The sun., 1917-07-30
PRESIDENT APPEALS
FOR SAYING OF FOOD
Asks Women to Preserve Fruits
and Vegetables for the
8 Winter.
WILL SPEED PEACE DAY
"Every Pound Stored Adds
That Much to an Insur-
ance Of Victory"
WILL SPEED PEACE DAY

President Wilson has made n strong
appeal TO the women of the country 10
take mediate steps to avoid loss of i'm
mense quantities OF perishable fruits and
vegetables, especially in the twenty-four
states which have asked for information
on this subject. His appea, r$=ae through
. letter to Secretary OF Agriculture David
~ Houston which has Just been made
public. Many women wrote the Secre-
Ary asking for information on How
housewives may Immediately start can
Ming. preserving, picking, drying and
storing"
An organization was at once effected,
and already work has begun under the
direction of Secretary Houston, and in
tensive training is being given in the
twenty-four States which seemed to be
IN distress. The Presidents letter fol-
lows:
THE WHITE HOUSE. WASHINGTON.
July rs, 1917.
'MR. SECRETARY AND GENrLEMEN OF
xHB COMMITTEE: very earnestly desire
70 commend your plans and to second
your efforts to secure the conservation
o. surpluses of perishable food products
Out OF the depths Of their patriotism the
farmers Of the nation gave an immediate
and effective response to my appeal to
Increase production. Providence favored
OF increased crops of number OF staples
but also the certainty of a large produc-
tion Of fruits and vegetables.
Must Save Every Pound.
But increased production. important
as II is. Is only a part of the solution OF
The food problem. II Is Of the first i'm
portance that we take care OF what has
been raised and make 1t available for
consumption. This task is Of peculiar
urgency with reference to our perishable
farm products. II is essential not only
that adequate measures be taken to se-
cure their conservation but also that the
Department Of Agriculture redouble its
efforts to assist producers in the matter
OF marketing.
Il am informed that In many sections
IN which fruits and vegetables have been
produced In abundance the people al
ready are canning and drying them in
large quantities But we should be con-
tent with nothing short of the perfection
Of organization and should be unwilling
that anything should be lost In this
hour Of peril am concerned, as know
you are. with the necessity of avoiding
waste Every bushel OF potatoes prop
erly stored, every pound OF vegetables
properly put by for future use. every Jar
OF fruit preserved adds that much to our
Insurance OF victory. adds that much to
hasten the end OF this conflict To win
We must have maximum efficiency in all
directions. We cannot win without COM
plete and effective concentration of all
our efforts
Matter of Public Service.
I'VE can all aid by Increasing our con-
sumption Of perishable products. Such
Of them as we can efficiently utilize we
must utilize. and by SO doing relieve the
strain on our store of staples. We must
aim to consume these things locally so
FAR as possible and thus relieve the pres
sure on transportation agencies, freeing
them for the more efficient handling of
products required for military purposes.
What we cannot presently consume we
must conserve
to render In this matter Is a public SER
vice. 1t is one primarily for the house
hold. 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 a city, town or
country, to devote their time, SO far as
II may be feasible and necessary to the
performance OF this very essential work.
Among them some will be found who are
fitted by experience to teach others, and
they will put their knowledge whole
heartedly at the service of their neigh
bors.
81 am sure that we may confidently
count upon the cooperation of the editors
OF the nation in disseminating the neces-
sary information. 1 am equally certain
that the Governors and the food commit
tees appointed by them in the States in
which this problem is urgent will leave
nothing undone to attack II promptly and
% assist in solving It. Faithfully yours.
WOODROW WILSON"