Taiban Valley news., 1917-08-24
HOOVER TELLS AMERICAN PEOPLE OF
THE FOOD PROBLEM AND ITS SOLUTION
Shows Absolute Necessity of Increased Production and Emnaoh
of WASTE Backing Up His Statements With Facts ana
Figures of the Supply and Demand

shorten their consumption. This oper'
alton of normal economic forces"
would starve that element of the COM
munity to whom we owe the most pro-
lection. We must try to impose the
burden equally upon all.
Action Must Be Voluntary.
There is no royal road to food con-
servation. We can only accomplish
this by the voluntary action of our
whole people, each element In proper
ton to It's means. 1t Is matter of
equality of burden; matter of min
ute saving and substitution at every
point in the 20,O00,000 kitchens, on the
2O.OOO.OOO dinner tables and in the
| 1000, 900 manufacturing, wholesale ana
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 a 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-
uuired by our allies. This means no
more than that we should eat plenty,
but eat wisely and without waste.
Food conservation has other aspects
of utmost Importance. Wars must be
paid for by savings. We must save
In the consumption in commodities and
the consumption of unprOductive Ia
Dor in order that we may divert our
manhood to the army and to the shops.
The whole of Europe has been en-
gagged ever since the war began in the
elimination of waste, the simplification
of 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
period of competition without parallel
, maintain our foreign markets If our
working people are to be employed.
The impact Of the food shortage of
Europe has knocked at every door OF
r the United States during the past three
years. The prices of foodstuffs have
: nearly doubled, and the reverberations
f of Europe's increasing shortage would
l. | @xr,ion
S ing the coming year even had we not
e entered the war, and it can now only
v be mitigated if we can exert strong
d control and this in many directions.
h We are today In an era of high
h prices. We must maintain prices at
s such level as will stimulate produc
" ton, for we are faced by starving
world and the value of a commodity tc
n the hungry is greater than its price.
!. AS a result of the world shortage OF
! supplies, our consumers have suffered
9 from speculation and eXtortion. While
" wages for some kinds of labor have
y increased with the rise in food prices
,r in others, 1t has BEEN difficult to main
" tain our high standard of nutrition.
,r BY the elimination of waste in al
r. classes by the reduction in the con
sumption of foodstuffs by the more for
~ tunate, we shall increase our supplies
c not only for export but for home, ant
# by increased supplies we can help IL
a. the amelioration of prices.
,e For Better Distribution.
IL Beyond this the duty has been lait
L upon the food administration to coop
IL crate with the patriotic men in trade
'o and commerce, that we may eliminate
n the evils which have grown into ou
III system of distribution, that the bur
Oh den may fall equitably upon all by res
toration, so far as may be, of the nor
is nal course of trade. 1t is the purpos
IT, of the food administration to use it
n utmost power and the utmost abillt
of that patriotism can assemble to ameli
ed orate this situation to such degree a
I'd may be possible.
ty The food administration is assem-
ne bling the best expert advice in tn
st. country on home economics, on foo
DIS utilization, on trade practices an
es trade wastes, and on the conduct G
It's public eating places, and we shall Ou
ed line from time to time detailed sugge'
eff, tions, which if honestly carried out b
h such individuals in the country we b'
We lieve will effect the result which W
es, must attain. We are asking ever
,u- home, every public eating place an
he many trades, to sign a pledge car
ed to accept these directions, so far Il
,ly their circumstances permit, and we AZ
list organizing various instrumentalities
TO- ameliorate speculation. We are asl
d. ing the men of the country who al
hit not actually engaged in the handlin
nv of food to sign similar pledges thu
lat they shall see to it, so far as they al
to able, that these directions are followe
lless. The brain Of the elephant is hel
,oD to be more highly developed than tn;
xt,ild hJt d.