Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-08-24

Drainage Of exports from the United
States, that we retain a proper supply
for u own country. and we must
adopt such measures as will ameliO-
rate, so far as may be, the price condi-
tons of our less fortunate. We might
so drain the supplies from the country
to Europe as by the high prices that
would follow to force our people to
shorten their consumption. This oper-
alton of fnormal economic forces
would starve that element of the com
munity to whom we " the most pro-
lection. We must try to impose the
burden equally upon all.
Action Must BE Voluntary.
There is no royal road to food CON
s%ervation. We can only accomplish
this by the voluntary action of our
whole people, each element in proper
ton to It's means. 1t Is n matter Of
equality of burden a matter Of min
ute saving and substitution at every
point in the 2O,OOO,OOO kitchens, on the
20,0O0.OO0 dinner tables and In the
2.OOO,0OO manufacturing, wholesale and
retail establishments of the country.
~ aoh ~ nus III IN NnNNAANN AAAN hNAfH
Individual service of all the people.
Every group can substitute and even
the great majority Of thrifty people
can save a little-and the more luxuri-
GUS elements of the population can by
reduction TO simple living save much.
The final 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 n
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 aspects
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 simplifcatiOn
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 a power. and we shall enter n
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 a moral issue of the
first order at any time. and any other
, basis of conduct during the war be-
comes a wrong against the interest Of
the country and the interest Of
! democracy.
The impact of the food shortage Of
Europe has knocked at every door OF
= the United States during the past three
4 years. The prices of ~foOdstuffs have
nearly doubled, and the reverberations
of Europe's increasing shortage would
e have Numbered twice ms loudly dur
ing the coming year ever had we not
entered the war.
r We are today in an era of high
prices. We must maintain prices at
such Il level as will stimulate produc-
f ton, for we are faced by n starving
b world and the value Of n commodity to
s the hungry is greater than its price.
e AS a result Of the world shortage of
y supplies, our consumers have suffered
d from speculation and extOrtiOn. While
h wages for some kinds Of labor have
h increased with the rise In food prices
S in others, il has been difficult to main.
" tain our high standard of nutrition.
BY the elimination of waste in al
n classes, by the reduction in the con
J. sumption Of fOodstuffs by the more for
D tunate, we shall increase our supple,
$, not only for export but for home, ant
" by Increased supplies we can help II
the amelioration of prices.
n For Better Distribution.
y Beyond this the duty has been laiC
ar upon the food administration to coop
r crate with the patriotic men in trades
and commerce., that we may eliminate
1t the evils which have grown into GU
s, system of distribution, that the bur
den may fall equitably upon all by res
e. toratiOn, so far as may BE, Of the nor
re NAL course of trade. 1t is the purpos,
lg of the food administration to use III
f. utmost power and the utmost abilit,
Il that patriotism can assemble TO ameli
20 crate this situation TO such a degree a
n may be possible.
III The food administration is assem-
Of bling the best expert advice in tn
country on home economies, on foo,
is utilization, on trade practices an
IT, trade wastes, and on the conduct o
n public eating places, and we shall out
of line from time to time detailed sugges
ed tions. which If honestly carried out b
nd such individuals in the country, we be