The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-11-23

OCQ commissioner Hoover mas
clarified the issue with respect to the
continued waste Of 60.0o0.000 bushels
of barley per year by the brewers
He has received an ava lanche of let
ters in reply 10 his urgent letters 70
ministers of the nation calling upon
them to aid in the food conservation
program. These letters hand back
to him and to the government the
question Of responsibility for the
continued waste of this 10000, 900
bushels of barley by the brewers,
The government has received most
generous response from the people
in the appeal to save foodstuffs. but
1t Is hard for the people to under
stand why the housewives should be
called upon to save by the ounce
while these brewers are permitted to
waste by the ton.
Commissioner Hoover has issued q
statement in which he frankly ao-
knowiedges that this waste does 60
on, but insists that 1t would be vita lily
necessary, even were that so. 900
bushels of barley saved. still TO con-
serve food in every possible way The
people will reudily assent to this, but
II only emphasizes the necessity for
stopping this 6o.ooo,000 bushels OF
Mr.. Hoover does not intimate the
fact that the president OF the United
States already has in his hand. by act
OF congress, the power TO stop the
use OF all foods and feeds in the max
Ing Of any alcoholic beverages And
Mr. Hoovers frank confession of the
awful waste amounting. by way Of
the brewing OF beer alone. TO a pound
LOAF of bread per day for 5000. 900
people, lays upon the people OF the
nation TO whom he makes the confess
sion the responsibility Of 50 manifest.
Ing their purpose that this waste he
| stopped AZ to bring about government,
action.
II 1t is up to the nation to save .so.-
| o00, 900 bushels OF wheat per year foi
| the allies, then we must stop wa sting
| 100000 hulhtis OF barley In beer
Barley can be substituted partially foI
wheat In fact. the government has
/ suggested that barley -four be mixed
! with wheat flour. 1t liz now up to the
people to take lfr. Hoover's state
ment n an invitation to the nation
to get back OF coaxrsss,and the presi.
dent IN behalf of rational prohibition
fan6 act upon II promptly and with
vfEor.
Tho following II the full text Of
! Comm, issioner sFJoossr's letter.
I'm the attitude or the churches to-
ward the food conservation campaign
| the question ia repcs teddy raised. VIII,
! Christian people should be asked e
save wheat while waste In still per.
mitted in the manufacture Of whiskey
and beer? The following considera-
lions. however. sho ~ that 1t IL necea.
sary for all to Cooperate In the cam
| patgn for. foodrsaytnE. even those who
! On prinrsp,&, sre dissatisfied with the
| present Situation.
| "By the terms of the food bill. tn,
manufa cture OF whit'tey and all dis
titled beverages was prohibited. and
/ actually ceased September s. 1917. NJ
edible grain is now psed in Engla nd
! for the distillation OF alcohol for hey
erage purposes. In ttalF alcohol /.
/ made from the residue from era %
] pressing, and not frc'n grains. Brew
/ ing OF one quarter of the usua
amount Of beer Is permitted In Eng
land, but Of an alcoholic content close
| ly approx.mating our near beer.
| I'm regard TO the domestic manu-
! facture OF beer, ths following cit
! are of interest
I'm 1916 there was used In the pro
duction OF malt. for the manufacture
OF beer FOR nome consumption ant
export about 6o.0to.oAo bushels o
barley, 1900. ono bushels OF corn, ant
about 100000 bushels of rice. Thi
represents about 80 per cent OF thu
normal barley crop and onH half OF
| per cent Of this yesr's corn crop. !
will be seen. therefore. that the econo
| mic advantage to DO gained from tn
| prohibition of the manufacture @
| beer relates aim ost entireiy to th'
question Of saving So.ooo,t0o hushel
of barley. which could be milled to g.
per cent Of It's food value, and produc
/, a pound-loaf Of harley bread per IA,
! for 100000 people. II our people
could be persuaded to adopt a ration
| Not a hushel OF wheat. therefore. Il
now being used for the manufacture
/ OF intoxicating drinks. and II IL whea
thct our people are asked TO save
From, the beginning our PURPOSE hH