The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1917-12-27
|TALY'S FAILURE
DUE To AMERICA
HAD We SENT ITALIANS FOOD, THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE Been
COMPELLED TO YIELD TO
THE HUNS

The end of last summer saw Cador-
mas army on the point of making the
long hoped for break in the Teutohic
lines. But Italy ran short of wheat.
In September the all important bread
ration Of the Italian soldier had to be
cut from 750 grams day to 500
grams. The next month the Germans
attacked, and the Italian line. crum-
pied.
The United States Food Admins
tration had not been created by con-
gress until August 10. There is no
particular reason why it should not
have been created two months earlier.
It's work is to prevent just such con-
tingencies as the cutting of the Ital-
ian ration.
The work of the Food Administra-
ton is two jobs rather than one. The
first task is to see that food in the
more concentrated forms is saved
from unnecessary consumption here
in order that it may be shipped to
Europe.
AS part of this task Mr.. Hoover
asks every American to eat each day
one ounce less of sugar than he usu
ally eats. Is he trying to infiict a
hardship when he, asks that? Ameri-
cans who do as he requests will still
eat three-fourths of their normal con-
sumption of sugar. But the English
are getting only little over one
%<,,,,&L or vr,,oI, c,1aa~ ae fhov mead fn
eat.
American confectioners have been
putting 100000 tons of sugar a year
! into candy. That amount of sugar
would all but supply the entire Eng
lish demand at the present rate OF
consumption. Recently the admins
/ tration has cut the candy makers
down to 100000 tons a year. The
money value of the sugar so saved is
enough to feed all of Belgium for one
tyear.
In restricting the candy makers the
administration was performing the
second part of its task-that of con
trolling the distribution of food sup
plies. In it's conservation work the
administration deals directly will
producer and consumer. On the side
of control it deals with the manufac
turer and the wholesaler.
Food control is saving money fol
the American household week b.
week. In May, wheat was $3.50 ;
bushel and flour at $17.10. Congress
brought wheat down to $2.20 for thi
years crop, and Hoover's organiza
ton had reduced the price of flour t.
jS1O.25. On every barrel of f1ou
bought the purchaser has been enabl
ed to save at least S6.85. As Americ;
) consumes 10 million barrels of fiou
in month, the total monthly savini
affected by the administration at thi
: one point is sos, 100000.
u But keeping down the cost of livin
lis not the primary object of the ad
ministration. 1t opposes boarding
not so much because boarding raise
prices, as because it keeps food ou
of the market at the very times whe
: | it is most seriously needed. The &C
: ministration's licensing system ma
practically eliminated boarding. Jot
bers, wholesalers, and big retailer
. can do business only If they have
e cense. If they are caught hoardin
: a forfeiture of their license puts thel
: Eout of business forthwith Publ
, opinion keeps the small retailers
Iline-where patriotism doesn't do
The worlds food situation is. bad
but in four months fighting the Uni
q ed States Food Administration hs
q got it p-etty well under control.