The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-26
Speakers at Luncheon Yesterday at Hillman Ho- tel When Chairman
 Frye Outlined Plans
70 ALABAMA TOWNS AND CITIES TO BE VISITED BY COMMITTEE
Shelby, Columbiana, Wilsonville, Collinsville, Fort Payne, Good
 water and Alexander City
 to Be Visited Next Week .

water and Alexander City to Be Visited Next Week The Food Preparedness and Mar keting bureau has inaugurated statewide campaign to increase the production of food products in Ala bama, the initial luncheon being held yesterday at 1 o'clock in the private dining room of the Hillman hotel, with Chairman John H. Frye, pre- |siding.
 Plans were discussed fo- increasing food production and many interesting talks were made along that line. MT. Frye stated the purpose of the meeting was to organize committees and send speakers to 70 of the largest towns in Alabama for the purpose of urging the farmers to increase food production and to also assist In establishing better mar keting facilities for them. He then called on V. S. Gage of the Tyler Gro cery company, asking him to tell those present something of the food shortage. Mir. Gage stated there was a great de- mand for peanuts, black-eye peas and that large quantities had been bought.
 We must get in touch with the pro- ducers so as to let them know what we want and they will raise that,' said MT. Gage. He also spoke of the farmers selling their sorghum seed for SIPS when it would have brought more if they had held it awhile longer, and he was of the opinion that T. P. Hay, Jr., secretary of the food preparedness and marketing bureau, should know all the producers and he would be able to assist them in securing sales for their products as we'll as assist the public in buying these things
 MURRAY BROWN SPEAKS
 Murray Brown was the speaker and he made an excellent talk, in which he stated that the raising of live stock along with the farming should be pushed with the marketing. Tt is very important that we should impress on the farmers the necessity Of feeding themselves, as well as raise all the cotton they can. With cotton selling at 32c pound it will De sl udIu illtttSi to 6Ct tiC iti iiCio WiiO have been accustomed to planting all cotton to change and plant staple food products. We did fine work last year, and with the experience we've had in this work I feel sure we can do much better this year"
 Frank Willis Barnett made a short talk in which he stated the country merchant must be looked after also as they could assist in increasing the food production in Alabama very much.
 Mr. Gage later stated there would not be any flour in this county in 90 days, if Jefferson county does not begin to feed herself. D. P. Moore spoke of the farmers part in working to win the war.
 Chairman Frye then appointed the fol- lowing committees who will visit towns this week in the interest of the cam H. M Beck and w. c. Adams. They will leave Thursday morning and will go to Shelby, Columbiana and Wilsonville; V. S. Gage, chairman, and John c. Hen ley, Jr., will go to Oneonta; w. M. Franklin. chairnRn; c. F. Bell and Frank Stevens will go to Collinsville and Fort Payne. while Dr. Frank Willis Bar nett will head a committee to go to Goodwater and Alexander City.
 OTHER COMMITTEES NAMED
 Next week additional committees of business men will be appointed to visit other towns. These committees are not sent to these towns to tell the farmers how to farm. but to encourage them to ,@1- e,;f ;a1 nd nio1 11ty raise staple foods and assist in winning this great war.
 The food preparedness and marketing bureau is sending out to each town to be visited interesting pamphlets giving three reasons for the campaign, and at the bottom appears the following: Pres ident Wilson said: Food is the supreme need Of this country.
 A similar campaign was waged las. year by the food preparedness bureau with splendid results as were shown in pamphlet recently issued, in which was stated Alabama raised more corn in 1917 than Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas; more peanuts than any other state in the union: three times as much hay as formerly; more sweet potatoes, more velvet beans than any other state in the union. and more sorghum and su- garcane syrup than any other state. ex- cepting Louisiana.
 LAST YEARS CAMPAIGN
 If the above mentioned figures were result of the campaign last year, even greater results are expected this year for the residents of the cities are all planting every vacant lot obtainable.
 At the close of the luncheon, it was stated that potato scraper had been built in south Alabama at the cost of s5o 900. one-half being paid by the govern ment and the other half by the people. Tn this way the large crop of potatoes could be grated and dried for later use. Ii is stated that vegetables and fruits dried by the simple process demonstra- ted in Birmingham several weeks ago by H. s. Mobey. the garden expert, may be used again just as potatoes gathered from the garden by allowing them to soak in water for a short while.
 Interest is growing in this campaign and the committee in charge expects large increase in food products for Ala bama during 1918.
 Marriage Licenses
 The following marriage licenses ka fx,6o Af-