Arizona republican., 1918-09-25
OPTIMISM PERVADES WASH|NCT0N-SP|R|T
 IF VICTORY THERE

FLAGSTAFF, Sept. 2.-"Everyone is whistling these days in Washington" says Timothy A. Riordan, federal food administrator for Arizona. who has just returned from an important con- ference with Herbert Hoover, which was attended by all state food admin istrators.
 There is wonderful spirit of opti- mlsm in the air at the national capi- tai, said the Arizona food head Tt ,s in marked contrast to the rather mel ancholy atmosphere which l have en- countered on former visits. Walking along the streets one is impressed the very first thing that everyone is whist ling merry air of some sort. You hear 1t in the hotel Hobbies. offices, every where. Why even the president has the Whistling habit, these days, they say. In one of the railway offices the whistling got to be such a nuisance that they had to put up Don't Whistle" sign
 The whistling habit is doubtless a reflection of the cheering news from the front. Everyone seems confident that we have really started on the big drive toward Berlin, although it is safe to say that the war will last another year at least, and perhaps longer. At any rate the food administration is laying its plans for another full years activities.
 And during this year." continued MT. Riordan, we must conserve more than ever before. Last year, or rather during the first year of the food ad- mlnistration We sent 100000 900 tons of foodstuffs to Europe MT. Hoover n q 1nd h To %I~. foreign food controllers that the food demands of the allies for the coming year will be in the neighborhood Of l5,OOO,O00 tons and this translated is into terms of individual effort means that every person will have to increase his efficiency of conservation by 50 per cent
 MT. Riordan went on to say that while the program last year was con- fined to certain particular lines, the l conservation scope will be broadened to include all lines. that thrift and economy may be practised in every thing during the coming twelve months, and that while heretofore the house. wife has been asked to observe meat less meals or wheatless days, in the future she will be asked to reduce the consumption on all staple commodities
 
 own judgment in so doing. This sys- tenn, 1t was pointed out. will be far more difficult and require much moro thought than the old program.
 Will there be any let up in food conservation?" Mir. Riordan was asked
 He replied emphatically that there would be none. He said that one of the largest problems before America and the food administration today is tn. building up of large reserves. Despite bountiful harvests food administration officials were unanimous in declaring that food conservation must be intensi- fled as never before to meet the grow ing demands of our fighting forces and the civilian populations of this and tho allied countries. Reserves must be laiC up against the possibility of future crop failures or unforeseen contingen- .cies, which may arise at any time.
 As to the sugar situation Riordar said that the honor ration of two pounds per person per month must bt continued and that probably ther: would be no change in this program fol several months. The vital need fo, transatlantic shipping, he said is pri. marily the cause of this decision
 Hoover congratulated Riordan on thu organization which he has built up il Arizona. giving especial credit to tn, county food administrators and thei deputies, through the following specia message which MT. Riordan has sen out to all heads of county organiza tions:.
 T wish you would express to eaci county food administrator of your stat the great appreciation we all have fo the fine service they have given GU common task. I was particularly struc, by the repeated occasions during ou recent conference. when such expre5 slons arose as We can and must de pend upon our county administrators for that" or Our county food admin istrators will put that over," or "Ou county food administrators have don this or that" All these expressions re called to me the relation of the arm staff to the men on the firing line an 1 wish you would take opportunity t thank them in my name for their grea service to their country and her peopl at home.