RULING ON SALE OF FLOUR
When One Buys Flour He Must
Buy Corn Meal, Rice or Some
Other Cereal to An Equal
Amount. This Is the Order
of National Food Administra
tor and Explained by County
Food Administrator.
To the Editor:
I have received the following
telegram from the State Food
Administrator, Hon. Henry A.
Page, with reference to the sell
ing of flour, to-wit:
" Notify all merchants
through your local papers no
exceptions can be made to new
Food Administration Ruling for
bidding sale of wheat flour ex
cept in combination with equal
amount of other cereals includ
ing corn meal, rye, barley flour,
edible wheat shorts or mid
dlings, corn flour, corn starch,
soy bean flour."
Therefore, any person pur
chasing flour from and after
this date will have to buy an
equal amount of cereals or sub
stitutes for flour enumerated in
above telegram. In other words,
a person desiring to buy 24 lbs.
of flour, would be required to
. buy 24 lbs. of meal, or 12 lbs. of
meal, 5 lbs. of hominy, 5 lbs. of
grits and 2 lbs. of starch, for
example. Persons when pur
chasing flour can make up their
list of cereals to suit their own
needs and taste. Some might
say that they didn't want as
much cereal as flour. That's
exactly what has brought forth
this order by the Food Adminis
trator; our people are too well
satisfied with eating flour bread
and are not eating enough of
cereals to show any appreciable
saving in consumption of flour.
One man has written that he is
so unfortunate not to be able to
buy 24 lbs. of flour and an equal
amount of "other stuff." I sym
pathize with such person, and
can only suggest that he buy 10
pounds of flour and 10 pounds
of " other stuff " until he can
do better, ? and even that is far
better than having " war
rations " measured out daily, as
is being done in some Countries
of the warrinsr nations,.
This order went irtto effect
Monday morning, and I have no
tified my local assistants of this
order and desire that they noti
fy all of the merchants in their
respective towns. From this
date on no merchant can buy
from a jobber, or wholesale mer
chants, flour except in combina
tion with equal amount of ce
reals; and therefore, cannot sell
except in combination with
equal amount of cereals. This
ruling of the department was
made necessary because the peo
ple had failed to carry out the
order of the Food Administra
tion with reference to the obser
vation of the wheatless days and
wheatless meals, prescribed a
good while ago. This may seem
to work a hardship on some
folks, and be more burdensome
on the merchants, yet America
has one-half million soldiers in
PYance, a million more in the
training camps ready to go over
as soon as ships can be provided,
according to Secretary Baker's
statement, and yet still more of
our boys now being called for
the camps, and it is necessary
that some drastic measure be
taken to conserve our wheat and
flour supplies in order that our
own soldiers, and our Allies
might be fed. The great major
ity of the people of our Country
have not seriously recognized
the fact that we are at war, and
have not adjusted themselves to
the war basis; but continue to
eat three meals a day with
flour bread at two, if not three
of these meals, not thinking
about the "other fellow" so long
as their own appetites are satis
fied.
We are living in no ordinary
time, but in one of the greatest
periods since the foundation of
the earth, and we might as well
recognize and appreciate the
seriousness of the situation
right now, and every man, wo
man and child, determine to
stand back of his government in
carrying out every rule, or order
made by the various depart
ments in their effort to conserve
our resources, and feed our ar
mies, our people, and the armies
and people of our Allies. If we
co-operate in this movement it
will be made easier for the gov
ernment to handle the situation.
I call upon every liberty-lov
ing, patriotic citizen of Johnston
County, to stand by their gov
ernment in this critical period.
Those who have laid them in
store, supplies of flour, and
sugar, in excess of the amount
allowed by the Food Adminis
tration (that is, 1-2 barrel of
flour and 5 pounds of sugar to
persons in town, and 1 barrel of
flour and 10 pounds of sugar to
persons in the country) will im
mediately return to their deal
ers this excess in order that the
same may be distributed.
