The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-06

ism, and I want to say right here that there is no more loyal or patriotic group of men in America than on this ex- change. In the recent past we had party lines sharply defined. But these all have been leveled and today we are stand ing solidly behind the government. There are no politics here now. It is a ques- tion of anticipating a man size job and doing it to the satisfaction of ourselves and the world at large.
 The steps MT. Hoover is taking to organize the women of the country into an army of conservationists Is one of the most important he could adopt. It is the crux of the problem just now. If every housewife in this country would save just once slice from each loaf of bread consumed here annually, taking 10 slices to the loaf, it would mean an annual saving to this country of 5oOo0.0Jo bushels of wheat. Fifty million bushels saved means 5o,00o,00O bushels more for the allies
 While we are preaching conservation and economy here at all times, we do not urge such false economy as might clog the wheels of business. That would be the worst step possible at this time, for now we are approaching days when the government needs added revenue, which must necessarily mount into the billions, and in order to supply the snews of war every wheel must be kept turning at top speed.
 But there are sacrifices to be made and each and every one of us~ should make up our minds to approach them herocially and with smiling faces, And truth is, I believe it will be a better country and a better people after a simpler and saner mode of life is adopted and practiced for the period of the war A slowup in the rapid pace some have gone since the days of war brides and the fabulous winnings hAu ma dak rn11'f a1frt Fxi1I prove a blessing in disguise and give the speeders chance to find their proper level and adopt boise which will be more in keeping with the spirit of true Americanism
 You ask me what is responsible for the recent big advance in the price of four To that I might say, hysteria. A wave of hysteria swept over the country and every housewife of thrifty instinct deemed it advisable to lay by big sup ply of flour. Many bought several bar rels at the then prevailing price. In all proba bility many of them bought barrels where one barrel was more than ample for a supply of many months.
 If you will look about you and com pute the thousands of barrels of flour that were bought and hidden away in this manner you can readily see what dent it made'i in the visible supply Especially does this apply to New York, where our storage ana WdT6nOuS6 ldClutleS are so limited that we cannot husband big surplus We must keep our flour moving all the time. The same with wheat. The great bulk of it, at least 90 per cent of it, is sold before 1t gets here.
 T have no hestancy in saying that the women who bought in such large bulk will be the victims of their own hysteria for I am sure flour will descend to normal level and the price will be within reach of all. Everything points that way, and today 1t is materially cheaper than it was when these great stores were laid by.
 ITO return to the subject of federal legislation pertaining to control of the food situation MT. Claybrook~ continued .the embargo on the shipments of food stuffs to neutrals In my judgment will tend to stabilize prices, and don't think 1 it will affect business in the slightest. Il was step that we all might have ex- l pected, for when war descends upon us
 we are compelled to husband our re sources in every way possible, and thi.
 is unquestionably step in the righ l direction