Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 70, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 November 1918 — SUGAR TESTED MORAL FIBER [ARTICLE]

SUGAR TESTED MORAL FIBER

Doubters Declared, Saving Staples Would Be Easy Compared With Sacrificing Luxuries. FIGURES SHOW RESULTS. Americans Demonstrated Sturdy Support of War by Conserving for the Benefit of the V Allies. When figures began to show definitely that the people of the United States were actually reducing their consumption of foods needed abroad, the United States Food Administration was told that it was comparatively easy to bring about conservation of staple necessities, but that it would be far more difficult to accomplish an actual decrease in the use of luxuries. The doubters took sugar as an example, and declared that it would be practically impossible to bring our consumption of sugar down, to a point that would meet only the food needs of the people. Now that demands upon ocean tonnage will be lightened, European nations will be able to go farther afield for foodstuffs, and will no longer be entirely dependent for sugar upon North American supplies. With the stocks now in prospect, we will have sufficient sugar to place this country back upon normal consumption if the present short rations in Europe are not materially increased. If the European ration is to be materially increased over the present low amount it can be only through tlie- American people’s making it possible by continued restriction to a greater or less extent here.

The fact that the Food Administration has been able to relax the voluntary sugar ration is in itself proof that the ration of two pounds per person per month was generally observed throughout the country. This conservation allowed the Food Administration to build up a reserve, and to tide over the period of scarcity, until the the new crops of Louisiana cane and beet sugar were ready for distribution. The records of the Food Administration show that, in July, August, September and October 995,000 tons were distributed. Normal consumption for that period Is 1,600,000 tons. This shows a definite, concrete saving of over 500,000 tons. These figures apply to sugar consumed on in the kitchen and in the various industries, and show conclusively that in the homes and public eating places of America, where 70 per cent, of all our. sugar is consumed, the sugar consumption has been reduced by more than one-third. In the four-month period beginning with July, this country normally uses 400,000 tons of sugar per mocth. Last July 260,000 tons entered into distribution. In August only 225,(XK) tons were distributed. In September the figures shovyed 279,000 tons.iand fell to- 230,000 tons in October. There-could be no more definite proof that the American people have given their loyal co-operation and support of the war.