The State Food Administra
tor has advised that "inasmuch
as sales of flour will be in much
smaller quantities and will re
quire more expensive handling,
the Food Administration has re
voked its recent ruling fixing
$12.50 as the maximum price
for flour, and will allow retailers
hereafter their usual profits on
flour up to lc. a pound." There
fore, the merchants of Johnston
County can place their usual
profit on flour, not exceeding lc.
a pound (and it ought to be
much less), but the restriction
of sales to each person still re
mains, that is, one-half barrel to
town customers and one barrel
to country customers.
This Jan. 30, 1918.
F. H. BROOKS,
Food Administrator
Johnston County.
Smithfield, N. C.
HALF MILLION MEN IN FRANCE.
That's What Secretary Baker Told
the Senate Committee. To Have
Million More Over There Before
End of 1918.
(Washington Post, 29.)
Secretary of War Baker told the
country yesterday that there v/ill be
500,000 fighting men in France early
in 1918. He made the still more
significant announcement that during
the present year upward of 1,500,000
United States soldiers will be on the
soil of France thoroughly equipped
to do their full share in the great
world war. These troops will come
from the 32 camps of the national
guard and new national army, which
have been under constant training
since last September.
Germans Guessing for Months.
Secretary Baker also told the mili
tary committee that so early as last
August there were at least 150,000
men in France. * He declined for mili
tary reasons to say just how many
are there at this moment, but added
that recent and reliable information
from the intelligence departments of
the allies proved that Germany had
absolutely no idea of the number of
American troops now in France be
hind the lines. Germany is guessing
and has been guessing for months.
rue Sunday school of the First
Baptist church, of Fayetteville, will
adopt five Armenian children orphan
ed by the war. The children will be
supported at their homes by funds
provided by the local Sunday school,
the support being extended through
the Armenian Relief Committee.
TRYING TIMES IN GERMANY.
Great Labor Upheaval and Rig Strike
On. Trouble Growing In Finland.
Italians Meeting With Rig Suc
cesses in Mountains of Northern
Italy. Associated Press Summary
for Wednesday Gives (Jood News.
Transcending in interest even the
great victory of the Italians over the
Austrians on the Northern Italian
battle front is the political and econo
mic situation in Germany.
Here apparently a large part of the
country is in the throes of a great
labor upheaval. Throughout the
country thousands upon thousands of
the working classes ? both men and
women, have struck and many of the
great manufactories and industries
are affected.
In Berlin alone nearly .half a mil
lion persons are reported on strike,
and hourly those who have quit work
are receiving reinforcements. Like
wise in Kiel, the great shipyard cen
ter, at the Hamburg Iron Works and
in the Rhenish Westphjilian mine re
gion workers have thrown down their
tools and left their jobs.
Leaders of the Socialists ? both of
the independent and the majority fac
tions ? evidently are in control of the
movement and for their pains a num
ber of the independents hate been
ordered imprisoned. Hugo Haase, of
the independents, and Philipp Schei
demann, majority Socialist leader in
the Reichstag?, are heading their re
spective followers.
Advices received by way of Swit
zerland are to the effect that the
Socialists have delivered an ultima
tum to the government demanding
| the conclusion of a general peace
i without indemnity or annexations,
I participation by the workmen in peace
I districts, amelioration of the food
situation, the right of public assem
bly, the release of all political prison
ers and the introduction of equal suf
frage direct secret ballot.
News concerning internal conditions
in Austria still is scant owing to the
strict censorship. The latest infor
mation received from Vienna is that
there has been a great conflagration
in the grain warehouses and that
revolutionaries are suspected to hav
ing started it.
In Finland the trouble between the
government forces and revolutionists
continues to grow in extent. The
revolutionists are declared to have
formed a government of their own.
All Southern Finland is said to be in
the hands of the Red Guards, while
the government forces in the North
are asserted to have defeated and dis
armed the revolutionaries at various
places and to have started southward
to give battle to the elements of dis
satisfaction there. The Socialists
have taken a hand in the trouble,
having issued a manifesto declaring
that the Finnish government desires
to rule the proletariat.
