The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1918-07-26
TO USE FOO0 CARDS
As A LAST RESORT
VOLUNTARY CONSERVATION
WILL BE FOLLOWED AS LONG
As POSSIBLE, SAYS OFFICIAL.
HOOVER is AGAINST FORCE
Only When Other Methods Fall VIII
Tickets Be Used IN This
Country.

The question frequently has been
asked Of the Missouri Division OF the
Food Administration why sugar cards
and bread cards have never been used
in this country. In a talk to the u
ty food administrators of Missouri in
Columbia recently, j. w. Hallowell,
an official Of the United States Food
Administration. declared thar when
Herbert Hoover was appointed food
administrator for this country he set
his heart on having a voluntary Eys-
tenn Of food conservation. He believed
IN the American people, and was con-
hdent they would do what was neces-
sary In war times without having the
big stick used.
Mr.. Hoover did not want to use
force" said Mr.. Hallowell. HE knew
conditions in Germany, where a food
dictator and not a food administrator
had been appointed. One worked
through coercion; the other through
cooperation. An autocratic system Of
bread cards and sugar cards, Mr.
Hoover believed. would take from the
American people a splendid opportu
nifty to build up their character. and
opportunity Of knowing what should be
done at home, IN view OF the situation
abroad, to help win the war. AND
Mr.. Hoover believed the people O
this country deserved to have the op
portunity to try a system Of yoluntar,
conservation"
A system of card ratloning, Mr.. Hal
lowell declared, would cost $780, 900 ,0Ol
a year and would require the service.
Of 100, 900 persons. Instead Of thii
$4,000. 900. which would have beer
required for a card system. the volun
tary system has cos $2.000,000.
Mr.. Hoover knew. too. that the carr
rationing system was not successful Il
Germany, Mr. Hallcwell said. The ricl
get all the food they want. while tn
poor can obtain only what their card
allow them. The large hotels in Bel
lin and other German cities are sell
ing choice articles OF food at price
which only the wealthiest can pa,
Hams can be obtained at $40 apiec
and butter for 500 a pound The poe
4 are becoming resentful at this stat
Of affairs and It is something German
will have to reckon with after the wa,
The voluntary system will be 70
lowed in this country as long as POI
sible,V said Mr.. Hallowell. where
fails another system will be triet
? But until we see that the yoluntar
system is going to fail, that conservl
ton viii have to be forced by a car
system, such a system will not b
used.
The way in which the Allies wer
fed from our last years wheat Gro
is one OF the most remarkable thing
the American people have accon
Z plished through voluntary conserv
: ton. Our last years crop was a
proximately 600 million bushels. Th
would have allowed a normal export
only 20 million bushels. but due to Il
splendid spirit Of cooperation on 4
part Of the American people and Il
rigid conservation Of wheat, l4O m
Il lion bushels OF that crop already ha'
been sent and 10 or IL million mo.
/; Will be shipped across. The Food A
ministration Is now taking 60 per ce
% of the wheat -four output Of the mil
3. and sending it in iute SACKS direct
the Allies.
-This could never have been accoI
plished without the cooperation Of 7
d American people, especially the wo'
, -, % M Hallowell declared.