Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-11-29
OK. vRTAbLi
WHEAT IN U. S.
America, in Keeping Allies in Fight.
ing Efficiency, Must Do It 4
Out Of Conservation
GREAT DUTY RESTS ON pUsLlc
Food Administrator Hartnsss says
Every Ounce Of Wheat Saved 10
an Ounce Released to AIIies

rood Administrator HARNESS says
Every Ounce Of Wheat Saved 10
an Ounce Released to AIIies
Springfield, Nov. 27.-James Hart.
ner, federal food administrator for
vermont. just returned from WASH.
ington where he attended conf, snce
between Federal Food Administrator
Herbert Hoover and the food admin
istrators Of the several states, de-
cared today that the country is far
from being awakened to the serious.
ness OF the food situation in the AL.
lied world and consequently is not in
position to realize the responsible
~ that is placed upon every individ-
ual to help in solving the great prob
lem OF keeping our fighting allies sup
piled with God.
The problem Of feeding the Allies
Is more serious than the food admin
istration thought last summer Il
would become" Mr.. Hartner said.
The continuance Of the war, from
the Allied side, depends on the daily
and monthly arrival over there Of
given ships which leave our shores
laden with the food supplies for
which there is such an imperative de-
mand II our allies are to maintain
their lighting efficiency.
THE general food situation is made
doubly complex BY the shortage Of
ships. and It is not too much to say
that II defeat comes to the Allies II
will be because the problem of food
and ships was not solved. The great
handicap imposed by the shipping
shortage is shown by the fact that
while there 1t not left in the United
States a single exportable bushel
wheat chat Is, not a bushel now -
mains over our normal requirements),
the Australian crop Of 1915 has only
half been moved. the 1916 export crop
has not been touched at all. and now
Australia is coming In with its 1917
yield. none Of which can not yet be
tapped because We can not detach
ships for such long voyage.
THE Argentine has big wheat
crop, but carrying that to Europe au-
Dramatically lessons the tonnage as a
consequence Of frightening the voy-
age. and, moreover. Argentine wheat
can not become a factor before the
middle of January. This means that
supplying the Allies with wheat be-
comes purely question of conserva-
ton. The United States and Canada
must carry the load until the middle
Of January, and the United States
must do 1t out of conservation en-
tirely. This means than when an in
dividual refrains from eating a piece
Of bread or any other food contain
ing wheat he is releasing just so
much for war purposes.
THE individual may be certain that
this means exactly what 1t says:
every ounce of wheat saved Is an
ounce more for our fighting allies.
To this narrow margin has the worlds
available wheat supply come. This
situation places a great responsibility
on the individual American. Can there
be normal consumption Of wheat
foods when 1t Is realized that the
fighting nations stand in such need
Of that commodity? Shall insist up
on bread and cake and pie when I
know that by so doing I am depriving
fighting agency of imperatively
needed food?' That is the question
the American people must ask them
selves continually now.
"Our Allies are not asking us for
anything they do not actually need,
and we must remember that they are
asking 1t with a right and an in
sistence that must be needed. Ameri-
ca must follow in the same path. Con-
servation Is now on voluntary basis.
but how long 1t can remain there de-
Ponds upon the extent of the volun-
tary saving and whether the general
situation improves or becomes worse.
But the American people should real
ize that they have come to the part
ing Of the ways. Waste and unneces-
sary consumption of certain foods
must come to an end either volun-
tarily or by some measure OF repres-
sion.
~ oCeoAA - PiSSuAc VI WudI IDOU
shortage means, let 1t be said that the
recent Russian revolution was moth
ing but a monster food riot, which
will be followed ly others because
the transport situation is such in that
unhappy country that supplies can not
be distributed. There will be mora
suffering and revolt in the centers OF
population the coming winter In Italy
the food situation bSought about riots
and weakened the morale OF the army,
because men at tho front lose their
war enthusiasm when they learn that
dear ones at home are going hungry.
II hope the sixty-hve thousand odd
patriotic Vermont families who signed
the food conservation pledge card will
realize that their call to the coiors
has been sounded and that they win
redouble their efforts along lines Of
substitution and conservation suggest
ed in the kitchen card. I also hope
that those who did not sign the card
for any reason will reconsider their
action in view of the increased seri-
BUSINESS of the situation. There Is .
DEFINITE war service Of unmeasurable
value in this conservation work. Sure
ly We at home will not fail to make
the lesser sacrifice entailed In food
conservation when we are sending our
boys so freely to make the supreme