Although Finland has appealed to
Sweden for military aid, such aid is
not likely to be rendered. On the con
trary, Sweden apparently has shown
its desire to keep aloof from the con
troversy by closing the frontier to
prevent the Red Guards from obtain
ing weapons.
The Italian success against the
Austrians in the mountain region of
Northern Italy has been extended by
the capture of Monte Di Val Bella,
another dominating height on the
Asiago plateau. An intensive artil
lery duel is now in progress along
the entire front, the Austrians bom
barding the Italians in their new po
sitions and the Italians pouring an
avalanche of shells on positions be
hind the enemy's line. Two Austrian
divisions were almost completely
wiped out during the fighting for the
height positions and more than 2,600
prisoners, six guns and 100 machine
guns fell into the hands of the Itali
ans.
Mutual bombarefments and small
raiding encounters continue to feature
the fighting on the other fronts.
Comptroller of the Currency, John
Skelton Williams estimates the whole
banking power of the nation at $75,
529,000,000, an increase of more than
14,000,000,000 since the beginning of
President Wilson's administration.
Taking the latest estimate of the
banking power of the world, placed in
1890 at $15,558,000,000, America's in
crease is alone nearly equal to the
world's combined banking power
twenty-seven years ago, and on that
basis now two and a half times as
great.
LETTER FROM PROF. VERMONT.
He Writes of a Trip Through the
Mountains. Farmers of Mountain
Section Patriotic. Visit of Canadian
Soldier to Asheville. High Price
of Eggs and Chickens, I'uying War
Savings Stamps.
Dear Mr. Editor:
I have just taken a trip to the
mountains. The snow is covering
them for the greater part, though on
the southern slopes, the land has
again come to view. I was much in
terested in the wheat crop and locked
over some of the fields. The old
wheat, that is to say, that wheat which
was planted in October and November
has stood the cold well. I am in doubt
a to the other.
The mountain land is very clayish,
red, yet surprisingly fertile. Of
course, such land will hold fertilizer
well and the farmer who is willing to
rotate his crops and plant elgumes,
can make wonderful crops. The corn
grown on these monutains is simply
wonderful. The taste of it is unsur
passed and especially so when w^ter
ground.
Of course, there is no cotton here
and I have not seen a single tobacco
field. Formerly the latter crop was
raised here, hut that seems to be a
thing cf the past. The farmers prefer
to raise corn, Irish potatoes, clover,
wheat, ctc. Grazing is rapidly gain
ing in intensity and a strong move
ment is on hand to put more sheep on
the untended hills. The sheep in
dustry has warm advocates and it
would not be surprising to see North
Carolina develop into one of the great
sheep raising states in the Union.
The farmers here seem very patri
otic. I have the pleasure of talking
with a number of them, and all agree
that we must win the war not only on
the battlefield but similarly in the
wheat and in the corn field. I look for
a bumper corn crop again. The price
i' certain to be remunerative, and
the need is apparent. We all know
that it is prepostrous to send our boys
across and then see them lose because
we have not supported them heartily.
? * *
There has been recently a man to
Asheville, who should certainly be
invited to Smithlield. He is a Cana
dian soldier who has been in the war,
who has been wounded nine times, and
who wears all kinds of medals and
crosses. That man spoke at the
Episcopal Church to a very large
audience, and I never listened in all
my life to a more interesting speaker.
After the meeting was over, I had the
pleasure of being introduced to him,
and we talked for a good while over
the War. This gentleman had some
of the most unique experiences that
ever came to a man. Besides being
wounded as I stated, he was buried
alive for some three days and finally
dug out when some of his companions
saw his hand move above the ground.
Mr. Beveridge is now at Tryon and
will return at an early date to speak
to our High School. I am sure that
he will go to Smithfield provided his
expenses be paid. He will speak for
some War Cause, and no greater
thing could be done for that commu
nity than to invite him. I shall be
glad to give further information to
any parties interested.
