Middletown transcript., 1917-08-04
WILSON APPEALS
TO THE WOMEN
Housewives Asked to Conserve
PerishabIe Foods.
BIG LOSS MAY BE AVOIDED
The President Speaks To Women Of
the Nation Through the Secretary
OF Agrlculture-Increa Pro-
duction BY the Farmers.

duction BY the Farmers.
WaShingtOn.-A memorable appeal
from President Wilson to the women
of the nation, whether living in city,
town or country, was issued Sunday
through Secretary of Agriculture D. F.
Houston to take immediate steps to
avoid a threatened loss of vast
amounts of perishable fruits and vege-
tables, especially in "a States that
have asked government assistance and
information on the subject of How
Housewives May Immediately Start
Canning, Preserving, Picking, Drying
and Storing.
The advance organization work has
all been completed by special COM
mittee working nationally under the
direction of Secretary of Agriculture
paign, especially in the "a states in
distress, will be conducted during the
next three weeks. The Presidents
letter follows:
THE WHITE HOUSE.
Washington, July %, 1917.
Mr.. Secretary and Gentlemen of the
Committee:
very earnestly desire to commend
your plans and to second your efforts
to secure the conservation of sur
pluses of perishable food products. Out
of the depths Of their patriotism the
farmers of the nation gave an imme-
date and effective response to my ap-
peal to increase production. Provi-
dence favored them and we have not.
only the prospect of increased crops
of a number of staples but also the
certainty of a large production OF
fruits and vegetables.
Production Only Part.
But increased production, important
as it is, is only a part of the solution
of the food problem. 1t is of the first
importance that we take care of what
has been raised and make it available
for consumption. This task is of pc
culiar urgency with reference to our
perishable farm products. 1t is essen
tial not only that adequate measures
be taken to secure their conservation,
but also that the Department of Agri-
culture redouble it's efforts to assist
producers in the matter of marketing.
| am informed that in many Sec
lions in which fruits and vegetables
have been produced in abundance the
people already are canning and drying
them in large quantities. But we
should be content with nothing short
of the perfection of organization and
should be unwilling that anything
should be lost. In this hour OF peril,
l am concerned, as I know you are
with the necessity of avoiding waste.
Every bushel of potatoes properly
stored, every pound Of vegetables prop
erly put by for future use, every jar
of fruit preserved add that much to
our insurance of victory, add that
much to hasten the end of this con-
fict. To win we must have maximum
efficiency in all directions. We can
not win without complete and effective
concentration of all our efforts.
We can all aid by increasing our
consumption of perishable products.
Such of them as we can efficiently
utilize we must utilize, and, by so do
ing. relieve the strain on our store
of staples. We must aim to consume
these things locally so far as possible
and thus relieve the pressure on trans
portation agencies, freeing them for
the more efficient handling of prod
ucts required for military purposes.
What we cannot presently consume
we must conserve.
A Public Service.
The service we are asking the peo-
ple to render in this matter is pub
lie service 1t is one primarily for the
household. Upon the housewife much
of the burden of the task will fall.
Join you in your appeal to the women
of the nation, whether living in city,
town or country. to devote their time,
so far as it may be feasible and neces-
sary, to the performance of this very
essential work. Among them some
will be found who are fitted by expert
ence to teach others, and they will put
their knowledge whole-heartcdiy at the
service of their neighbors.
am sure that we may confidently
count upon the cooperation of the ed-
tors of the nation in disseminating the
necessary information. l am equally
certain that the governors and toe
food committees appointed by them in
the states in which this problem is
urgent will leave nothing undone to at
tack il promptly and to assist in solv-
ing it, Faithfully yours,
(Signed) WOODROW WILSON.