New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-17
Conscr;pt the Food Distributor!


Distribution is hardly less important
than production as an element IN the loou
nroblem of a nation at war. The freSldeh'
saws that the eyes of the nation during
the coming crisis will be upon the middle
man. Is that all? Are we simply TO trust
70 the maenanimity of food Spectators
after everv one has done his bit to pro-
eide the country and its allies with the
necessities of life in the present struggle
Certainly some means should be deVlSeu
,vberebv the work of connecting the pro-
ducer with the consumer shall not be ielU
70 chance and individual caprice.
We have done away with the volun-
tarv system of military service. 1t is time
also to make definite provision to prevent
the evils of a haphazard system OF 1000
marketing which has proved itself lnehi-
cient in every nation now at war; Mobilize
the middemanl Put him in khaki, IL nee
essarv. Make it easy for him to do some
thing for the country. Set HIM 10 WORK
organizing food distribution as puolc
service.
The public will respond to the call 10 III.
crease the food supply. Thousands OF
people are preparing to till every aVail"ole
souare foot Of ground. There is even 'aik
of conscripting men for agricultural ser
vice in localities where farm labor IS
scarce. American citizens Will perform
this labor. either voluntary or compulsory
and do it gladly, provided we get results
nrovided we do not simply enrich lndivld-
nal dealers at public expense. The puphc
should be told how this increased produc-
tion is to be organized and utilized Tor the
general good. with minimum OF waste
and of war profits for anybody. II is not
enough to tell people to get busy; their
efforts must be unified and directed.
The present channels of food distribu-
ton flow none too smoothly, even IN time
Of peace. They will be found inadequate
70 meet the needs of war. The eyes OF the
ration have often been turned in the direc-
tion of the middleman. There has even
been an occasional investigation The
rublic will demand something more ehec-
tive than Investigations in the present
crisis. Suppose we should succeed in rails
irg what the farmers call a bumper
crop." There have been times in this
country when large quantities of fruit and
garden produce have been left to rot on
the ground, in railroad yards and storage
rIants, not because the public could not
have used these goods, but because II
would have disturbed existing market con-
ditions if the supply had been materially
augmented. The California fruit growers
after several experiences of this KIND
learned the lesson and organized their OWL
distributing agencies. Can nation at wal
do less?
Who knows how much of the present
high cost of living is due to actual 1000
shortage, how much to European demand
and how much to the manipulation OF
profit seekers?
As it is right to conscrirt human life fol
the nation in time of war, so it is right IN
the present crisis to conscript not only fooc
production, but also food distribution. We
can hope that it will not be necessary IL
THIS SIedt, llCh idiiu loi " AVNu uiN'"'"A ~
allot to each individual the weekly amount
of food he may consume. But it is neces
sary that the government, which asks it:
citizens to aid in the war by tilling the soil
should also see TO it that the product OF
this labor of patriotism reaches its proper
destination effectively, speedily, economi
\ cally and without inordinate profit to small
groups of private individuals.