The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-03-25

America Fortunate in
Having Plenty Food
Sugar Price Mystery
Is Easily Figured
General Macarthur assign
ment to command of the United
Nations forces In the South
west Pacific means more than a
mere shift of personnel. II sig
nifies that Uncle Sam has as
stunned the leadership and the
burden of the struggle against
the Japs. They will be our
babies" from now on.
In the military field our ar
mics will undertake the mission
which our navy. by an unwritten
agreement with London. has per-
formed In this region for years.
1t marks an end TO the period in
which the United States tried to
plug q hundred leaks in the
democratic dixie with only ten
fingers. The major strategic
move win enable Great Britain
and Russia to handle Germany
and establish new European
front. il possible. While all high
plans arc subject TO change with
out notice. these are the princi-
pal implications.
To American homes rs well as
10 vast areas the decision of the
allied general staff has specific
Significance. Many millions Of
our young men viii do their
battling In the sub-tropics. pro-
viding Australia and New Zea-
land can be held as bases for an
eventual offensive. Seattle, San
Francisco. Los Angeles and San
Diego win take over the great
role which Halifax, Boston. New
York and Newport News played
in the last conflict. And should
II be given to this country to
save Britain's fragment of en-
pire down under" the Mac
Arthur rescue act will have dip
lomatic and international roper
cussions at the peace tables
final liquidation.
The United States Is the
worlds happy valley with re-
spect to bountiful cornucopia
of food. While millions abroad
stsrve or 60 to bed little hum
cry every night. we are eating
more plentifully. now than In the
midst of the Coolidge '20's. But
the Josephs at the capital--and
they are not "Reminiscences
possible shortages. rstionins In
many lines, and prohibitive
prices.
The reasons are banc and trip
licate.
Fierce spending urge of a
people climbing out Of a long
depression is for good things
for the table. They satisfy their
yearning stomachs before they
seek other things TO buy. Be
cause Of increased purchasing
power the demand for edibles in
1912 win be at least II per cent
higher-1e per cent IN the case
of meats-than last year. Mean
while. experts doubt that our
planting facilities can be ex-
banded more than five per cent.
Soon we shall have to supply
more millions in the armed forces
with the finest our fields and or
chards can produce in
many instances than were en-
joyed ever before. We have
agreed to provide Britain with
cne-fourth Of her animal pro-
TEN needs.
We have guaranteed TO export
one-tenth of our 1912 yield to
our allies. especially meats. eggs.
dairy products. fruit and vere-
tables. These are the very COM
modities most in request at
home because of improved eco
nomic conditions.
Luckily, our larders and gran
aries are bursting and the crop
prospect looks sunny over the
hill. But the farmer. despite
many obvious handicaps, must
work and break all harvest rec
ords. The gluttons should go
into training by learning to dine
more moderately-now,
The sugar industry from cane
field to counter constitutes one
of the worlds most complex en-
terprises. To the layman its
cost structure Is mystery. For
this reason the atmosphere is
heavy with charges of gypping
and bootiegging. In fairness TO
the honest traders. and as a
shopping g1lde for housewives,
here lie q fairly simple price
primer
The average wholesaler in q
town or city should be paying a
basic price of about S5.45 cents
i Z / Z