The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-01-09

The following history of the Con necticut Food Administration has been compiled by ". A. Sheehan and sent to Washington:
 Connecticut, being a consuming rather than a producing state, was one of the first to realize the presence of food problem, and early in March, 1H17, the Connecticut Chamber of Commerce called a meeting of the rep resentative citizens to consider what should be done in the event of war. This meeting appointed large com- mittee, which was afterwards reduced to the following membership: Joseph w Alsop of Avon, William c. Cheney of Manchester, Charles T. Davis of Middletown, John P. Elton of Water bury, George Nj. Landers of New Brit ain, Wilson II. Lee of New Haven, Robert W. Perkins of Norwich, Robert Scoville of Salisbury, Clifford I. Stod- dard of Woodbridge This committee, feeling the lack of governmental au- thority, requested the support of Gov ernor Marcus H. Holcomb, and on
 
 in him by a recent act of the Legisla lure, then in session, he formally np- pointed the committee as the Con- necticut Committee of Food Supply.
 Connecticut Ready Early.
 So when President Wilson on Au- gust 10. 1917, signed the Lever Food Control Act and thereby gave life to the United States Food Administra- ton, which MT. Hoover had already partially organized, the state of Con nectcut had for five months been con- ducting war time food department.
 scoViIIe Named July 4, 1917.
 On July 4, 1917, Robert Scoville of TaConic, Conn.,, representative of the town of Salisbury in the Connecticut Legislatures of 1901 and 1903, New York banker ard business man and Connecticut farmer and cattle breeder, had replied to Herbert Hoover's tele- gram accepting the office of Federal Food Administrator for Connecticut without compensation. Former State Senator George NJ Landers of New Britain, one of Connecticut's most suc- cessful organizers and q manufacturer, identified with numerous New Britain industries, had been chosen chairman of the Connecticut Committee of Food Supply, and MT. Scoyille was his most valuable and constant assistant on food production and conservation mat ters
 Worked With State Committee.
 When Mir. Scoville became Food Ad- jministrator for Connecticut he prompt Ily appointed MT. Landers as Assistant Food Administrator. The offices of the Federal Food Administrator were housed at No 36 Pearl street, Hart ford, with the Connecticut Committee of Food Supply, which already had a number of active subcommittees work ling on food production and conserva- Ition.
 lssued First Posters.
 It Is interesting to note that the first food posters displayed in this country were distributed by the Connecticut Committee of Food Supply with the
 
 Food Administration. Within few months after we entered the war Mir. Scovflle and Mir. Landers had held several meetings with the leading ho- tel proprietors and restaurant men and initiated one of the earliest food con- servation programs among the public eating places of America. Even be. fore the President had signed the Le- yer Act the Connecticut food authori. ties had instituted food conservation pledge card campaign and in June and July, 1917, secured thousands oi pledges from Connecticut housewives.
 Organization Perfected.
 When the Presidents proclamation placed wholesalers and large retailers under license and rules and regula lions were promulgated for various trades. Food Administrator Scoville secured the volunteer services of At torney Clark T. Durant, who wa' placed in charge of the Enforcement Division. During the late summer anC early autumn of 1917 Mir. Scoville wis tied nearly every town in the state conferring with the leaders of various organizations and industries.
 Pledge Card Campaign.
 In October, 1917 Francis R. Coole. of Hartford ana D. Newton Barney O Pennington were appointed as direc tor and assistant director of the foot pledge card campaign. William A of IIn man, was secured as volunteer public ity director of the food pledge cart campaign, and, with the patriotic co operation of men and women, loca and county directors in Connecticut eight counties and 169 towns, the stat made it's quota of 100000 signe pledges This achievement was cor sidered highly creditable in view o Connecticut's actual population of al proximately one million and half.
 One of the first live issues that cor frented the Federal Food Administre tion for Connecticut was the suga shortage of 1917-191S. After severe attempted cases of sugar profteerin had been met by threats of severe per eltieS the sugar situation Of that vii ter was successfully handled throug the loyal cooperation of the gres body of Connecticut retailers.
 Hotel Division.
 A Hotel Division was establshe about October l, 1917, with Almon { Judd of Waterbury as Chairman an AP IIo Cantwell of Bridgeport cooperating