Evening star., 1947-10-06

My fellow citizens:
The food-saving program which
has just been presented to you has
my whole-hearted support. I am
confident that it will have the sup
port of every American.
The situation in Europe Is grim
and forbidding as winter ap-
proaches. Despite the vigorous ef-
forts of the European people, their
crops have suffered so badly from
droughts, floods and cold that the
tragedy of hunger is stark reality.
The nations of Western Europe
will soon be scraping the bottom of
the food barrel. They cannot get
through the coming winter and
spring without help-generous help
from the United States and from
other countries which have food to
spare.
know every American feels in his
heart that we must help to prevent
starvation and distress among our
fellow men in other countries.
But more than this, the food-sav-
ing program announced tonight
offers an opportunity to each of you
to make a contribution to peace.
We have dedicated ourselves to the
task of securing just and lasting
peace. No matter how long and
hard the way, we cannot turn aside
from that goal.
Help Needed for Few Months.
An essential requirement of last
ing peace in the world is the res
toration of the countries of Western
Europe as free self-supporting
democracies. There is reason to be-
lieve that those countries will &C
complish that task if we aid them
through this critical winter and help
them get back on their feet dur
ing the next few years. They must
do most of the job themselves. They
cannot do it If thousands of their
people starve. We believe that they
can-and will-do the job if we ex-
tend to them that measure of
friendly aid which marks the diff
ference between success and failure.
Their most urgent need is food. If
the peace should be lost because
Americans failed to share their
food with hungry people there
would be no more tragic example in
all history of peace needlessly lost.
Another reason for conserving
food is to aid in controlling inf1a-
tionary spirals and in preventing
undue price burdens for our people
at home. Already many American
families with moderate or low in
comes are being forced by high
prices to lower their standard of liv-
ing. Exports have some effect upon
domestic prices of grain, but they
do not exercise a controlling inf1u-
ence on food prices. Most of the
upward pressure on prices is result
of competition among Americans
for scarce goods. The success of
our food-saving program will help
to reduce these inflationary pres
sures.
Another factor that contributes to
high prices of food is gambling In
grain. Grain prices naturally re-
spond to the law of supply and de-
mand. But they should not be SUBJ
ject to the greed Of spectators who
gamble on what may lie ahead in
our commodity markets.
80 Pct. Of Trading Speculation.
There is a place for legitimate
trading in futures and for hedging
DIT on aor,f Of q 1,
accounts in a recent corn futures
market were found to be speculative.
Trading in wheat futures rose rs
per cent in September compared
with August. Normal trading in
wheat at Chicago should amount to
three or four million bushels a day.
In this past September, however,
trading averaged almost thirty mil
lion bushels a day. In a single
month, on one exchange, almost
half the years crop was traded.
I am instructing the Commodity
Exchange Commission, which con-
sists of the Attorney General and
the Secretaries of Agriculture and
Commerce, to demand Of the grain
exchanges that they increase their
margin requirements to at least 1915
per cent If the grain exchanges
refuse, the Government may find it
necessary to limit the amount OF
trading.
I say this because the cost Of liv-
ing in this country must not be a
football to be kicked about by
gamblers in grain.
The food conservation program
proposed by the Citizens Food Com
mittee will be supported by every
part of the Federal Government.
Mrs. Truman has today directed
that the White House follow all the
measures proposed by the Citizens
Food Committee. In Government
restaurants and cafeterias through
out the country these same measures
will be followed. AS Commander in
Chief. I have ordered that the Army
the Navy and the Air Force shall
also comply with this program.
All Must Help Save.
All segments of our population
must make their contribution toward
saving grain.
Farmers must cooperate by re-
ducing the amount of grain now
used to feed their livestock and
poultry.
Industry must reduce the volume
of grain used as to make the great
est possible saving. The distillers in
this country have on hand huge
stocks of distilled spirits, and it will
be no hardship on them to shut
down for a 60-day period. This ac-
ton alone will feed millions of hun
cry people.
Quite apart from the responsible
ties of farmers and industry, you
and las individual Americans
have our responsibility. You have
all heard Mr.. Luckman give the i'm
mediate consumer program for the
people of the United States. 1t has
my complete approval and my full
support.
It is simple and straightforward.
1t can be understood by all. Learn
it-memorize it-keep it always in
mind.
Here it is:
One: Use no meat on Tuesdays.
Two. Ire M yo,I1trv or ooos ~,