? ? * *
I used to consider the shipping of
rabbits a joke. This time I must be
live. There came to this town a man
with a load of rabbits, a wagon load,
and after having sold these, he
brought in another wagon load. That
seems unbelievable, but it is true.
Sitting on the car, on my way home,
the other day, I saw a Negro pass by
with a long sled on which lay piled
fifty or sixty of the long-eared ani
mals. It sounds almost like an Aus
tralian tale, and will raise a smile of
incredulity in counties somewhat dis
tant from Chatham. Still I saw the
things for sale by the hundreds in the
market.
* * *
That brings up the question* of
other eatables. Eggs are worth a
fortune in this city. A dozen fresh
ones sells readily at seventy-five
cents. All the hens seem to have gone
out of busines.% still, it appears
strange to me, that given this ideal
climate for raising poultry, there
should be no more of it.
Butter is fifty ccnts. That is to
say country butter, though in the
summer it sells for forty and even as
low as thirty-five. Milk from four
teen to fifteen cents a quart. Rut the
milk i:; excellent. Nearly all the far
mers keep improved stock and especi
ally the Biltmore farm which is per
haps one of the best dairies in the
world. I shall at an early date write
a letter on that place. It is worth
not only a visit but a description.
Chickens sell equally high. A good
fat chicken is worth a dollar, whilst
turkeys sold at 34 cents dressed.
Steak is tangoing with the stars and
as far as ham and pork are concerned,
they have entirely disappeared from
the menu of the oi polloi.
* * *
I am just back from school. I wit
nessed the meeting of the Seniors and
Juniors of the High School. There
were some hundred and fifty of them,
any of them came from all parts of
the United States, and are all in earn
est about the new term. It certainly
was an inspiring sight to see that
many young Americans with one and
the same purpose, that of self educa
tion. The future of our Democracy
is based on our schools. They are the
present earnest of what tomorrow
shall be.
And our school shares with every
other school of America the deepest
sense of patriotism. No matter where
a man may be from, he is an Ameri
can and he is ready to do his bit for
his Country. We have bought liberty
bonds, we have foregone many a
pleasure, our girls have knitted, made
candle torches, worked in the Red
Cross rooms. Now they are begin
ning the sale of Thrift Stamps. The
other day they sent to the boys at the
boys at the different camps boxes of
chocolate, etc!
?' ? 0
And I notice with pride that the
hoys and girls of T. G. S. and of the
other schools of Johnston are just as
ready to do their bit. Hurrah for
them p.nd for the pati-iotic men and
women of Johnston County who are
so nobly standing by the colors. Given
this abiding enthusiasm, the country
will win the \yar.
? * ?
I just received The Herald and
read with the greatest interest the
letter from Miss Eunice Wellons. She
is one of the many girls who are
gladly doing their duty in the schools
of Carolina ? girls who leave homes
for other communities and readily
share with other people's children the
richness of their hearts and souls.
And great are these young people in
this day!
North Carolina is beginning to real
ize this and the day is not far off
when tcachers will be remunerated
according to their worth and to their
service. Somehow it has seemed
strange to me that the common labor
er who digs a ditch or drives a mule
gets as much as his employer's daugh
ter who teaches from thirty to forty
children a day!
With very best wishes,
A VERMONT.
Asheville, Jan. 28, 1918.
FREIGHT ABANDONED MONDAY
Blizzard Grips Large Section of the
East and Causes Suspension, Smith
Declares.
New York, January 28. ? Freight
traffic throughout a large section of
the Eastern States was practically
abandoned today on account of bliz
zard conditions, according to reports
received by A. H. Smith, regional
director of railroads.
Freight shipments in the anthra
cite regions has been entirely stopped
by the storm.
Six to eight inches of snow had
fallen between 2 and 10 a. m. Al
though there is a full supply of cars
at the mines, the loading is hampered
and men are being sought to clear
the tracks.
All along the lines of the New
York Central Railroad system heavy
snow was falling today. Passenger
trains arrived from two to three
hours late.
