The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1917-04-07
FOOD PROBLEMS.

tNt" bftidNA i4Eits.f Ads Hittsl
The food question has taken arst
place In the news gf today not only In
Europe where war has eu, down the
crops, bat IN countries like the United
STATES. which have raised an ample
supply for aft their own needs, bat who
feel the pressure OF the European de-
maud and the hardships resulting from
high prices.
In most Of the European countries
and ia Germany and Great Britain In
particular food dictators have been
appointed with the greatest possible
powers and the position Is everywhere
regarded as the most important Ia the
land. az the careful and energetic con
troll of success or failure so largely
depends These food dtctators must
see that an adequate supply Of food Is
provided and that II Is equally and
gaifl, distributed SO that no section or
class suffers.
II has been a di,leult matter every.
Wher, 10 get enough food Ratione
have been shortened In most OF the
belieerent countries, end Germany
has been again compelled In The last
feW days. 10 reduce the food allie vance
of each person, How thorough is it's
system aud supervision may Be Judged
when II is stated that many thousands
OF official orders have been issued by
the food dictator, aud that the imperial
government of Germany has provided
lust hoN much butter fat and how much
sugar shall be- used In making various
foods. and has prohibited, as against
the safeiy OF the country, the manufac.
ture of certain kinds "A cake as too
rich and requiring too much fat and
sugar.
In spite Of these precautions and the
very thorough supervision of The food
supply. the German government has
been tFicked time and time again by
those persons who have succeeded in
obtaining more than their share OF the
food and others have suffered In con.
sequence, The situation has lately
grown worse for several reasons, The
crops have largely failed because Of
unfayofahle conditions severe late
freezes. tack OF fertilizers. lack Of
labor. Reorganization and the ravagos
Of var. Il Is not denied that the Ger
man people first and the prisoners
even more severely, have suffered from
the lack OF food. and although every
efgert has been made 10 prevent the
facts creeping out. utteranees In the
Roichstag that slip through leave no
doubt that there has been q great short.
age Of food in Germany and much snf'
ferrg In consequence Nonetheloss
the dictator of food, while admitting
thess facts. believes that the food sup
ply can be made 10 last until the next
crors are harvested This Is the result
Of tie very practical manner IN which
the agricultural resources Of the en-
plfe have been modified. as II we're.
There remains, OF course, The question
Of tho growing crops and the weather
conditions under which they will BE-
harvested. The yield will necessarily
be small per acre because II has been
impossible TO provide the fertilizers SO
extensively used In Germany under It's
Intensive agricultural methods and
from which II has won the best results.
with unfayoFable weather tho yield
viii be reduced far below the actual
needs Of the country.
But Germany IL not the only country
In which there IL a lack OF sufficient
food for the needs of alt Great Britain.
as a matter of fact. Is In greater need
OF food assistance from other countries
and has had appointed q food dictator
sith complete control over the supply
France also requires assistance All
these countries naturally depend upon
such supplies as they can set from
America and particularly from the
United States.
IL Is In this respect that the United
States and It's people are affected A
large portion OF the belligefent world
has had TO depend on us for a part Of
It's food supply ever since the war be
gan II will be even more dependent
this year. for the crops abroad for the
reasons We have mentioned, will be
smaller than ever, and we will have to
supply more to Europe We are able
Is produce all We need for our own
people, but If Europe asks for or pur
ehases very much more than IL did last
year, there may be some scarcity at
home. and tsat will mean high prices
and consequent suffering for the poor,