The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-11-23

Food Is Commissioner Hoover has
clarified the issue with respect TO the
continued waste Of 10000 900 bushels
of barley per year by the brewers
He has received an ava lanche of let
ters In reply to his urgent letters te
ministers of the patton calling upon
them to aid in the food conservation
program. These letters hand back
TO him and to the government the
question OF responsibility for the
continued waste OF this so 900 600
bushels OF barley by the brewers.
The government has received most
generous response from the people
IN the appeal to save foodstuffs but
II is hard for the people to under
stand why the housewives should be
called upon to save by the ounce
while these brewers are permitted to
waste by the ton.
Commissioner Hoover has issued q
statement in which he frankly ac-
knowledseB that this waste does GO
on, but insists that It would be vitality
necessary. even were that 50, 900, 900
bushels of barley saved, still TO con-
serve food in every possible way. The
people will readily assent 10 this. but
II only emphasizes the necessity for
stopping this $4,000, 600 bushels Of
waste at once.
Mr. Hoover does not intimate the
fact that the president OF the United
States already has In his hand. by act
of congress, the power 10 stop the
use OF all foods and feeds in the max
ing OF any alcoholic beverages. And
Mr.. Heover's frank confession OF the
awful waste amounting. by way of
the brewing OF beer alone. to a pound
loaf of bread per day for 6 1000, 900
people, lays upon the people OF the
nation to whom lie makes the confess
sion the responsibility OF so manifest
ing, their purpose that this waste be
stopped as 10 bring about governm ent
action.
II IT la Up TO the nation TO save $40
900 600 bushels OF wheat per year for
the allies, then ws must stop W.T. sting
sc. 900. 900 buAi1tls OF barley in beer.
Barley can be su estttuted partially for
wheat In fact the government has
suggested that barley -four be mixed
" It'll wheat four It IN now up to tha
people to take Gfr. Hoovers state
ment as an invitation to the nation
20 get back OF conI,rcss and the prest
dent in behalf OF rational prohibition
and act upon IL promptly and with
viSor.
The following Is the FUN text OF
Commissioner Hoover's letter.
I'm the attitude o. the churches to-
ward the food conservation campaign
the question is repcs teddy raised. why
Christian people ehnuid be asked TO
save wheat while aste is still per
rnitted in the manufacture of whiskey
and beer7 The following considera-
tons. however. shosr that II is neces
sary for all 70 cooperate IN the cam
pa ign for food saving even those who,
on principle are dissatisfied with the
present situation. s.&
Spy the terms af tha teaa Aire tbs
rnenufs cture IF whisltey and all dis
titled beverages was prohibited. and
actually ceased September 8, 1917. Nc
edible grain is now Used In England
for the distillation OF alcohol for hev-
erage purposes In tally alcohol is
made from the residue from gra Pc
pressing and not from grfdns, Brew
ing OF one-quarter of the usual
amount of beer is permitted In Eng
land. but OF an alcoholic content close
! ly approximating our near beer.
I'm regard to the domestic manu-
! facture Of beer this following facts
are o. interest:
/ TN 1915 there was used in the pro
duction OF malt. fer the manufacture
! Of beer for home consp mption and
export, about so.ooo.onS bushels oi
barley. 1900, 900 bushels OF corn. and
about 100000 bushels OF rice, This
! represents about 80 per cent Of this
normal harley crop and ono half OF
per cent OF this years cor't crop, i
will be seen, therefore that the econo
mic advantage to be gained from the
! prohibition OF the II anut cturs al
/ beer relates aim ost entirely to tins
! question OF saving 60 90 bushels
OF barley. which could be mtlled 10 Of
per cent OF its food value, and produc'
! a pound loaf OF harley hrend pei DAY
| for 100000 people, II our people
could be persuaded 10 adopt a ration
/ Not n bushel OF wheat therefore, Is
fnow being used FOR the manufacture
/ 81 intoxicating drinks. and It liz whesi
! that our people are asked TO save
( From the beginning. our purpose ha
!