The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-07-02
Safeguard the Republic
Stressed By Rev.
J. A. Ansley

LOT OF the flrSC bqDJlSJ ChErch or
Pensacola, Sunday morning, July list.
I take pleasure this morning in
complying with the desire of our ma
tional government, that all ministers
shall speak on the subject of "food
conservation" | shall endeavor to
point out the dangers of waste, the
sources of waste, and the sure means
of providing food in plenty for our
selves and our allies.
Text: Gather up the fragments
that remain, that nothing be lost"
John, 6:12.
Pharaoh was warned in a dream of
an approaching famine of seven years
duration. Believing in "prenared-
ness" he appointed Josenh flood COM
missioner" for the kingdom, and
turned the job over to him, with
ample powers to administer his office
and Egypt was saved.
Today we find that there is grave
danger of food shortage, if not
famine, in our own land. and among
those with whom our destinies are
bound up. President Wilson has ap-
pointed Mr.. Hoover "food commits
sloner," and is askirp Congress to
give him power to administer the of
fee, and thus shall America be saved
from famine, and liberty be preserved
to the nations of the earth.
ANYTHING in the nature of "dicta-
torship' is obnoxious to those who
think in terms of democracy. But a
democracy is fundamentally orgl.n-
lied for peace. not war, and unless
it is sufficiently flexible to accom-
modate its organization to the emer-
gencies of war that confront US, we
shall not be able to preserve our sep
arate national existence. our liberties,
nor even our private property.
Food Vital Factor.
Food is vital factor in success in
war; its proper distribution NAV be
the determining factor between our
selves and our enemies. EXCEPT for
the marvelouslv thorough, scientific.
and accurate distribution of its food
supplies, Germany would long ago
have been crushed. Unless we pro
vide for wise and efficient distri-
button of our own resources in food,
we may come upon want, famine,
and defeat.
The waste, therefore. becomes a
real enemy to his country. he NAV
not realize his disloyaltv, but it is
fact. We have heard that glut-
tons die their graves with their
teeth But in this crisis the MASTERS
of food are digging the grave of the
nation, and of the liberty of the
world, with their teeth.
Should Conserve Food.
1t is of the highest Importance that
we shall conserve, and use, all our re-
sources. This is not to hoard money.
boarding money withdraws it from
service. lust as useless waste of food
does. The miser and the waster are
in the same class.
The South, especially, has millions
Of acres of untitled lands, which might
produce food enough to feed the ma
ton, and our allies also. We have
also stless thousands idle. or semi
idle NJ who might be used to Guilt
vate t..ese acres. Idle lands and idle
hands are both a species of disloyal-
~ to the republic. Our national gov
eminent should be ~iven the power
to conscript these idle acres for the
service of the nation, and also to
draft men, however independent they
may be, who are not engaged in some
productive occupation, or some occu-
patton useful in it's nature.
Drinks a Waste.
But our greatest source of waste
is our food products that are turned
into alcoholic beverages. The drinker
is a waster, as we'll as the gIutton.
The current "World's Work" saws our
country uses grain enough in the pro-
duction of alcoholic beverages to give
an army of 100000 men a one
pound loaf of bread every day in
the year. Over 4000,000.0O0 pound
| loaves of bread a year! At the usual
allowance of half a pound per person
per day. we thus waste annually the
bread supply of 100000 people
one-ffth of the population of the
! United States.
The population of England could
| subsiSt on the food thus wasted for
six months, the population of France
| seven months. 1t is not hard to con-
ceive that the grain-rye, corn, and
rice, thus wasted-could win the war
for the Allies.
Furthermore, over 100000 people
are ulFecLIy engaged IN the manu-
facture and sale of alcoholic drinks
nearly the population of city like
New Orleans. These would be re-
leased for useful occupations. They
could conceivably be used for making
munitions. Thus another problem,
would be solved for the war depart.
ment. There is no danger of un.
: employment during war times. l have
heard of a meeting once where the
subject of doing away with the sa.
looms in a city was under discussion
Much eloquence was used in attack
/ ing the injustice of throwing so many
people out of job, and asking what
could the bartenders do? At last q
plainly clad woman rose and said that
her husband made good wages, but
spent it mostly with the saloons; that
she had TO take in washing to feec
and clothe herself and children; thai
| if the saloons were closed she
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