Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 77, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 December 1917 — IS FOOD CONSERVATION FAILING? [ARTICLE]

IS FOOD CONSERVATION FAILING?

Reports come from many sections of the country that the answer to the appeal for conservation is not by any means wdiat it should be. It lias been some time since the people were urged to economize on wheat, yet we are informed that the consumption of wheat in this country for the month of October, 1917, was 18 per cent greater than for the same month last year.

Now, hysteria in the matter of economy will get us nowhere. It is useless to seek to scare the people with the very of possible famine. All too well they know this to be impossible so long as the seasons come and reasonable work is done. People everywhere are earning more these days than ever before, perhaps, in their lives. This no doubt accounts for much of the increase in consumption.

But while the people can not bo neared into economy, 4f the matter is placed before them in its proper light, common sense . should induce them to economize. The present era of high prices is in the nature of a windfall—a

streak of luck that can not, in the nature of things, continue indefinitely. Eventually the cause—war -u— must be removed, when prices will naturally seek something near their old level. The man who, while taking every legitimate advantage of inflated values, at the same time /practices economy in his expenditures, is the man who will be living on Easy street when the slump comes. The fellow who increases his style of living to match his salary will find himself at that time in worse condition than ever. He will have contracted habits of life that he will find impossible to maintain when conditions change. There is, however, another aspect of the case that should be impressed upon all. Our government has decided to maintain the allies to the best of its ability. It will also keep plenty of supplies going to our own armies in Europe. These causes, together with extravagance at home, may easily cause such conditions that it will be imperative that the government take active steps in food control. This has not been done as yet, the government preferring to place the people on their honor in the matter of conservation. If that honor is continually and systematically violated, the government will have no alternative other than to take charge. The man who persistently refuses to comply with the requests in the matter of food conservation is helping to bring that day nearer.