Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-05-25
The Necessity of Food Control

The bill now before the Senate authotizing
Governmental supervision of food supplies is
measure of fundamental Importance. Congress
naturally will be very cautious in granting powers
of this kind beyond the urgent necessities of the
situation but in the case of those broad, basic
necessities there should be no -hesitancy. 1t is
imperative for instance that the Government be
empowered to take adequate steps to facilitate the
distribution and the conservation of foodstufs,
we'll as to encourage their production. 1t is i'm
perative, that stringent measures be taken to
prevent conspiracies for boarding large quantities
of food and to prevent the manipulation of food
prices Furthermore, essential aid in carry
ing out the plans, prompt provision should be
made for a complete and detailed survey of the
food situation.
Whether or not more farreaching and
drastic measures become necessary, those here
enumerated should be pressed TO the earliest pos
sible enactment. Efficient Of the food supply
is fundamental to efficient prosecution of the war
and TO the protection of the country's every vital
interest. Unless solve the food problem we
cannot solve any problem of the war. We must
feed our armies and people, and far as is
possible must provision England and France
Otherwise shall tumble at the giant tasks
which are laid upon and perhaps fail altogether
IL matters little how many ships build, how
many billions of money raise how many mill
lions of soldiers recruit, shall need first
last and always adequate food supply to make
these other resources effective.
Hence the supreme Importance of adopting
without delay all needful and helpful measures to
increase the output and conserve the supply of
food staples. This problem is of vast proportions
and extremely intricate that no power short of
the Government can master it. The consumer
looks to the Government for protection against
food gamblers and the extortionate prices they
conspire to bring about. The producer looks to the
Government for protection against those same
malign and really criminal forces. The security
of the army and the navy and the maintenance
of a steady flow of necessaries to Allies depend
on the Governments power control the food
situation in its broad bearings.
The interests of the consumer alone would
justify and demand the passage of special egis-
lation this critical matter Within the last
year so the advance of prices all food staples
has been prodgious. The price of sugar has in
creased one hundred and twenty-five per cent, that
of -four ninety6ve per cent that OF potatoes three
hundred per cent, that of beans hundred and
fifty per cent. that of corn meal one hundred per
cent; and meats and canned goods have kept pace
with the general advance II prices continue
mounting indefinitely. because of manipulation or
because of ineficiency in conserving and distribu-
ton. of the supply the point will be reached where
millions of people will suffer To prevent this dis
aster we'll safeguard the rightful interests
of the producer and to protect the all important
without delay the simpler and more urgent meas
ures of control which the Administration asks:
This be done without hazarding any vital prn-
cipes vital interests. Not to do il would be TO
imperil the very life of the nation.
War with the United States is business-like
proposition and something besides
Even Germany's hard luck stories are props-
gsnda.