The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-04-11
HELP FARMERS AND STOCKMEN

The advisory committee of "a citizens
representing agricultural and live stock
interests in various sections of the United
States, recently appointed by the Secre-
| tary Of Agriculture and the food adj
, ministrator, organized i'm Washington
March %. Ex-Gov Henry G. Stuart OF
Virginia mad previously been requested
| by Secretary Houston and Mr.. Hoover
| to act as chairman. This committee is
an advisory and not an executive body.
| The committee Immediately began
series of conferences with Secretary
Houston, Food Administrator Hoover,
| and representatives of the various
branches of these two agencies The
members, after leaving Washington, will
be expected to keep the two departments
in touch with local conditions and will
reassemDle on call.
The committee, it is expected, can rem
der important service to the government,
especially in two ways: First, coming as
they do fresh from the various sections
| of the union, they can assist the gov
ernmental agencies in keeping more in
| timately in topch with production and
| food problems throughout the nation, and
can make suggestions as to modifica-
! tions or extensions of existing activities;
and second, can ascertain definitely and
make clear to the persons interested in
/! their respective districts the nature and
scope of the policies of these two govern
mental agencies and the reasons under
! lying the various actions deemed neces-
sary. There is need, it is believed. for
more complete information and under
standing in both these directions. 1t is
not always easy in Washington to es-
innate the real difficulties and the ex-
tent to which those who present matters
I f,,11 ha act1I Oh
the sentiment of the people. 1t is also
true that it is very difficult to make
clear to great numbers of people the
actual nature and scope of measures de-
vised by the government. Much misun-
Outstanding exists in many quarters,
some of it based on representations
growing out Of ignorance and some on
representations mischievously made
Secretary Houston, in outlining the
/ purposes of the advisory group, said,
| in part:
1T seemed advisable to select a rep
resentative group of producers who
could come to Washington from time
] to time and furnish advice. This group
i should be composed of men in touch
with the various communities and with
| producers in various sections of the
union who can present, in responsible
and helpful ways the existing diff
culties. 1t was thought that they
might present many suggestions
which it would be difficult otherwise
! to receive. The committee is to be an
| advisory, and not an executive body
1t can render much assistance in as
pertaining clearly and definitely the
4 purposes and activities of the govern
ment and In clearing UP confusions
that exist in many parts of the coun-
try. 1t is difficult enough to run a
II fIy1
are adequately presented to the people
and properly interpreted. 1t is ex-
i tremely difficult to run the govern
ment satisfactorily if the people get,
not facts, but gossip-and they are
| getting a great deal of gossip. In the
field of production, l am especially
anxious to have you clearly understand
what the department Is doing to aid
in dealing with the seed and farm
labor situations and to have from you
any advice as to what further things
we can do to meet any difficulties in
these two directions. The executive
machinery of the department is avail
able for securing and supplying requi-
site information. and I shall be glad
to have those in charge of the activi-
ties fully present matters to YOU"
Food Administrator Hoover, after
discussing problems relating to the
food Administrations functions regard
ing price-fxing, and control and dis
ltribution of products. said In part:
"All war is an economic degeneration,
and in getting down first from one
stage Of degeneration to another it is
our business in our particular line to
adjust the movement downward as
softly as we can. We are not trying to
correct industry or otherwise to lay
any permanent foundations. but merely
to serve the exigencies of the situa-
tion. The incidents of war on the food
] Industries as, whole are probably
more disturbing than on any other
type of industry. There are the enor
lmous demand for increased foods and
the dislocation of shipping. and a thou
sand and one things that have hap
i pened and for which we must find some
/ immediate solution-somethihg that
4 will do for the moment. Therefore. our
aspect and our dealings are nine times
out Of ten the choice Of the lesser OF
4 evils. and that conception Of the work
Is the thing that Is SO little understood
j generally throughout the country.
Eve need above All things = body