Evening star., 1943-05-20
Food Handling Costs
Are Too High, Gillette
Says on Radio Forum
Thomas Charges Some
Farm Prices Do Not
Puy Production Costs

Two members of the Senate Agri-
cultural Committee warned last
night on the National Radio Forum,
broadcast over WMAL and the Blue
Network and arranged by The Eve
ming Star, that food alone cannot
win the war, but lack of food can
lose the war.
Senator Gillette. Democrat, OF
Iowa, urged elimination of "unneces-
sary and unjust handling and dis
tribution costs" imposed by the mid
dlemen between the farmer and con-
sumer.
Much of this distribution cost is
justified, but certainly much of it is
unnecessary. eXorbitant and in some
few cases represents outright rae
keteering," Senator Gillette said.
Senator Thomas, Democrat, of
Oklahoma, listed trained manpower,
food and war equipment and sup
plies as the three elements neces-
sary to win the war.
Says Shortage Exists.
Official Washington. he added, Is
awake to the fact that I'VE are not
only threatened with food short
age but that a shortage actually
exists"
Potatoes" he continued, "are not
to be had in Washington save occa-
sionally. Senator Ellender, a grower
of potatoes in Louisiana, has just
delivered small bags to his friends
in the Senate. and these white spuds
have given potatoes new value as
a food item here in the Capital. In
addition to potatoes, meat, milk,
butter and other food items are al
ready very scarce along the Atlantic
seaboard.
only a few days ago we captured
some 100000 Germans and Italians
in North Africa, and these prisoners
of war must be fed.
Conquered Lands Stripped.
again, when the aggressors and
invaders are driven from occupied
lands they take with them all avail
able food supplies so that the lib
Grated peoples are left destitute and
must look to the Allies for food to
sustain them until new supply
can be grown and produced.
Our soldier allies-the Chinese,
the Russians and the French-must
likewise be provided for. after our
own soldiers and sailors have been
fed. The foregoing is not all the
demand for food.
Tonight we have 130,000000 peo-
pie here in the States who are Who'll
ly dependent upon our farmers for
the things they eat OF these mil
lions, those who are producing war
supplies must likewise be supplied
with food. When those who must
be supplied are provided for. then
the balance of our people will fight
for what is left, and already the
fighting has begun.
Hits Price Policy.
The shortage and threatened
shortage of supplies is due to a lack
of farm labor. shortage of farm
machinery, and shortage OF fer
tilizer. With respect to some COM
modities, the shortage is due to a
lack of transportation facilities, and
with respect to others, the shortage
is due to the. fact that prices have
been fixed below the actual, cost Of
production Some high officials here
have asserted that price has nothing
to do with production. With this
statement I do not agree
People at war are still human
Those who produce any commodity
at a loss, be it war equipment or
food. soon find themselves in bank
ruptcy.'
To meet the increased demand
for food that will follow the war,
Senator Thomas pointed out that
the Government has taken these
steps:
Farm labor has been deferred.
Increased supplies of machinery
are being provided,
"Allotments of wheat and cotton
acreage have been increased.
Cites U. S. Postwar Role.
appropriation have been made
for transporting farm labor to assist
in food production. and our senior
citizens, receiving old-age assistance
are permitted to produce food for
sale and to accept farm employment
without injury to their pension
status"
Saying America will play a more
important world role in the future
than it has played in the past,
Senator Thomas concluded his adj
dress with these words:
Our first and major job is to