Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-11-22
U.S.FACES GREAT
FEEDIN G TASK,
SAYS EXPERT
Government Man Declares
This Country May Have
to Feed Three Hun
dred Millions.

County food administrators Of
Nebraska and heads of county food
committees to the number of 125
Thursday afternoon donated Their
Sl-a-year salaries for a gift for
Gurdon w. Wattels, head of the
Nebraska food administration. The
action was taken after A. H. Tidd,
Beatrice, food administrator for
Gage county, offered a resolution
proposing it.
1t is expected that a loving cup,
suitably engraved will be chosen
and presented as a token of the
appreciation of the men and women
of the state who, have worked with
him on food administration matters
during the last Is months.
Meeting Held Here.
The food administrators and
heads of food committees were
called to Omaha for a meeting at
the Hotel Fontenelle. Mr.. Wattles
presided and introducing Fl. Alexan-
der Smith from the office of Ma
tional Food Administrator Hoover,
remarked:
"The war is over and we thank
God for that. One of the greatest
achievements has been accomplished
by the food administration, but its
work has not been finished. There
is much that remains to be done
and we are here to gather the in
spiration. that so far as Nebraska
is concerned, we will continue in
Our work during the reconstruction
period"
Mr.. Smith, described trip he
made to Europe not long ago, going
on a troop ship that carried 10000
United States soldiers. He de-
scribed the voyage and told the
feeling that took possession of him
when reaching the ocean war zone,
destroyers appeared to convoy the
ship safely into harbor.
At the time of the appearing of
the convoy. Mr.. Smith was standing
on the ships bridge, and just as the
first of the destroyers appeared
above the horizon, the captain re-
marked, That's destroyer No. 80
and its 20 minutes ahead of time"
This was a cue for Mr.. Wattles
and in short address that cut
into the talk of Mr.. Smith, he said:
"Nebraska's number is 50 and its
been 20 minutes ahead in every war
loan, every drive that has had for its
purpose the winning of the war. 1t
has occupied this proud position in
the conservation of food to save the
allies and intends to continue. in
feeding the world"
Work Not Ended
Mr.. Smith urged that with the
war ended, it will be necessary to
maintain an organization for the
distribution of food among the allies
and also among their enemies that
they will not starve. He dwelt at
some length upon the conservation
period during the first week in De-
cember. when Monday and Tuesday
meetings will be held to arouse in
terest in the saving of food. And
when of that week, Wednesday is
to be designated as Woman's day
and Friday day when the school
children will be impressed with the
duty that will devolve upon all
American citizens.
1t was pointed out that with the
end of the war 200,000000 persons
are looking to the United States for
their food supplies. This demand
he predicted might continue for two,
or three years and with this condi-
ton in sight. it behooved Ameri-
cans to conserve.
What Nation Has Done
From official data Mr.. Smith
showed that during the pre-war
periods the United States exported
TO Europe 100000 tons of food
stuffs annually. Last year the food
stuff exports were l1,750,000 tons
and the estimate for the next year is
placed at 100000 tons.
Mr.. Wattles, prior to the close of
the meeting, urged the county food
administrators upon going to their
homes to call public meetings for
not later than November Is and
with their people talk over plans
for conservation week and have
everything in readiness for an ag-
gressive campaign.