The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-12-22
Our Food Supply
CONTINUED From Page One.)


ment bringing unnecessary want into the homes of
the poor-a system of distribution that makes it diff
tlcult and oftentimes impossible for families of
meager earnings to obtain, at prices they afford
foods that paatabe and that will thoroy noursh
Until system of distribution is installed that will
insure supply of our cheapest most paatable and
most nourishing foods at their intrinsic value want
will threaten and pinch the poor. The department of
agriculture and the federal food administration are
doing everything in their power to work out solu-
ton but they need the help of private agencies every
where.
Those agencies can render no better service than
seeing that In every community grocers as patriotic
action, supply war foods at profits barely covering
cost of handling.
If in any community this arrangement cannot be
made with grocers, municipal supply stores or COM
munity cooperative supply stores should be or
gained No other single step will do as much to pre-
Vent widespread undemourishment during the win
ter.
HERBERT QUICK, farm editor and member of
Federal Farm Loan board: The farmers of the
United States should be assured that they will have
labor to carry on work next year. The government
should enlist labor for production Of food as it enlsts
men for the trenches 1t should advance all capital
necessary for sowing of enormous crops next year and
reapng thereof and should take the loss if there is
failure 1t should that railroads are better orga
nized and should operate them with unity as COM
plete as the postoffice department
Every apple, every vegetable, every bit Of fruit
should be sorted and saved regardless of apparent
value If necessary huge cold storage warehouses
walton works should be established
Luxuries should be regarded a crime.
=. ARMOUR & CO., worlds biggest meat packers:
The problem is not much to keep from starving as
It is to produce enough to keep allies fit to fight
efficiently with us.
While it is true high prices work a hardship upon
great many, it is likewise true high prices are neces
sary to stimulate production to a point where I'M
heard-of quantities of foods produced 1t should
he arn1 fboth i0by do fo,o;
tho famine does cause high prices.
Therefore, while it is hardly likely this nation will
know hunger, it faces situation equally grave--the
loss of its allies. The remedy is to produce more
: BASIL M MANLY, Times economic Investigator:
Unless vigorous measures taken soon, conditions
are sure to grow worse, until millions suffering
from chronic undertaking thereby imperilng ma
= tiOnal strength.
:. What ought we to do about it9
1. Take control Of railroads, pooling their re-
sources and equipment.
2. Take control of coal mines
3. Take all big food and distributing corpora
tions, packing houses, flour mills, baking companies,
etc. being careful only to select actual not
theorists politicians or financial pirates.
- E. G. RODGERS, food and farm Investigator:
There are three and one-half million mich COWS
in America than when the great war started There
are million beef cattle than in 1913
And there are more hogs. More poultry More eggs
More potatoes More milk. More canned vegetables.
But the poor will go hungry until we halt the
profteering of food pirates and correct transpora
ton and distribution systems.
A. G. TOWNLEYI president Farmers Nonpartisan
League now organizing this state: Extortonate
prices prevailing are due to gambling in food sup
plies, tremendous war profits grabbed by manufac-
turers and mddemen and the inability to secure the
transportation of foodstuffs to the market when
- needed.
We can avert famine by eliminating the food gam
bier and enormous war profits and by having the gov
eminent operate the railroads