Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-05-01
Hoovcr's Appeal.


Herbert c. Hoover, the great Amer
lean success as chairman Of the Amer
did his work so we'll that the people say
he is more efficient than the Germans
themselves. President Wilson has called
him home to be head Of the American
Food Board. He is still in London, but
he sends a call from there to the Amer
lean people to get ready for starvation.
should hear-eater, farmer and college
student alike. The man who plants
another acre of corn this spring, or the
student who helps him cultivate it. is
surely n patriot meeting our greatest
need.
THE first and most important duty
of the American people to their allies is
to economic on foodstuffs," said Mr.
Hoover. III we do not do it, we stand
grave chance Of losing the war, be-
cause our allies cannot fight without
food. Our enemies are calculating that
America will fail in this and our allies
will need to give in. America can upset
these calculations"
Mr.. Hoover's observations were made
after three weeks consultation with
members Of the British, French and
Italian cabinets. He also investigated
the food and shippings situation and
plans for American cooperation. The
net result he arrived at was that be-
tween now and the next harvest it
would require supreme effort bv the
American people
feel Tiny duty to emphasize" Mr..
= Hoover continued, that the food situ-
alton is one Of the utmost gravity.
which. unless it is solved, NAV possiblv
result in the collapse Of everything we
mold dear in civilization.
The total stock of food TODAY avail
able in the allied world is simnlv not
sufficient t2 last till September if Amer
:ca continues its present rate of con-
aumPtion. We are now face to face
with the result Of last years poor har-
vest. the diversion Of man. power from
agriculture all over the world. the nm
availing efforts of the European women
TO plant available fields fully. the isola-
ton OF Russia, the sinking of food ships
and many other causes
England, France anu italy are re-
cucihg consumption by drastic stems
rot even with all this reduction they
must have from us during the next
three months more than twice as much
food as we should have exported nor
nally or than we can send If we con-
sumo as usual
me only hope of providing the de-
ficiency is by the elimination of waste
and actual and rigorous se,f-sacrifice ~,
the Tart of the American people.
To carry the Allies over until the
next harvest we must reduce our wheat
consumption 80 per cent. This means
'hat every man. woman and child must
forego at least one loaf of wheat bread
per week and eat something else or less
generously.
More than 70 per cent. of American
MONIES already are places of thrift.
economy and a clean plate. In the re-
naming 20 per cent. no one can denv
That there is profigate extravagance
and waste. Temperance in entertain
ment, food and drink is likely to be-
come no longer an ethical question
amcng this class, but a grim imposition
of war
We must also plant everything and
everywhere it will grow, or next wear
this time the food problem will be all
solutely unsolvable and the world will,
face absolute starvation.
Il do not believe there will be anv
necessity to rigidly ration the American
people. for if democracy is of anv value
as spiritual and political faith the
personal initiative and willingness to
volunteer self crifice of everv member
OF the greatest democracy in the world
VIII be ample to solve the problem"
The man who can save more than all
the rest of us combined, is President
Wilson. Hoover says:
"The only hope of providing the de-
fieieney is by the elimination of waste