The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1943-01-15
A NEW DEAL in RATIONING
BY ]. e. Jones

secretary VI Agriculture WlChdi
hasn't been a very hot favorite with
the New Deal most of the time since
he stepped into the shoes of Henry
A. Wallace when the latter was ZAP
pointed to the nomination. and
elected Vice President of the United
States.
But gradually Wickard has been
gaining support, confidence and
good will of the people of the coun-
try. Just how this all came about is
hard to explain, unless it is because
the Secretary has shown the indie
pendence SO often discovered in the
true son of the soil.
Most Cabinet men are expected
to put the stamp of approval upon
the ideas of old-school politicians in
Washington. But they didn't use
rubber stamps where Wickard came
from! AS Food Administrator he
made arrangements for a nation
wide radio hookup, and scholarly
Elmer Davis cleared the radio waves
of static misunderstanding. He said
food is a weapon that we have
more of than anybody else'', and ex-
planned how and why our food was
being sent abroad. I'VE send food
to the Russian army" he said, "be-
cause every German who is killed
by a Russian is a German who we
won't have to kill; or for that mat
ter, a German who will never have
chance to kill Americans" He add
ed: 1.-THE food we send to our
Allies is direct contribution to the
winning of the war--to winning il
more quickly, and at less cost tc
American lives"
Secretary Wickard took the
heroic stand that the American
people would not let him down wher
he told the Nation in plain language
that his rationing plan would no
be put into effect until February
He said there was plenty of food
but that control and distribution Of
it must be carefully executed. There
was enough, he said to go arounG
in our own country, and for dis
tribution among our Allies. II an
confident that Americans will have
the commonsense and patriotism
not to hoard dried fruits and canned
fruits and vegetables or any Other
food for that matter, he fatty de-
clared, and added the warning: "I1
you want to help the Axis, one Of
| / nhn u% oxyr ic fo ord Food ~
Nobody but an honest American
could take that position. WickarC
believes in the honesty of the
people, and he has asked them tc
accept the spirit behind his ration.
ing plan and to help him carry il
out.
This is "new deal", and the an
nouncement and explanation has
been warmly approved by the press
and the food trade. National re-
sponsibility had been invoked by
the man who came to Washington
from his Indiana farm, and rose to
the top of the Agriculture Depart
ment on his merits. He has staked
his political future on the success OF
his unique formula as Food Admin
istrator. If his critics are right in
saying that the chislers will break
down the plan then Washington will
miss its guess. Every consumer has
been put on his, or her, honor. Over
80 per cent of the people can be
trusted, and they'll help Mr.. Wick
ard take care of the chiselers.
Wallace Outlines The Peace
Vice. President Wallace appears to
have taken bunch of leaves out of
Woodrow Wilson's records in ap-
pealing to the Nation to create a
worldwide new democracy when 1t
begins establishing the basis of
peace that will follow the present
war He has laid down basic prin-
ciples that call for the permanent
disarmament of the Axis. He sug-
gests a World Council and an Inter-
national Court that would be able
ito preserve the liberty, equality,
6GCulAty 0AA0 unity Va bAC OAAtCu NO
tions--liberty in political sense,
equality of opportunity in interna-
tional trade, security against war
and business depression due to in
ternational causes, and unity of
purpose in promoting the general
welfare Of the world.
In washington where Mr. Wal
lace 10 best known he is regarded
as an tdealist, near-dreamer, and
a very fine man. He expresses ideas
and convictions very much like
those voiced by Wendell Willkie, ex-
cept that he uses gentle switch
instead Of big stick.
But there's something doing--and
those columnists and commentators
who have pointed to wallace as
hAvins down trial balloon" for