Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-04-02

Thru action taken by the connty
 cpttnehl of defense yesterday, lief
 ferson county placed itself at the head of all communities in the United 1 States in a demonstration Cf pfofes-
 sional patriotism. This is the opa- ion of men who are in close touch
 with the war activities of the country
 and know whereof they speak.
 All white flour in the hands of
 the wholesalers, retailers, brokers
 and millers in Jefferson county is to
 be collected and offered to the gov
 ernment to aid in filling the present i shortage; the sale of flour is to ha
 stopped, and all in the hands of
 householders in excess Of the thirty
 days supply is to be turned in to the
 county food adminisartinn.
 This action was decided upon al 3
 joint meeting of the county council
 of defense and the local wholesalers,
 brokers and other dealers in flour.
 Franklin w. Fort, of the national
 food administration at Washington,
 State Food Administration Hamp Williams, County Administration M : C. Hollis were presnt at the meeting.
 The flour is to be collected in this
 city and efforts will be made to ship
 it straight thru to the food alminis- tratiOn in Washington as Jefferson
 county's contribution to cause. The
 plan is to have the train decorated with banners stating what it contains,
 why it is sent and where it is from
 It is hoped that the publicity thus given the action will nsnire other sections of the country to take similar
 measures. Local flour dealers esti-
 mate that train of 50 cars le loaded with the flour obtained in the county First Action of Kind. l This is the first action or the kind to be taken in the United States. say the food officials who attended yes- terday's meeting, and it is q remark, able demonstration Of patriotism and self sacrifice on the part of this coun. l try.
 The execution Of the nlam will be +, the hands of committee composed of Mir. Hollis, s. B. Russell and R. A. Bahlau. This committee will look 1 after the collection of the flour and its shipment. All the flour in the county will be concentrated in this city.tho it is probable that car lots will he concentrated in such noints as Altheimer, Sherrill and Redfield, and then shipped into the city to be
 made up into the train which will leave from here. All the flour taken will be paid for by the government and will be used to relieve the short ing the cause of tn Unitd States and her allies.
 The plan was first brOueht up at q meeting of the council of 0efense, held Sunday. meeting of the job bers was held that evening at which their part in the proposed action was discussed. At the joint meeting yes terday morning the question was gone into thoroly, and all pre4ent unanimously endorsed it. Among those present, in addition to the coun- cil members and the food adminis- tration officials, were the following: V. O. Alexander. A. w. Nunn, g. B. Russell, w. J. Shepherd. Mack Laws. Howell Westbrook and H. A. Bahlau. Some of these present stated that they thought Jefferson county could
 procure 10000 barrels of flour. enough to make up trainload of about 50 cars. This train will be dee orated with flags and signs telling where it is from and why it is being sent. in the hope that the action of Jefferson county may inspire others to do the hame thing.
 Hollis Explains Move. M. c. Hollis, county food adminis-
 tration in explaining the action made the following statement
 "This move was not demanded hy the food administration, but on the other hand was entirely voluntary
 on the part of the county of defense, and was taken because of the alarm ing shortage of white flour, which is the principal article of food this coun- try is being called upon to furnish to the allies.
 "The food administration has the authority to take this flour if neces-
 (Gor%'~voI