The Washington times., 1917-06-25
From Today'S Philadelphia Ledger.)
FOOD-AND DRINK CONTROL

Even the ardent advocates of prohibition of the liquor
will not provided they have wholly all of proper
ton in this world crisis become unduIy exllnt the d
amendment which the House added the food control bill before its
final passage Saturday And the general feeling of dissatisfaction
throughout the country what its surface least is sign of
oe do and less talk part Congress will be somewhat tenn
pered by the suspicion that the House idea that the food
control bill will go the statute books present form than be-
ieved in the naty of its revenue bill when passed it.
The vital problem confronting the country today the
ton of ood-he increase production and the prevention of waste
tic the end that the grave starvation may be avd Of
course The amount of food material that goes into the making of dis
titled and ferented beverages considerable factor the problem
Thai will be admitted without debate But will also be admitted
by fanatics that opinion enaon sharply divided upon the
subject total prohibition and than doubtful epdency
to force the at when great national emergency calls
for unity every of human endeavor industrial commercial
and military Moreover the vote in the House of Representatives is
unfortunately accurate index of the convictions of the
b who voted by such unexpected maoes for drastic prohbto
clauses amendments the Administrations food control bill Too
many of them voted they did with eye political effect know
ing any rate hoping that the Senate would the relief of
situation which they realize in their hearts to be impossible
There such thing making haste too rapidly 1t perfectly
true that daily the acreage of the great American desert increasing
Industry has read the riot act to thousands and has announced that
refuses allegiance divided with John Bareycom The economist
has his innings with the proof of the waste large and sheer due to
booze" Right and left reads of banquetS and other
that other days would have fuade of popping os
peaceful noseess Fourth and denaured to complete sobey
center after another the description
festival without the bar sinister The returns from the military
camps 60 show that the army the making foswe the false
courage born of fermentation not record that America by
and large the loser by the dwndng consumption strong drink
Much of this progress natural Development the effect of ed
cation the voluntary acceptance of the better way 1t than
doubtful whether the progress greater where abSenon made
compulsory by drastic laws that fail command the respect large
proportion of the population than where obey results ap
peal the of the people At all events the nroduc-
ton of fareachng and radical prohibition into food
unwe because bound create dssensons
mony essential and because would certain the aten
of the nation from need that of far greater urgency namely
the increase food for the millions home and abroad who
ing this country make the deficiencies in food by the
ravageS of war
idle phrase Mr. Hooves when he declared that un-
less instantly y this time year the food problem will be
absolutely unovabe and the world will face absolute starvation"
For this fundamental the nation has looked with increasing
anxiety and impotence upon the datoy actions of Congress-
that feeling will not be ssuaged by the knowledge that the House
its amendments to the food control bill has playing nsncere
game with problem of life and DEATH