The Morgan City daily review. (Morgan City, La.) 1916-1920, 1917-08-31

! for our own country. and We mus
adopt such measures as will amelio
rate, 80 far as may be, the price cOndl
.tions Of our less fortunate. We nigh,
so drain the supplies from the country
to Europe as by the high prices that
would follow to force our people "a
shorten their consumption. This oper-
alton Of normal economic forces
would starve that element Of the COM
munity to whom we owe the most pro-
lection We must try to impose the
burden equally upon all.
Action Must De Voluntary.
There Is no royal road to food con-
servstlon. We can only accomplish
this by the voluntary action Of our
whole people. each element In proper
ton to its means. 1t is a matter Of
equality Of burden: q matter oE min
ute saving and substitution at every
point In the 2O,OOOOOO kitchens, on the
100000 dinner tables and II the
2.OOO.OOo manufacturing. wholesale and
retail establishm ents Of the country.
The task 10 thus In it, essence the daily
individual service Of all the people.
Every group can substitute and even
tho great majority Of thrifty people
can save a nttie-and the more luxuri-
Gus elements Of the population can by
reduction to simple living save much.
The 6nal result of substituting other
products and saving one pound Of
wheat flour. two ounces Of fats. seven
ounces OF sugar and seven ounces Of
meat weekly, by each person, will.
when We have multiplied this by 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 acpects
Of utmost Importance. Wars must be
paid for by savings. We must save
in the consumption in commodities and
the consumption of unproductive la
Dor in order that we may divert our
manhood to the army and to the shops.
The whole Of Europe has been en-
gagged ever since the war began In the
elimination of waste, the simplification
of life, and the increase of its indus
trial capacity. When the war is over
the consuming power of the world will
be reduced by the loss Of prosperity
and man power. and we shall enter a
period Of competition without parallel
in ferocity. After the war, we must
maintain our foreign markets If our
working people are to be employed.
We shall be In no position to compete
II We continue to live on the same
basis of waste and extravaganza on
which we have lived hitherto Simple,
temperate living Is moral issue Of the |
first order at any time, and any other |
basis Of conduct during the war be-
comes wrong against the interest Of |
the country and the interest Of
democracy.
The impact q the food shortage Of
Europe has knocked at every door Of
the United States during the past three
years. The prices Of foodstuffs have
nearly doubled. and the reverberations
Of Europe's Increasing shortage would
have Numbered 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 at
such level as will stimulate produc-
ton. for we are faced by starving
world and the value Of commodity to
the hungry is greater than It's price.
AS result of the world shortage GF
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. it has been difficult to main
tain our high standard Of nutrition.
BY the elimination of waste in all
classes, by the reduction in the con-
sumption Of foodstuffs by the more for
tunate, we shall increase our supplies
not only for export but for home, and
by increased supplies we can help in
the amelioration Of prices.
For Better Distribution. !;
Beyond this the duty has been laid
upon the food administration to COOP
crate with the patriotic men in trades
and commerce, that we may eliminate {
he evils which have grown into our
,ystem Of distribution. that the bur-
len may fall eQuitably upon all BY res
:oration. so far as may be, Of the nor
nal course Of trade. It Is the purpose
II the food administration to use its
Utmost power and the utmost ability
hat patriotism can assemble to ameli- &
,rate this situation to such a degree as {
nay be possible. /,
The food administration is assem-
bling the best expert advice in the
on home economics, on food.
on trade practices and
radc wastes. and on the conduct Of
,ublir eating faces. "aI we shall out
inc from time 70 time detailed sllcges-
ions. which if honestly 'arried out by {
'uch individuals in the country, we be- Z
ieve will effect the result which we =
must attain. We are asking every =
home, every public eating place and
many trades, to sign pledge card
O accent these directions 50 F1r "a