New Britain herald., 1917-04-11
FOOD COMMISSION
 DURING THE WAR
AgriCulturaistS Favor Board to
 Regulate Country's Supply

washington, April 11.-Immediat,
 creation of a Federal Food Commis. i slon, With power to fix prices and tc
 supervise marketing and distribution l or food in the United States during the war, was proposed formally yes- terday by the National Agricultural society. At an agricultural mobiliza,- t1on' convention held here the society adopted resolutions recommendine
 this and other measures to meet a threatened food shortage, including
 increased food crop acreage, an amendment of wheat milling laws. and liberal encouragement of sheen ,, raising.
 The convention was called to aid the administration in solving one of the most serious problems with which lt IS laced in the conduct of the war. The prospect of short crops is giving great concern to officials not only chareed with the responsibility of seeing that America is fed, but keenly aware, too, of the fact that this country in large measure must supply the other countries fighting Germany.
 In a letter read to the convention President Wilson appealed to the far mer to swell his production as a pa- triotic wartime duty, and declared the farmer, by planting and increas- ing his production in every way possible, would perform a labor for which he would be recognized as a soldier of the commissary.
 The recommendation of the Arri- cultural society comes close upon a move by the Council of National De- fense forecasting the appointment of National Food Committee headed bv Herbert c. Hoover, who has had charge of American relief work in
 Belgium. The defense council an- nounced Saturday it would ask MT. Hoover to become Chairman of a committee which could advise as +o best methods of stimulating food pro- auction and of preventing speculative prices.
 Commission for Clothing.
 The conventions resolutions nro. posed that food commission, if named, handle also the production and distribution of clothing. They also recommended that agricultural colleges graduate their senior classes. some 16.000 men. earlier this wear than usual so they might go immed- lately to the farms, and that state councils of defense be named to aid the national council, step already planned in some states
 A dozen speakers urged mobiliza- ton Of the country's food resources. James Wilson, formerly secretary of agriculture and president of the Agri- cultural society, spoke for conserva- ucn of soil and of breeding animals.
 Herbert Quick of the farm loan board said operation of the farm loan act would improve the agricultural situation. A wheat shortage, he said, would force the country to turn to corn as a substitute. The position of the farmer, he declared. was criti- cal despite high prices because of a labor shortage and because of high prices for machinery and seed.
 Mrs. G. w. Mathis of Alabama said the South was in a critical condition and that Alabama has not enough food on hand to feed it's population for thirty days.
 Encouragement of the back-to-the farm movement was advocated bv Theodore N. Vail to meet the situa- ton. The farm now offered, he de- clared, probably the greatest oppor- tunity for individual success of all the country's industries. The coun- try, he said, was about to know an era of great prosperity-perhaps the greatest in it's history-and the small but productive farm would bring faster than anything else.
 Millions of food gardens as a means o1 combating a food shortage was by Charles l.. Pack, presi- dent of the National Emergency Food Garden commission.
 With the war upon us the yield from present crops will be needed for the army and navy" he said. Where, then, do the civilian millions come in !? There is but one solution and that Is individual farming. Convert every backyard garden and vacant lot in every city, village and town into thriv- ing food-producing gardens and the civilian population will be sulf-sup- porting"