The Washington times., 1914-11-05
Mrs. Alice E. Whitaker Says
Club Members Are SkepticaI
About Produce Plan.
Also Touches On Other Practical
Problems of General Interest
to Housekeepers.

WHuG HOt OppOSHbS SH(H OHyHtS
she frankly states, in this inter
piew, some of the drawbacks OF
this attempt to eliminate the mid
dleman, and outlines plans alread,
laid among club women for q
thorough trying out of the parceI
post method.
This club pomdn is Mrs. Alice
E. Whitaker, chairman of the home
economies committee of the Dis
trict Federation of Women's Clubs,
and president of the Housekeep-
ers' Alliance.
She touches upon other points in
home economics in her statement
OF activities planned by her CON-
mittee for the coming season.
These activities include inpestiga-
tions along lines of practical inter-
est to the housewife.
By J. R. HILDEBRAND.
To what extent can parcel post buy
ing be Of practical advantage to tho
housewife?
To what degree can electricity be used
In tie homo as q substitute for domes-
tic service or personal household labor?
What action can Washington women
take which will lead to the wrapping
Of loaves Of bread?
How much may be saved in the av-
era8e homo by more careful attention
to buying?
These are a few of the practical
problems the home economics commit
tee Of the District Federation of Wom-
ems Clubs hopes to work out during
the coming season.
Mrs. Alice E. Whitaker, chairman of
this committee. who also is president of
the Housekeepers' Alliance, today in
dicated some Of the lines along which
her committee will work this winter.
We are not aiming to spread any
propaganda, SO much as to learn
the facts about the many new
movements that spring up which
affect the housewife. Mrs. Whit
aker explained.
lake parcel post buying, for ex-
ample. Much has been claimed for
1t. But many practical obstacles
have been encountered by women who
have tried 1t. 1t has been seriously
questioned whether parcel post shop
ping ever can be efficacioIs. And
this Is one of the points which we
wish to test.
Sees Need for Middleman.
Personally. have taken a deep in
terest In parcel post buying. But
after seeing it in operation, l must
admit that 1 question whether the
middleman can be eliminated sue
cessfully in our complex state of So
ctety. There are many points to be
considered. and on these We hope to
get a verdict from housewives.
There now are about 200 parcels
daily coming into Washington. Some
Of these represent buying clubs. The
contents must be distributed by her
or called for by other women. VIII
housewives be content to do this in
definitely?
Then, too, supplies must be bought
from the farmer in larger quantities
than the small householder, or the
flat dweller. can use. There is the
element Of time. To buy by parcel |
post one must plan for days ahead
and company and other exigencies In
the meantime may upset those plans.
In the case Of poultry. find I can
buy two broilers at the market, say
for 25 cents pound. I can get two
from the country for "a cents But
l must dress those fowls. For
saving OF about 4 cents will most
housewives be willing to take this
trouble? Another difficulty is even
now being encountered-the uncer-
tainty Of getting what is ordered.
This is already the complaint Of
housewives who are ordering eggs,
and are told by producers that hens
are not laying. OF course, the
gpocery eUuss and be sure Of having her
order filled.
All these are not causes for con-
demning parcel post buying hastily.
They are pertinent factors in the
question which many overlook in
their enthusiasm for the scheme.
And II we are to get at the bottom
Of the benefits OF parcel post buying
we must consider them.
Electricity in the Home.
washington housewives are backward |
n using electrical devices to tighten
heir housework in the opinion Of Mrs
Whitaker. At an early meeting Of her
committee she intends to place this mat
er before It's members. She said:
When sufficient power can be OBJ
tained cooking. cleaning, and iron
ing may be performed by electrical
devices. The light current is not
strong enough for an electric cook
ing range. We shall endeavor to find
the cost Of obtaining a higher volt
age In Washington. and of the extra
wiring necessary In most OF our
homes to carry this additional power
Then we shall try to present facts
and figures which will enable each
housewife to determine whether a
greater use of electricity would not
tighten her labors. or effect a saving
in wages for domestic service.
The use OF electric ranges, electric
AT irons electric vacuum cleaners, and
ven of refrigerating by electrical plants
re some Of the lines which may be
,vestigated by Mrs. Whitaker's COM ;
nittee.
Roth through her committee and
Trough the Housekeepers' Alliance the
ampaign long carried on by the latter ;
for the wrapping of loaves
: bread will be continued. She said:
Progressive bakers in other rttfes
have been wrapping bread for pome
time AS soon as Washington bakers
realize the strong popular demand
for such protection against oontauI.