The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-25
HOOVER TELLS CROWO|
Continued from First Pags)

distribution OF foodstuN by ths Amefl'
can people That we in Richmonc
were not dead to this plan of the gov
ernment is well known"
Mayor Ainslie stated that mole thar
700 gardens were worked In Richmond
last summer and that abeat 100000
quarts OF foodstufy had been canned
The teachers In the public schools, due
10 the activity Of this committee had
instructed the children in the processes
of cultivation.
1 The mayor then introduced Gov
! cvnor Stuart, who spoke briefly OF
the gallant part that had been played
by Ma Hoover in heroicaiiy saving
the distressed Belgians from starva-
ton before he had been called to the
assistance of his native land. Tho
7 governor said that Mr.. Hoover had
not only won the admiration OF
America but the entire world had
showed Its appreciation OF his valiant
work among the starving nation. he
added he has helped mllliona OF
consumers by the suppression OF the
profiteer and the protection OF the
consumer. He has he y the pro-
ducer as well as tho consumer In this
situation" He then introduced FOOD
Administrator Hoover who received
prolonged ovation and hearty well
come.
Production and Conservation.
Mr. Hoover dweIt particularly on
The production and conservation or
the nations food products, stating
that before We can render. valuable
assistance to the distressed nations
in the deathlv struggle, we must
learn these simple lessons at home.
The success of the great war depends
first upon the intelligent production
OF useful foods and then tho matter
OF saving and conserving the vas
crops must be learned America is
now feeding the entire European
world and the men in the fields OF
this country have taken the place OF
the oversee farmer who is In the
trenches. Another great problem OF
the war IS the production or ships
I and means Of transportation.
The administrator said that about
forty millions OF men have been
taken from production and put into
the business Of f1ghting. America
must produce enough food to sup
plant this deficiency OF Burope's sup
ply, He explained that before the
war there had been three areas OF
production; first. the Indian Ocean
area; second. the European section
and last the ~estern hemisphere,
composed Of North and South Amer
lea
The first two OF these areas OF pro
6uction have been practically cut of
snd the western country 10 left with
the great burden of feeding the
world There is no food arriving In
Europe from the Indian ocean
regions. and the wheat is rotting In
the fields of Australia because of tbs
lack OF farm labor. The food that !.
! produced IN the Eastern regions can
not reach the warning countries be
cause of the deficiency OF plentiful
tonnage. Ships are MS scarce as men
Argentina is the most productive OF
the South American countries.
Every Pound Helps.
Every pound of food" declared
Mr.. Hoover" that is saved in Amer
lea today helps. Every farmer tina
puts an extra spade into the yrounc
land turns il over is making ammuni
ton TO destroy the enemy: Foot
must be brought from Argentina
The food problem today is becom
ing the problem OF ships. 1t Is tht
problem of transporting the products
firm America to the warning ma
. tons"
MIR. Hoover said that before the wa
the United States had supplied Eu
rome with fifty million bushels OF food
that now we are sending them on
hundred million bushels, but that the.
Eare asking for one hundred and flft,
million bushels at present. Ever
Imam. woman and child In the Unite'
Estates must help" he impressed.
starvation has become the grea
weapon of Germany. The food regu
tlation OF the Americans diet is no
a matter of German autocracy. w
do not work as the beastlike Hun
but our government regulates for tn
. help of humanity and democracy. TIL
American people need no urging a
There has been a ready cooperation
on the part of all citizens.
Mr. Hoover received Il, deafeninI
sound applause when he wound Vi
with The American people are criti
cal by nature, but there is time whei
+; criticism must he constructive and no
destructive" He then explained MI
, Vrooman's mission. after which he In
troduced the assistant secretary o
agriculture.
VrocEnan Stirs Audience.
Mr.. Vrooman aroused the enthusi
asm of the audience from his frs
sentence. He went into high strain
" OF eloquence. and his address was no
only comprehensive ana repiete. ou
. he displayed a fine sense of wit an
= humor that kept the throng vastl
4 entertained His address dealt wit
0 the hitherto unpreparedness of tn
United States, not only from a mill
. tary and Industrial standpoint. bu
from a psychological sense.
; Mr. Vrooman created great applsus
when he declared: de went into wa
in self-defense. We went into the wa
because II the civilized nations OF tn
J. world had not hung together the
would have hung separately. We ar
8 not only gong to beat off the bull.
but we are going TO teach him som
manners and put him In chains.
= The failure to pass McAdoo's shir
building bill three years ago and tn
+, consequent deficiency of ships
Americas greatest handicap. But W
have the supplies, men. food and tn
, inventive genius of the, world. 500
> there will be the navy of the air
Americas aeroplane fleet. There mus
be a mobilization Of the farmer q
:, we'll as the soldier"
II Mr.. Vrooman's menus mere receive
by the a~lience with laughter. n
| suggested salt fish. lima and butter
beans. peas. kidney beans. all mike
with rice, and a plenty of soup, all {
which he said are used at his HON
instead OF bacon and beef, He sal
| that many think of a boyle man an