hy one hundred million. have increased our exports to the amounts absolutely re- quired by our allies. This means no more than that We should eat plenty. but eat wisely and without waste.
 Food conservation has other ,<pects of utmost importance Wars must he paid for hy savings We must save in the consumption tn commodities and the consumption sf unproduetive Ia Dor in order that we may divert our manhood to the army and to the shops.
 The whole of Europe has been ea- gagged ever since the war began in the elimination of waste. the simpliheation of life and the increase of its indus trial capacity When the war is over the consuming power of the world will be reduced hy the loss of prosperity and man power. and we shall enter a period of competition without parallel in feroeity After the WAT We must maintain our foreign markets 1T eur 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 cNtruNagHnrr an which We have lived hitherto Simple. temperate living Is n moral iSSue af the first order at any time. and any other basis of conduct during the war he comes wrong against the interest ef democracy.
 The impact of the food shortage If Europe has knocked at every door af the United States during the past three years The prices of foodstuffs have nearly doubled. and the reverherations of Eurnpe's increasing shortage would have thundered twice as loudly dur ing the coming year even had We not entered the war
 We are today in an era of high prices. We must maintain prices al such level as will stimulate produc- tion. for we are faced by a starving world and the value of a commodity to the hungry Is greater than its price
 As result of the world shortage es supplies. our consumers have suffered from speculation and extortion. While wages for some kinds of labor have increased with the rise In food prices. in others, 1t has been difficult to main. tain our high standard ot nutrition.
 By the elimination of waste in all classes. by the reduction Tn the con sumption of foodstufrs by the mere for tunate. we shall increase our supplies not only for export hut for home. and by increased supplies we can help h the amelloration of prices
 For Better Distribution.
 Beyond this the duty has been laid upon the food administration to coop crate with the patriotic men Tn 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 he. of the nor mal course of trade. IL is the purpose of the food administration 10 use It's utmost power and the utmost ability that patriotism can assemble t6ameli. crate this situation 10 such degree as may be possible.
 The food administration is assem- bling the best expert advice in the country on home economies. 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- tions, which if honestly carried out by such individuals In the country. we be- lieve will effect the result which we must attain. We are asking every home. every public eating place and many trades. to sign pledge card to accept these directions, so far as their circumstances permit, and we are