The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-10-31
CLERGY ASKED
TO HELP FOOD
J. r. Deems Sends Out Letters From
His Headquarters to Every
Preacher and
Priest

The clergy OF Iowa have been
asked to help out in the food pledge
work Copies of letters have been
sent out to every clergyman, Cath
Ole and protestant, in the state. The
letters follow:
Reverend Dear Sir: America Is en-
gagged in war for humanity, and be-
cause we are at war the intelligent
service of every man and woman in
the nation is required. Already the
clergy Of the country are in many
sections calling attention to the
necessity under which we labor Of
providing food for the suffering. non
combatants in Europe and for the
boys in our national army, who are
being rapidly transported abroad.
The food situation is so serious that
it demands the personal attention of
every individual in the land, and 1t
must be brought home to each and
every one that the situation demands
their most thoughtful attention. We
have to find in the United States an
amount Of foodstuffs for export dur
ing the next year, two or three times
more than we ever dreamed of ex-
porting from this country, and we
must find it in such a manner as not
to injure our current supply. We
are. therefore, requesting you to ex-
plain the situation to the members
of your congregation and to urge
them to sign the food pledge cards
or the food pledge blanks which have
been provided for the men. We de-
sire you to explain to them the plain
duty which Is theirs in this case
We ask your help because the nation
needs it at this time. The food stu
alton has become so serious that I'M
less each person in the United States
helps in the great work Of conserv-
ing our food supply, so that not only
our own armies and ourselves shall
have food, but to prevent want OF civil
lization, we may suffer not only dis.
aster and defeat in the war, but
serious food shortage at home.
We are, therefore, urging that you
form in your church a committee
which will thoroughly and efficiently
canvass your congregation, securing
the signatures to household pledge
cards of those who have not yet,
signed, and the signatures to the
enclosed mems service and food
pledges, which are required to create
that moral obligation 80 necessary
to concentrating the minds of the
people on this great question.
All the blood, all the heroism, all
the money, all the munitions in the
world will not win this war unless
we have food for ourselves and for
our allies and, indeed, when the war
is over, for the world We must
have your help. We are but volun-
teers, calling for volunteers. but we
EEL we may count upon your imme-
iiate and whole-hearted aid in this
matter Both kinds Of pledges will
be forwarded you in such quantities
rs you suggest, as soon as you let |
is hear from you. President Wilson !
las fixed November as the date for |
the campaign, and we
rust that your congregation will !
lave completed it's end Of this work |
md that we may have the signed |
,ards and sheets in hand long before |
hat date. AS soon as they are re-
,eived. kitchen and membership |
,ards will be mailed to each sfgner. |
There are no fees; no dues; simply !
he moral obligation to support the
God administration in this hour Of |
rational peril. May I hear from you
;oon on this subject? Sincerely
-ours,
j. F. DEEMS,
Federal Food Administrator.