The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1918-07-11
The Three Systems.


ing rationing. high prices aud volun
tary effort
The Three Systems.
The introduction of ratiouing into
this country would have resulted in
an inevitable reaction 1t would also
mean tremendous expenditure On
the basis of the rationing system
adopted by European countries for
certain staple foods, it would require
81 SO0, 600 a year for the printing of
the necessary ration cards, il would
demand one official for every LOCO
families to take 0are of distribution
under this system in fact, on the
European basis. about $45,000000 a
year would be required TO administer
the rationing system in this country
Control of consumption by high
prices was obviously too unfair 10
merit consideration in such a country
as ours, meaning as it must, conserNa
tion for the rich al the expense Of the
poor
The voluntary system based upon
education and publicity (the third al
ternativel. was selected because Of
the moderate expense involved, and
because OF the opportunity il afforded
to use the great desire Of loyal Amer
leans TO serve their country
Results Enormous
The results Of the voluntary control
Of food have been enormous The sur
plus of the 1918 wheat crop, based
on normal consumption, would have
been 20,o0e.O00 bushels If the present
rate of saving by the American people
continues, We shall be able TO deliver
to our Allies from this crop possibly
10000 600 bushels of wheat, of which
100000 geo will represent the yolun-
tary savings of the American people
This delivery of wheat has enabled the
Allies to meet the more immediate
and pressing bread needs Of their peo
pie. and to keep up the bread ration
OF their soldiers
"As to our exports of meat, the re
suits of conservation are even more
remarkable The analysis of figures
in regard to hogs indicates that we
were 5000 600 to 1000 600 hogs short
when the conservation campaign was
started Before the war, the average
monthly export of hog products was
about so 600 1000 pounds In March.
1918, we exported 100000 600 pounds
and can see our way clear, with the
present saving and production, TO go
forward at this rate for an indefinite
period Before 1914 we were export
ing from 1000 600 to 5000 coo pounds
OF beef per month After the Euro
pean war began there was an in
crease to about 23000,o00 per month
Now we are exporting at the rate of
l30,000c50 pounds Of beef per month
and, with The continuation Of conser
yatfon ana production, there is no
reason to anticipate a material reduc-
tiou in these figures.
Gre, Offensive Needed
The winning OF the war depends
upon the development OF great often
give strength on the part Of the United
States This offensive must include
ships men. supplies and food With
he Increase in the size Of our Army.
there is necessary decrease in our
productive capacity Harvests are
hcUd to vary with seasonal condi-
nots
The only safe procedure for us and
for the Allies is to provide enormous
reserve stocks Of staple foods both
here and in Europe. TO meet any emor
seuey which may arise In later
period Of the war, to have to stop in
critical phase Of it in order to put
unusual emphasis upon agricultural
production might be fatal to our final
success.
There must be no let-down in the
program Of conservation until the new
harvest Heartened by our success
and by the spirit of devotion and self
sacrifice shown by the American peo
pie, We must 80 ahead more than ever
convinced Of our sponSibiIity tC
those who fight with us and to those
unfortunate peoples who look to us
as the one source of the food supply
necessary to keep them from destruc
ton
In France and England.
"The American Labor Mission just
home from London. was appointed by
| President Wilson to make a study ot
conditions in England and France O1
its nineteen members, nine are fron
! the American Federation OF Labor
| two of whom are women The Others
represent every social element Of The
American people This mission made
a comprehensive study of condition.
in the Allied countries. and before
leaving London for America ISSUED
/ the following statement regarding
food conditions
/ Since landing in England. all mem
bers OF the committee have visited {
number of cities and interviewed
large number of people regarding tn,
ts0d situation, as well as other mat
ters arising from the war, and we fee
it our duty to impress upon the Amer
ican people the fact that they shoult
! eddeavor to conserve food in a large
measure. that We may supply the pee
pie of the Allied countries with tn,
things necessary to their sustenance
There is no doubt that the people 0
Great Britain and the Allied countries
are making untold sacrifices, NOR,
than America realizes.
Wheat and Meat Abroad
"Yn 1914 France produced SO pc
nf