Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1918-03-15
PLENTIFUL
Food Administrator Ely Explains
Why Il Has Bean Possible 70
MoiIty 4Meatless" Rules.
Unexpectedly Quick Results d Saw
Inp Creates Surplus We Nay Now
C0Hsums tor Brief Period.

Albuquerque, March 0.-1he mooA
fcation Of the meatless day rule, an
bounced during the past week, have
led good many people to ask the
reasons for the same.
One very bright little woman said
to me, "Just little while ago Mr.,
Hoover urged everyone TO do with
out potatoes as far as possible. Now
he is urging everyone to eat pOta-
toes. Why don't he make up his
mind and stick to it,"
! am not going 10 try to tell the
potato story at this time but it Isl
desirable that our people should un-
derstand the meat situation. About
the first Of September, farmers in
the corn belts were just getting ready
to harvest their corn crops. The
feeding pens were empty; there was
a shortage of cattle, hogs and sheep
in the stock yards, and the cold stor-
age warehouses Of the country were
practically empty, except Of poultry,
Of which there was an over supply;
and the allies were calling upon us
for tremendous shipments Of beef
and pork and their products.
The high prices paid for wool were
holding the sheep on the ranges and
on the farms and the need Of wool
made it very desirable that sheep
should be conserved rather than NUT
ton eaten. The shortage Of meats was
really acute and the allies were suf-
fering for these foods.
In order to meet the shortage, the
meatless day program was inaugur-
ated. In the beginning every one will
recall Il was entirely voluntary and
il still is largely so. In other words
no attempt has been made to close
meat markets or by stopping the
sales Of these meats on these days
to forcibly prevent the consumption
Of these foods. The voluntary effort,
however, has been marvelously effec-
tive. One meatless day each week
throughout the country means that
we can save one-seventh Of the meats
which l10,OO0,0OO people would eat,
for shipment abroad. In other words,
that one meatless day would feed
nearly 100000 people one week as
well as the American people are fed
so far as the meat ration is concern
cd. A pOrkless Saturday provides
pork for a week for another 16,0O0,-
900 people. While one meatless meal
on each Of the remaining five days
If equally distributed between break
fast, dinner and supper, would furn-
ish the meat ration each week t.
about 100000 people. In Othel
words, the aggregate theoretical saw,
ing Of our voluntary campaign, i
absolutely observed by our peOpl'
throughout the country, would equa
the mea; ration each week FOR so,
100000 people as well fed as Ameri
can people.
Now this great saving Of meat be
gan to roll up for shipment abroa,
and there were not ships enough l.
take care Of it together with wheat
and the munitions and the soldier
and their countless other supple
which had to go abroad. Then tn
meat backed up into the warehouse
Of the packers; the cattle began I
accumulate in the stock yards an
prices showed a tendency to fall an
farmers would ship their fat stoc
to an uncertain market and Nigh
have to stand a loss.
Now let us back up for a minute
A little after the first Of Septembe
throughout the corn producing dis
tricts heavy and continuous rain
prevailed, followed by a successio
Of frosts with a result that a yer
large proportion Of the corn failu
to mature. It produced what is cal
ed soft corn. This is all right Fl
stock feed during the winter but wa
sure to spoil soon after the comm
of warm weather. There was a rslS
lively little hard corn out Of whiC
corn meal can be made. This so
corn was not easily marketed. Buy
ers were afraid that Il would spc
on their hands and farmers wei
compelled to feed il up. They wei
anxious to finish their feeding ope
atoms before warm weather came u
The result was that thousands Of IA
mers became feeders and the feediI
pens we're filled as they have new
been filled before. Even without o.