Evening star., 1917-10-29
FOODP[EDGES|ND.C.
SOON TO Be URGED
President Wilson Issues State
ment Emphasizing the Need
of Conservation.
LOCAL DIRECTOR AT WORK

Washington today is the only large
city Of the United States in which an
active campaign to enroll housewives as
members of the food administration is
not under way. The campaign here was
held up by the delay in appointing
local food administrator, but Clarence
B. Wilson, named for that place by the
President last week, is taking steps to
distribute food pledge cards in this city
at an early date, and this afternoon
made an address to the "Four Minute
Men," who helped in the liberty loan
campaign last week and will give their
services to the food administration
when asked.
The United States food administra-
tion hopes to enroll at least one MEM
Der in each of the 22.000.o00 homes in
this country. More than 100000 volun
teers in city, town and country started
out today to make personal calls on
housewives and ask them to sign food
pledge cards. Every one who signs
card showing the home has been en-
rolled as a member of the food admin.
istration.
President Wilson's Statement.
To make plain the purpose Of the
campaign and assist in its success
President Wilson has issued a state
ment. which reads:
THE chief part of the burden OF
finding food supplies for the peo-
pies associated with us in war falls
for the present upon the American
people, and the drain upon supplies
on such a scale necessarily affects
the prices of our necessaries of life.
Our country, however. is blessed
with an abundance OF foodstuns.
and if our people will economtze
confininE themselves to the quanti-
ties required for the maintenance .
Of health and strength; II they will ,
eliminate waste. and II they will ,
make use of those commodities Of !
which we have a surplus and thus /
free for export a larger proportion !
of those required by the world now ,
dependent upon us, we shall not only
be able to accomplish our obliga-
tions to them. but we shall obtain
and establish reasonable prices at
home.
ITO provide an adequate supply OF
food both for our own soldiers on
the other side Of the seas ana for ,
the civil populations and the armies
of the allies is one OF our hrst and !
foremost obligations; for. II we are !
to maintain their constancy in this |!
struggle for the Independence OF all
nations we must first maintain !
their health and strength.
Way to Solve Food Problems. !!
lens. therefore. is dependent upon
the Individual service of every man.
woman and child in the United
States.
THE great voluntary effort in this
direction, which has been initiated
and organized by the food admins
tration, under my direction. offers an
opportunity of service in the war
which is open to every individual.
and by which every Individual may
serve both. his own people and the
peoples of the world.
I'VE cannot accomplish our OBJ
jects in this great war without sac
rifice and devotion. and In no direc-
tion can that sacrifice and devotion
be shown more than by each home
and public eating place In the coun-
try pledging its support to the food
administration and complying with
WOODROW WILSON"
Success Depends on Food Supply.
Belgian Minister de Cartier. citing the
fact that America for many months
has kept Belgium from starvation, said
today that the effort in which every
nation allied against Germany is
stretching every nerve and expending
every last ounce of strength will sue
the peoples and their armies have the
food needed to maintain their strength
and their spirit.
America must supply by far ths
Minister de Cartier. TT Is a grand con-
ception. worthy Of the ideals and tradi-
tions of the greatest republic. that this
food shall be supplied by the voluntary
effort Of the individual citizens We ma
tions Of Europe. relying on the ability
Of America to accomplish what she sets
for herself, are confident that during
the week you have set aside to enroll
as individuals to save the
world for democracy you will assure
in the war"
View Of Lord Northcliffe.
Lord Northcliffe. head of the British
war mission in the United States. places
the situation before the American peo-
pie BRIEFLY, as follows:
The greatest food experts on both
sides of the Atlantic say that there is
a world shortage of food The boys who
are enduring the hell of the trenches
for our sake cannot hold out If i'll fed.
The SITUATION WnlCh we nave TO 1aC0
right now. in this food pledge week, is
obvious. Either the stay-at-homes must
save so that the soldiers may get their
vital needs. or the soldiers must go
short SO that the stayat-homes may
fatten. You cannot have it both ways,
and must make your choice"
Volunteer Committee to Be Formed.
Before starting the campaign for the
of Washington household
ers Director Wilson expects to or
zanize a large volunteer committee Of
canvassers. and will make sure that
no home in the District Of Columbia
is overlooked. He hopes to have a
food administration membership card
in the window of every residence in
he District Of Columbia.
There already are several thousand
members of the food administration in
and vicinity. who Joined
when the first campaign was conducted
,or q brief time early last summer.
SAYS HE GAVE NO PLEDGE.