Later in the day conditions were
reported to be growing worse with
trains still longer delayed, some as
much as nine hours. The Lake Shore
limited, due to leave here at 5 p. m.,
was cancelled.
Drifts 10 feet high were reported
on the tracks at points in New York
state. Two engines with a snow plow
ahead were having trouble in making
progress.
The Women's clubs of America
have adopted a plan whereby they
propose to raise a quarter million
dollar fund for relief work in France.
The primary object of the fund is to
safeguard the health and comfort of
American soldiers in the trenches.
THURSDAY'S EVENTS IN WAIL
Germans Attack American Post on
West Front Labor Trouble# In
Berlin, Hamburg and Other Ger
man Cities. Holsheviki Troops Cap
ture Kiev. British Shipping Losses.
The strikes in Germany apparently
are growing in magnitude. In Berlin
alone, according to press dispatches
reaching neutral countries from Ger
many, 700,000 men and women have
ceased work, while in Kiel in towns
along the Rhine, in the Westphalian
coal regions and other districts in the
Empire, including Bavaia, the situa
tion is serious.
It is asserted that martial law has
been declared in Hamburg and other
centers and that in Hamburg the mili
tary commander has ordered a cessa
tion of the strike and given the added
order that further demonstrations of
this nature be avoided.
Additional socialist leaders in vari
our German towns have been arrested
because of their activities in foment
ing strikes or by reason of their hos
tile attitude toward the policy of the
militaristic elements with regard to
peace ami franchise reform.
Numerous industries necessary to
; the prosecution of the war have head
j quarters in towns where strikes are
in progress and doubtless they are
affected by them. Notable among
these industries are the great ship
building yards at Kiel, the military
airplane end l*lloon plants at Adler
shof, the large arsenals and ammu
nitions works at Spandau and the
great coal and iron mines and foun
dries in the Westphalia region.
On the fighting fronts the most im
I portant event has been another attack
joy the Germans on a smiill American
I post, in which two Americans were
killed and four wounded. Another sol
dier is believed to have been captured
by the enemy. This position on the
French front daily has been searched
out by shells from the Germans for
several days past, but Wednesday
morning, aided by a heavy fo-; and
covered by a violent artillery barrage,
the Germans decieded to acttack. It
is believed that the German casualties
were greater or as great as those of
the Americans, whose cannon and
rifle fire was played unstintingly on
the marauders.
Still further gains have been rnado
by the Italians against the Austrian^
in the northern sector of the Italian
battle front on the Asiago Plateau.
In an attack Wednesday the Italians
again were able slightly to advance
their front northeast of Col Del Dosso.
In Finland the revolution goes on
apace, with fighting between the
White Guard representing the gov
ernment and the Red Guard the revo
lutionists. Unofficial advices coming
through Stockholm, report success
everywhere for the White Guard. In
Russia the Bolsheviki troops invest
ing Kiev have forced the Ukrainian
defenders of the city to capitulate.
The Josses to British shipping last
week by mines or submarines were
nine large and six small vessels,
which in the aggregate is seven ves
sels more than the losses in each of
the two preceding weeks.
the two preceding weeks. ? Associated
Press Summary in today's News and
Observer.
Wood for Schools and Churches.
Long ago school buildings and
churches were built mostly either in
the woods or near places of woods.
Then it was convenient to gather uj?
from the woods enough wood to make
fires. Now most of the land around
the churches and school buildings is
cleared and it is impossible to pick
up the lightwood knots and other
wood as was done formerly. Now
special provision has to be made for
wood.
During the past few years we think
most of the school houses have bought
their wood. This would be a good
plan for all those churches which
have not already made arrangements
for wood People often stay away
from churches because they fear the
buildings will not be comfortable. If
it is known that churches will be open
for services and comfortable this will
help attendance very much. Our
churches should be made comfortable
and attractive and the centres of in
terest in the communities, and they
will have a greater hold upon the
people. To have plenty of suitable
wood to make good fires will help
very much. It should be prepared
before the cold weather comes.