Food and freedom

When America's crisis came, in April, 191 7, the United States had the mistakes and successes of Europe to profit by, and the opportunity to fully realize that a sane and effective system of food control and national strength went hand in hand. On June 10, 191 7, two months after war had been declared, a food-control bill was intro- duced, and Herbert Hoover — with the help of an enthusiastic body of volunteer workers — be- came, although unofficially at first, our food ad- viser and protector. Just two months later the food bill was passed, and Mr. Hoover was then officially appointed as our Food Administrator, and through him a Food Administration Board established. The story of Mr. Hoover, his remarkable ability for organization, combined with a rare and gen- erous sympathy and an almost superhuman faculty for concentration, is well known to the world to-day. As a food administrator, Herbert Hoover won his spurs in innocent, war-startled 1 Kellogg and Taylor, The Food Problem, chaps, ii, iii, iv. 2 "What Food Control Really Means," special paper, United States Food Administration. lo FOOD AND FREEDOM Belgium, where through his genius alone millions of destitute, starving men, women, children, babies, were fed and clothed and soothed and encouraged. For almost three years Hoover stood his ground — facing kings and diplomats, human charity and tyrants, and getting the help he needed — when our own America was threatened. President Wilson called Mr. Hoover home. He came, he grasped our condition, our infinite possibilities, our power for good if our wealth, particularly that of food, could be controlled, ordered, and fairly divided. And then he set to work. As a result, the best minds and hearts in Amer- ica are now striving to master the food problem and the food responsibilities of our country, not only for the present, but with thought for the future as well. Every phase of the food problem is represented, from increased, improved, and more stabilized production, through packing, ship- ping, storing, marketing, preservation for future needs, down to the final use of food in the home and in public eating-places; nor is the education of the public in food conditions, food needs, and food possibilities overlooked. The United States Food Administration stands for the food welfare of the United States and those dependent on us. The hopes of our Food Administration when established were threefold : WHAT YOU CAN DO ii First, to so guide the trade in the fundamental food commodities as to ehminate vicious specu- lation, extortion, and wasteful practices, and to stabilize prices in the essential staples; second, to guard our trade exports so that against the world's shortage we retain sufficient supplies for our own people, and to co-operate with the Allies to prevent inflation of prices; and, third, that we stimulate in every manner within our power the saving of our food in order that we may increase exports to our Allies to a point which will enable them to properly provision their armies, and to feed their people during the coming winter. The Food Administration is called into being to stabilize and not to disturb conditions, and to defend honest enterprise against illegitimate competition.