Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1918-01-12
WEEKLY NEWS LETTER.


John NJ. Parker, Food Administra
tor for Louisiana, spent most of til,
week attending a conference at Wash
mgton. The meeting was deemed i'm
portant because Of Congress being III
session and Mr.. Hoover Shaping I'll,
plans and petitions for the New Year
There is a wide demand for more draS
tie food control, ami there may be a
stronger measures adopted in few
directions, but Is a general condition
the Food Administration claims tina;
a great deal has been accomplished
through voluntary cooperation and ii
is inclined t. continue the policy and
the rule of reason and democracy.
One of the main activities Tor i'm
mediate attention will be a renewal
# the pledge card campaign, extend
ing il to hotels, restaurants, other ca
tering resorts as well as homes, aud
impressing the imperative need for
even more thorough observance and
conservation More wheat is demand
ed, and the request may be Tor the
use Of a still larger percentage o.
substitute flour. PorklcSs Saturda,
may be insisted upon in addition to
the meatless and whcatlcSS days. /,
is expected that compliance will be
much reader, as the people have al
last realized the need for food say
ing and are insisting that the places
they patronize do their full share in
supporting the Government Program
Reports from travelling men and from
residents in various communities come
in daily, pointing out violations of the
letter and spirit of the food regula-
ions, and public sentiment is shown
determined by the speed with which
concerns notified return assurance that
there will be no further cause for
complaint.
Soon after Mr.. Parker's return will
3egin the regular weekly issuance of
prevailing average wholesale and re-
all prices for food. The consumers
vill then be able to judge for them
selves whether the dealers are going
beyond a reasonable profit. There has
OF yet been any specific definition
# rate of profit that is considered
reasonable. The Food Administration
tas not been given the power to fix
'etail prices. If Congress bestOws that
authority there will be nothing left
but the enforcement of the rule an
lounced. Even without such power it
-will not belong before utilization is
established to an effective degree
through the means possessed and the
always essential cooperation of the
people. The latter is already doing
much in the way of conservation, not
only through direct food saving but
by vitalizing the expedience against
boarding. There are penalties attach
ed to the authorizing regulations,
consumers may not hold more than
both as to buyers and sellers. Urban
rom one eight to one fourth Of a bar
rel of flour, rural consumers from one
fourth to one half barrel Sugar
should be sold in two to five pound lots
in communities and in five to ten pound
quantities in rural localities. The
'OOd Administration also objects to the
advertising of flour and sugar, as al
vertising increases purchasing. The
exception is in favor of corn meal, al
he rate of one pound of sugar to
two pounds Of corn meal The mo
tive is to pOpulaize corn meal which
IS the best substitute for wheat -four
Besides, the corn crop was so large
that there is a big surplus, and the
ext crop is sure to add to that sur
olus. A Nebraska woman made
practical suggestion which will help
corn to save sugar as well as whea:
by pointing out that popcorn could be
2opularized to take the place of much
# the candy Of which childhood is
he main purchaser.
The increase and development of
livestock industry will be one of the
principal causes exploited by all the
Good Administrators this year. In
Louisiana, effort will be concentrated
lpon the complete eradication of the
attic tick A federal dog tax law
and other measures are expected t.
stimulate tie sheep industry into
factor. National notice has been at
..racted to the State s adaptability an
success Of Louisiana as a provider Of
a number of perishable and staple
foods. Surveys now being made vii
reveal an astonishing advance in live
stock production. With the tick gone
forever, the sheep on every. farm, and
with sanitation permitting an amazing
multiplication of swine, Louisiana is
likely to become known as the most
-eliable source Of supply for all food
the nation needs.