Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-30
WILSON MAKES APPEAL
T0ALL WOMEN OF Nation
Urges Them to Assist Food Conser.
vation Movement in This
Time OF Peril.
AID OF EVERY ONE NEEDED
Many States Threatened With Ap-
palling Waste of Perishable Prod
ucts If Immediate Steps Are Not
Taken to Preserve Them.
AID OF EVERY ONE NEEDED
rBy Associated Press. l

WASHINGTON. July ga memoir
able appeal from President Wilson to
the women of the nation. whether liv-
ing in city. town or country. was is
sued to-day through Secretary of Agri-
culture D. F. Houston to .ake imme-
date steps to avoid a threatened loss
OF vast amounts OK perishable fruits
and vegetables. specially in twenty
four States that lave asked govern
mental assistance and Information on
the subject of-"How housewives May
Immediately Start Canning. :. Isi:esesy,
ing, PicklinE, Drying and Storing"
ADVANCE ORGANIZATION
WORK ALL COMPLETED
The advance organization work has
all been completed by a special COM
mittee working nationally under the
direction of Secretary of Agriculture
Houston and the most intensive an
paign, especially in the twenty-fo four
states In distress. will be conducted
during the next three weeks The
Presidents letter follows:
The White House.
Washington. July rs, 1917.
Mr.. Secretary and Gentlemen OF the
COMMITTEES:
II very earnestly desire to commend
your plans and to second your efforts
to secure the conservation of surpluses
OF pcrishable food products. Out OF the
depths of their patriotism the farmers
of the nation gave an immediate and
effective response to my appeal to in
crease production. Providence favor
ed them, and we have not only the
prospect of increased crops of a num-
Der of staples. but also the certainty of
large production of fruits and vege-
ia bles.
But increased production, important
as 1t is, is only part of the solution
OF the food problem. It Is of the first
Importance that we take care of what
has been raised and make 1t available
for consumption. This task is of Pc
culiar. urgency with reference to our
perishable farm products. It is es-
sential not only that adequate mea-
sures he taken to secure their conserva
ton. but also that the Department of
Agriculture redouble It's efforts to as
sist producers In the matter of mar
kcting.
Il am informed that in many sec
tions 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 PERI,
am concerned. as 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 conflict To
win we must have maximum efficiency
In all directions. We cannot win with.
out complete and effective concentra-
tion Of all our efforts.
INCREASE CONSUMPTION
Or PUNISHABLE PRODUCTS
we can ali aid by increasing our
consumption OF perishable products.
Such OF them as we can efficiently util-
tze. we must utilize. and. by so doing.
relieve the strain on our store of sta :
pies. We must aim to consume these
| things locally so far as possible and
thus relieve the pressure on transporta
tlon agencies. freeing them for the
more efficient hanCli.ig OF products re-
quired for military purposes. What we
cannot presently consume wa must
conserve.
'Tho service wo arc asking tho poo
pio to ronder IN this tnnttor la n
public service. Il Ia ono primarily FOR
tho household, Upon tha housowifs
much OF tho burden OF the taHk will
fall. join you In your appeal 10
the women OF tho nhtIen. whether lty.
1 q a
vote their time, 30 far az 1t may he
feasible and necessary, to the per-
7coaTln6sd OF ssosaa BaSa.y