THE threat of famine upset Hadji Oemar Said Tjokroaminoto. Food shortages prevailed everywhere. Tjokro asked representatives of the Sarekat Islam organization in Java and Madura to hold an extraordinary conference to discuss the problem. The appeal appeared on the front page of Oetoesan Hindia of March 18, 1918, titled, “Central SI and the Food Shortage Problem.”

The article, which took more than one column of the paper, called on delegates