Evening star., 1948-04-01
Soy Bean an Asset


AS related in the press. the testimony of the
oairymens LOBBY against the margarine law
repeal is q mass Of half truths and distortions
OF 1acts. 1t is true that soy beans are a
dangerous crop" that lays the land open to
serious erosion when grown for the seed in
rows, unless properly cultivated by contour
ploWlng, ETC., to minimize erosion. But the
dairy people fail to add that, with exception
OF the small grain and hay crops, practically
all other crops are grown in rows and are
open to the same objections
The soy bean, far from being soil-denletino
Is soil-enricher in that it Is member of the
legunle family which Ak atmospheric nitrogen
in the soil and plants, thereby supplying the
principal deficient mineral in poor, worn out
soils. 1t does extract certain minerals notably
oone-buiidlng calcium and phosphorus and
other vital nutritional minerals from the soil
ANY plant that does not extract these minerals
Is not high grade food. Naturally, such ex-
tracts should be replaced by proper fertilizers.
Inc soy bean Is not a moribund war baby"
out the most promising Of all American aeri-
cultural products due to its multitudinous and
rapidly increasing uses as q human and live
STOCK FOOD and source Of organic raw ma
terlals for industry, the detailing Of which
would require many pages.
Reckoned in terms of arabic land-use. the
soy bean is 6-to-30 times more efficient source
OF nigh grade protens and fats for human
consumption than animal products
Arabic land availability per capita is prob
apiy the most pressing Of all world problems.
The United States is the only large area having
over 25 acres arabic land per person required
by conventional diets using animal products
Tor Fats and proteins; the world average being
less than acres, with such areas as Western
Europe Z acres Eastern Asia S acres. Such
statistics spell famine, malnutrition and pes
thence to large sections OF the worlds popula-
tion and probably war, civil and international,
due to Communistic infection OF hungry
peoples.
The only Immediately practicable solution Is
Tor countries high in the arabic per capita
scale to grow and use the satisfactory low
land-use vegetable substitute for high land
use animals and foods, thereby creating
surpluses for export to countries low on the
arabic land per capita scale in exchange for
their processing labor and raw materials.
Failure of relief authorities to intensively
exploit such developments as California Insti-
tute of Technology's palatable soy bean base
MPF ration, first proven In 1914, has directly
and indirectly cost the American taxpayer
billions of dollars and the world millions of
malnourished peoples. For cents this
ration supplies palatable balanced meal the
nutritional equivalent Of "one quarter pound
each OF beef, peas and potatoes and one-half
pint Of milk"
This margarine fight Is one phase of q badly
needed scientific dietary revolution which
would lead to a well nourished more peaceful
world. The dairy lobby and legislators paying
obeisance to the short sighted self interest of
less than per cent of our population are
unwittingly contributing to the malnutrition
OF millions, the growth of communism and
the seeds of war
1t might well be that consumers orgariza-
tions will discover and inform the 50 per cent
OF American housewives now using margarine
as to the identity of their legislators who by
action or inaction sentence them to the messy
laborious and wasteful coloring OF margarine
The country would be well rid of such ignorant
inert, political cowardice in Its government in
these most critical times. AMERICAN.
Fascism and Communism Not Alike?
To the Editor of The Star:
Your editorial Fighting an Idea" printed
March 20 really was shocking. It Is either ig-
norance or simply that the new trend In Jour
nalism Is that editorials are no more to serve
the purpose Of channelling public opinion to-
wards the right path.
You have criticized Henry Wallace and I'M
piled that he was inconsistent. Then you have
substantiated your position with quotations Of
some of his speeches made In 1910 and 1941, in
which he advocated force and mobilization to
fight fascism and Naziism. Next you compare
these with speeches In which he 10 against
UNIT today.
The facts, taken at face value are very true,
but not inconsistent. But the premise you
follow, In my opinion, is wrong. and scienttn-
eally Illogical, namely that fsscism and com
munim are tbs nms thing.
CLOVIS McooUD.