The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1917-08-23
There is no royal road to food con-

| There is no royal road TO food con-,
servation. We can only accomplish
this by the voluntary action of our
whole people. each element I'm propor-
ton TO its means. 1t is n matter Of
equality of burden; n matter of min
ute saving and substitution at every
point I'm the 20.000,0O0 kitchens, on the
2O.OOO.OOO dinner tables and In tho
2,OOO.OOO manufacturing, wholesale and
retail establishments of the country
The task is thus In its essence the daily
individual service OF all the people,
Every group can substitute and even
the great majority of thrifty people
can save n little-and the more luxuri-
Gus elements OF the population can by
reduction to simple living save much.
The final result of substituting other
products and saving one pound OF
wheat flour, two ounces OF fats, seven
ounces OF sugar and seven ounces of
meat weekly, by each person, WILL
when we have multiplied this by one
hundred million, have increased our
exports TO the amounts absolutely re-
quired by our allies. This means no
more than that we should eat plenty,
but eat wisely and without waste.
yood conservation has other aspects
or utmost Importance. Wars must be
paid for by savings. We must save
In the,consumption in commodities and
the consumption of unproductive la
Dor in order that we may divert our
manhood to the army and to the shops.
III by the reduction in consumption of
labor and the commodities that it pro-
81,
TO that labor and those commodities
demanded by the war, we shall be able
TO fight to eternity. We can mortgage
our future savings for a little while,
but piling up of mortgages is but q
short step toward bankruptcy. Every
atom that we save is available for sub
scription to Liberty bonds.
The whole of Europe has been en-.
gagged ever since the war began in the
elimination of waste, the simplification
or life, and the increase OF its indus.
trial capacity. When the war is over
the consuming power of the world will
be reduced by the loss of prosperity
and man power, and we shall enter q
period of competition without parallel
in ferocity. After the war we must
working people are to be employed.
We shall be I'm no position to compete
If we continue to live on the same
basis of waste and extravaganza on
which we have lived hitherto. Simple,
temperate living is moral issue of the
first order at any time and any other
basis of conduct during the war be-
comes a wrong against the interest OF
the country and the interest of
democracy.
The impact of the food shortage OF
Europe has Knocked at every door of
the United States during the past three
years. The prices of foodstuffs have
nearly doubled, and the reverberations
of Europe's increasing shortage would
aave thundered twice as loudly dur
Ing the coming year even had we not
entered the war, and 1t can now only
be mitigated If we can exert a strong
control and this in many directions.
We are today in an era of high
prices. We must maintain prices at
such level as will stimulate produc-
tion, for we are faced by a starving
world and the value Of a commodity to
the hungry is greater than It's price.
AS a result of the world shortage of
supplies, our consumers have suffered
from speculation and extortlOn. While
wages for some kinds Of labor have
Increased with the rise In food prices,
In others, 1t has been difficult to main
tain our high standard of nutrition.
BY the elimination of waste in all
classes, by the reduction I'm the con-
sumption Of foodstuffs by the more for
tunate, we shall increase our supplies
not only for export but for home, and
by Increased supplies we can help In
the amelioration of prices.
For Better Distribution.
Beyond this the duty has been laid
upon the food administration to coop
crate with the patriotic men I'm trades
and commerce, that we may eliminate
the evils which have grown into our
system of distribution, that the bur
den may fall equitably upon oil by res
toration, so far as may be, of the nor
NAL course OF trade. IT is the purpose
Of the food administration to use its
utmost power and the utmost ability
that patriotism can assemble TO amell-
crate this situation to such degree as
may be possible.
The food administration is assem-
bling the best expert advice I'm the
country on home economies, on food
utilization on trade practices and
trade wastes. and on the conduct OF
public eating places, and we shall out
line from time to time detailed sugges-
tions which II honestly carried out by
such individuals In the country. we be-
heve VIII effect the result which we
must attain. We. are asking every
home. every public eating place and
many trades, 10 sign q pledge card
20 accept these directions so far as
their circumstances permit. and we are
organizing various instrumentalitles TO
ameIi0rate speculation. We are ask-
Ing the men of the country who are
not actually engaged in the handling
of food to- sign tsimilar pledges that
they Shall see 10 go. so far as they are
able. that these directions are followed.
and This is the essence o. democracy
itself.
Autocrnry finds its strength I'm its
ability 70 impose organization by
force from the top. The essence Of