The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-10-01
TIME TO APPLY ECONOMICS.
HousekeeperS Should Use Wits in
This Crisis.

The State president has received
the following letter from the chair
man of the home economics depart
ment of the general federation. which
should be of vital interest to the VIC
men of South Carolina and we would
advise club presidents to act upon
Miss Johnson's suggestions:
My dear Mrs. Allen: Inclosed is
copy of the letter sent out to your
State home economic chairman, with
the request that it be given the wild
est possible publicity.
"This committee feels that the
condition now confronting the house
wives of the country can not be SO
we'll met by measures of relief as bJ
study of the situation and what
must follow in months to come.
Food prices will inevitably rise and
with this will come distress and
want for many This can be lessen
ed only by the wise conservation Of
food materials, a refusal to waste
and a learning how to buy and how
to use in the best and ;lost careful
manner. We wish to help. We par
ticularly desire to add our influence
for the promotion of that sane, calm,
simple living which must not only
aid in keeping peace but in promot-
ing the highest welfare of any con-
munity. There is so much women
can do at this time to prove their MT
ness for the responsibilities already
theirs.
Cordially yours,
(Signed)
HELEN LOUISE JOHNSON"
Copy of letter to State economics
chairman:
The present time is one of great
anxiety for many in this country. 1t
is a time of agony for our sisters
over the sea. Under the existing cir-
cumstances it has seemed right to us
to urge upon club women all over
the country consideration of what
the home economics department has
to offer in the hope of migrating
some of the evil effects of the rapid
" increasing cost of living, much Of
which we can not hope to prevent.
There is an increase of economic
pressure upon every home in the
land. Some can weather it, some
can bear it. some cannot. This CON-
mittee feels that it will not have ad-
ministered it's responsibilities until
it has induced club women every
where to realize the extreme necessi-
ty Of discussing present problems of
living with a desire to assist in solv-
ing these, not merely for themselves,
but for other women of more limited
opportunities.
"The responsibility Of the budget
is almost wholly in the hands of the
women. They buy the household
supplies of all kinds. They general
ly set the standards of living. Con-
ditions are now such that in thous-
ands of cases the wages and salary
earners can get no more. Yet the
prices of the necessities of life have
risen steadily for the past ten years,
rapidly within the past few weeks.
This increase must be understood
and met in the right spirit and prop
er way. In spite of the fact that a
few spectators may have taken ad-
vantage of the situation, the fact re-
mains that legitimate and unavoid-
able demand upon our resources has
caused and will cause rise in the
prices of foodstuffs and other neces-
stiles of life.
There is no other solution of the
problem than that of learning how
to live adequately, happily and we'll
under the conditions which confront
US. Waiting for something to turn
up, for the ebbtide, for day of fal:
ing prices, will not avail. Certainly
it will be most disastrous if mean
while debts accumulate.
president Wilson has wisely urg-
ed upon American women the need
of curtailment and simple living.
Agitation, boycotting, suspicion Of
producer, jobber and retailer are un-
intelligent methods of meeting sit
uation which calls upon us for the
exercise of every domestic womanly
virtue. 1t is our great opportunity
to show what women can do to prove
their sanity and wisdom for the ac-
| tual prosperity of the country which
for a time must to considerable de-
gree lie in the consumers hands.
LAS a committee We urge upon all
~ INC