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Show .PRESIDENT MM iSSUEANAPPEAL Country to Be Informed of Importance of Increasing . Food Supply. WASHINGTON. April 13. Intensive development of the food producing power of the United Slates on a scale never before contemplated was discussed dis-cussed by President Wilson and Secretary Sec-retary Houston today as the means of meeting one of the vital problems of the war with Germany. Secretary Houston returned late today to-day from St Louis, whero he conferred confer-red with representatives of the great grain-raising states. Ho laid before l the president plans under which the federal government, working in co-operation with state and local agencies, will put forth its utmost endeavors to stimulate the production and economical economi-cal distribution of food. The plans include a request for legislation leg-islation by congress giving the government gov-ernment the power to regulate and fix food prices if necessary and to license large distributing agencies. Secretary Houston tomorrow will begin conferences confer-ences with congressional leaders to agree on the terms of the needed bills. To continue the government's agitation agi-tation for Increased production and economy in the use of foodstuffs, Pre-I Pre-I ident Wilson probably will issue a proclamation to the nation soon calling call-ing attention to the situation. A suggestion sug-gestion to this effect, approved by Secretary Sec-retary Houston, was laid before him today by Representative FJsher of Tennessee, Ten-nessee, and J. R, Paine of Memphis, representing the Trl-State Better Farming association Secretary Houston, through the St Louis conference, already has begun tho erection of an organization extending extend-ing into every state, through which activities of tho federal government can be carried on Secretary Houston said the government govern-ment was counting on the active cooperation co-operation of every man, woman and child in the United States, and that the increased power to be requested of" congress was only aimed toN meet local situations and emergencies where drastic action might be necessary. neces-sary. The government expects people !n the cities to stop the waste of food, and the people in the country to raise more The task of getting young men and boys not needed in army or in industries to undertake farm work will be undertaken. rr |