The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-26

trdtlcn WfOte 10 a Retailer VINO ex-
pressed the opinion that Mr.. Hoover
WAS humbug and did not practice his
own doctrines. Here Is the letter:
Il have been informed that, in talk
ing to a customer about the question
OF fooC conservation, you said you
did not believe that Mr.. Hoover him.
self lived by the food regulations. 1
assume that you made this statement
in all sincerity and that you would not
have made it had you known that you
had been absolutely misinformed. Not
as member of the United States food
administration, but as a private indi-
vidudl, / want to assure you that Mr..
Hoover and his family, as well as
every guest who enters his home, I'M
qualifiedly obeys the food regulations
as promulgated. Mr.. Hoover is NJ
the kind of man that asks anyone else
to do what he would not do himself.
Il am sure If you knew what in
fluence man in your position has on
the public mind you would not allow
that influence to be used in favor of
your cOuntry's enemies The propa-
ganda of German secret diplomacy
has been used in every country to in
sidiouSly counteract the plea for food
conservation. The particular insinua-
ton that the food administrator him
self was not carrying out his own re-
quirements has been used in England,
Canada, France and Italy, and has
| been specifically disproven in each
case. 1t is a peculiar fact that the
German secret diplomacy in all of the
allied countries is directed at food
control more largely than at any other
phase of governmental activity as the
best means of fomenting discomfort
among the masses of the people. The
war will be won or lost by the ability
of the United States to keep up the
European food supply.
The people of France, according
to the French minister of provisions,
lived half of last year on seventy per
cent of normal food requirements,
literally from day to day and from
hand to mouth In England Well-to-
do people are standing in line for their
food supplies and learning that the
talk of famine is not a story with
which to frighten children, but a ter
rible possibility. In the portion of
Poland occupied by the Germans prac-
| tically every child under the age of
four years has died from starvation.
In Finland three and one-half millions
of people are living on five and one
fourth ounces of adulterated bread
per day. In Belgium, outside of the
portion being taken care of by the
Belgian relief commission, the death
rate has increased five fold since the
middle of last summer. In Italy even
the bread rations of the soldiers on
the battle lines had to but cut twenty
per cent. In Europe, in belligerent
and neutral countries alike. actual dis
| tress not only impends but exists. and
this promises to grow much worse.
The only place from which relief can
be expected is the United States, and
whether the United States shall send
this relief or not depends upon you
and everyone else doing your duty, a
part of which consists of refusing to
be influenced by malicious rumors
which would prevent you from doing
your one hundred per cent best for
the cause of food conservation.
81 am writing to you because, being
in the grocery business you stand at
a strategic point of our food battle line
and can be of great service to your
country in this crisis. and it goes
without saying that, once you know
the facts, your most fervent desire will
be to render that service with utmost
loyalty
Questions on thu above or any sub
ject upon which the reader desires in
formation should be addressed the
Topeka State Journal Information
Bureau, Frederic ]. Haskin. Director.
Washington, ,. c., with q scent
stamp enclosed for reply.