Evening star., 1946-04-16
By MoIcoIm Lomborne, Jr.

INhStSSsh" sSVs1Ss'SF
Commissioner John Russell
Young today called on Washing
ton citizens to turn out lin large
numbers" at tonight's food rally
to be held in Constitution Hall
under auspices of the United Ma
tions Forum and the Washington
Food Conservation Committee.
The Commissioner said it was i'm
portant that District consumers at
tend ito hear the important mes
sage" on the need for conserving
wheat and edible oils to help feed
starving persons abroad. A spokes-
man for the forum said the mass
meeting, which begins at pm. and
is open to the public without charge,
is expected to attract about 1000
persons.
Addresses by Secretary of Agricul-
ture Anderson, Herbert H. Lehman,
former director general of UNRRA;
DR.. George Gallup, director Of the
Gallup Poll, and Rabbi Norman
Gerstenfeld of the Washington He
brew Congregation will high light
the two-hour- long meeting. Rabbi
Gerstenfeld will represent the local
Food Conservation Committee re-
Gently set up by the Commissioners.
Efforts had been made by the
sponsors to have former President
Herbert Hoover address the rally by
a short-wave broadcast from Europe,
but arrangements could not be COM
pleted in time.
Meanwhile. the Presidents Famine
Emergency Committe was to meet
this afternoon in the east wing of
the White House to sum up progress
to date on the national food con-
servation drive in homes and COM
mercial establishments. Chester C.
Davis, former war food administra-
tor and executive director Of the
committee, will preside.
From today's meeting may come a
more intensified national drive to
get the public to reduce wheat con-
sumption by 40 per cent and fats
and oils by 20 per cent in order to
help feed famine countries.
The question of lack of compliance
with conservation measures in pub
lie eating places was brought up yes
terday by Mr.. Anderson in testimony
before the Senate Small Business
Committe. He said he had failed to
note any change in menus in places
where he had eaten in recent weeks.
In another development, UNRRA
reported yesterday that an estimated
100000 Chinese will not survive the
famine there unless there is swift
improvement in the food situation.
Benjamin H. Kizer, director of the
UNRRA Office at Shanghai, informed
Director General La Guardia Of the
situation in a cablegram.
The relief agency also made pub
lie last night statement from Mr..
La Guardia that he was "disappoint-
ed and greatly disturbed" over post
ponement OF meeting yesterday of
the Combined Food Board at which
he was to appear. The board will,
meet tomorrow instead.
"1ne situation is such that 1t just
does not permit delay" he de-
clared.
The State Department and War
Shipping Administration announced
yesterday that the first three Lib
erty ships to load Russian grain for
France sailed from Odessa April
10, carrying 25,53l tons of wheat
and barley. This Government is
prepared, the statement added, to
make available as many as 46 addi-
tional ships to carry the 500,000 tons
Of grain promised France by the
Soviet.
Suggestions Welcomed Tonight.
One Of the main purposes Of to-
nights rally Is to get suggestions
from the public on how to conserve
food. The audience will be asked
to write out their ideas. The best
ones will be read from the plat
form, while all will be given to the
Commissioners committee for use
in preparing the Districts part in
the conservation program.
-Four thousand folders prepared
by the Famine Emergency Commit
tee to tell the housewife how she
can cooperate will be distributed
in Constitution Hall. A two-page
pamphlet especially for District res
idents also will be given out. 1t
lists the agencies, official and I'M
official, through which citizens can
send food packages overseas and
gives specific information on the
Victory Garden program.
The rally will be divided into two
parts: A discussion of the world
wide food problem and national
plans for meeting it, and a discus
sion Of the Districts part in the
food drive.
Navy Band to Play.
The Navy Band will play as the
audience gathers between 7::3o and
8 pm. Mrs. Harold Burton, wife
Of the Supreme Court Justice, will
- IN,
a II II