The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-22
Conservation Programme Gives Surplus for Fighters
 and Home Consumption
FOOD PROBLEM LARGE PART OF WAR ISSUE
Will Be No Food Rationing in America So Long as People Continue to Conserve as They Have
 in the Past
CBy Associated Pressl

Washington, September 21. Food Administrator Hoover, in a statement issued tonight, outlining the food conservation programme recommended for the American people during the coming year, said the Uni ted States was prepared to ship 5,730,000 more tons of foodstuffs to its armies and al lies than last year, and still have a margin over the amount necessary to maintain health and strength at home. This great undertaking cannot be accomplished, however, MT. Hoover emphasized, without due regard to the importance of saving by every person.
 Even under this international food programme, which means further self denial by the allies, the allied able at best, MT. Hoover said, will be less than ours, for their people are deny ing themselves more in order to trans port our soldiers. We can do no less than fill the ships they send us" he added.
 With no prospect, as he saw it. of a proper ending of the war before the strtx~. .f1-- problem, the food administrator de- clared. is no small part of the issue. The allied civilians and armies, the American armies, the Belgian relief and certain neutrals who are dependent upon the United States, will require 17,550.oo0 tons of foodstuffs for the year beginning July 1. This, in round numbers, will include meats and fat. 2,600.000 tons; breadstuffs. 10.40O. 900 . sugar, 1,s5O,ooo, and feed grains. most, ly army oats,f 2,700,O00.
 There will be no food rationing in this country so long as the people con- tinue to conserve as in the past, MT, Hoover said. nor will it be necessary. he hoped, to resort to the wheatless and meatless days.
 SUFFIFICIENT SUGAR
 of our imports" MT. Hoover said we shall apparently have sufficient s11
 
 and take care of the extra drain of the allies from our markets, instead of com polling them to send their ships to the Tar east. We can secure in sailing yes- seis the coffee we need, if no one makes an over-brew. Of our own products we must secure reduction in consumption and waste in the two great gro11ps of first breadstuffs; and second, meats and fats-that is, in all bread and cereals. beef, pork, poultry, dairy and vegetable oil products. The average conslmption of our people of breadstuffs amount to six pounds per week and of meats and ats to four pounds week for each person. A reduction in consumption of less than one-half pound per week per person in each of these two great groups of foods would accomplish our purpose We wish to emphasize, however. that we do not want curtailment in the use or milk for children.
 Some of our homes by reason of lim- ited income cannot now provide more food than they should have to main tain health in the family. They cannot rightfully be asked to make the suggest ed reduction in consumption But the great majority of our homes can do more than suggested.
 SIMPLICITY NEEDED
 We need even greater simplicity of living than last year amongst all that section Of the community to whom food stuffs are secondary item in expendi- ture.
 We estimate that nearly 90OO,OO0 people eat at our public eating places-hoteis restaurants. boarding houses clubs, din- ing cars and so forth. The food con- sumption in these places is larger than in the average homes. We are asking the proprietors and employees of these institutions to undertake in many partic- ulars more strict program than last year and we are confident that they will willingly do this.
 This is not rationing-a thing we will never have if our people continue to sup port us as in the past. We are simply making an appeal to the intelligence in the homes and public eating places of America to work out for themselves the means and manner of saving
 'This year as last I believe we can accomplish the necessary ends by volun- tary action of our own people. The will ipgness to assume individual responsible ity in this matter by the vast majority is one of the greatest proofs of the character and idealism of our people, and Il feel if can De constantly relied upon.