The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-10-17
EATING THE SUGAR CAKE.

country has consumed nearly years normal supply u
sugar in the first nine months it looks as though Amer
cans had been endeavorng to have their cake and eat
it, too Last year. when the sugar equalization board
purchased the entire Cuban crop two-thrds for Amer
can account and one-thrd for the allies, it made wise
and apparently adequate provision for the years supply
BASED upon wartime ratons or even upon normal
prewar basis, this amount supplemented by domestic
supplies, should have seen the country through what
was then expected to be the last year of the war
! Peace came however, and with it the lid came of,
Wartime rationing longer popular even if prac'
ticable Physical workers. who crave and need sugar
were being paid high wages and had money for sweets
Prohibition added to the demand. The consumption OF
the country began running at enormous rate. By
July / the published statistics showed per capita con-
sumption Of as pounds for the half year. which indicated
the unparalleled rate of go pounds year At the same
time revised estimates of production showed that the
worlds crop would be 100000 short of that of the
preceding year.
The only step taken was officially to request all re-
fners to stop filling export orders AS these exports
were merely part of the allies third of the Cuabn crop
which was being refined in this country this order amount
ed to temporary borrowing from their share of the
supply 1t was of course expected that this borrowing
would soon be repaid without inconvenience but as is
too often the case with borrowers, the expectation was
disappointed
d The consumption has gone on unchecked The sugar
equalization board hopes take of the situation
with the assistance Of domestic sugars until the end OF
u the year, when it expects to out of business This
however involves marketing unusually large percent
age of the pending beet sugar crop before January /
y more borrowing against the future
Now it is very pleasant in the midst of world short
age to be furnished with all the sugar desired at price
which permits record rate of consumption The onl!
question is how long it can be done. In normal times
under the play Of supply and demand, the price wou'
rise until consumption checked and brought dow
level with the available supply. Under government
regulation this is not popular and the equalization boar
takes pardonabe pride in the maintenance of its presen
price until the end of its existence though the nat
ura tendency stimulate boarding of the cheap suga
against the inevitable increase. Even with the time limit
however there signs that the board going to have it
hands full in its struggle with economic law, and tina
the greater the insstencc low price the acut
will be the shortage,
The period of sacrifice will not be long and it wi
not involve any real suffering, but the restriction
grow rigid and the resulting annoyances multipl!
thousands of people will be unable to refrain from
~ tempatng that sugar has been sold to France at
riice
And, anyway why should there be any shortage of tn
q sugar supply in this country? The crop sample, tn
demands of have ceased and the extraordinary dra
upon the American supply is measured solely by tt
ov wish send abroad for the relief Of Europeo
the countries Why should the American people be skmpe
in their supply of any food necessity of which there
en- abundance available? Is it violation of the ethi
ate of idealism to suggest that feed America first?
inc the subject probed to the bottom doubt it
be found that usual every interest had been scrup
ously conserved except onethe public intercst.Was
aw- ngton Post.