The Washington herald., 1917-05-20

as normally and leg1timately belongs
to any particular business for its
proper conduct and to prevent any
Withholding, directly or Indirectly, of
food supplies from the market.
The third equally important de-
partment Is one of domestic economy.
As 80 per cent of the ultimate food
consumption of the country Is in the
hands of the women OF the country,
we will shortly place before them
plan Of organization including poll
cies as to the elimination Of waste,
the reduction OF consumption, the sub
stitution OF local commodities for
those from further afield, the substi-
tuition of over-abundant commodities
for those which we wish to export to
our allies, and instruction in the in
telligent purchase and use Of food
stuffs and to set public opinion
against waste and extravaganza in
public places.
should Eat Plenty.
I'VE do not ask that the American
people should starve themselves, but
that they should eat plenty, wisely,
and without waste.
1T is my present idea to propose a
plan to the American women by
which we ask every women in con-
troll Of the household to join as an
actual member OF the food admins
tration and give us a pledge that she
will, so far as her means and cir
cumstances permit, carry out the in
structions which we will give her in
detail from time to time.
I'VE hope to set up such an or
ganiZation over and above this vast
army OF supporters as will give 1t
efficiency and intelligence in action.
There Is no service in this war on
behalf of our own country and our
allies in which the women Of the
country can so well enlist themselves
as in this service and the success OF
the food administration will rest
very largely upon the support which
We receive from them.
THE fourth branch Of the admins
tration must he that of cooperation
II our allies in many important ques-
tions involving exports from thls
country and our common import from
other countries. Furthermore, We will
probably need to undertake the con-
troll of the purchasing in this country
on her behalf and on behalf of such
neutral shipments as are permitted
nv the government in order 10
eliminate competition and forcing or
our prices.
On Volunteer Basis.
ct have represented to the President
that 1 am confident that the whole
Of this service can be carried out by
the men and women of this country
on a volunteer basis and that can
see no other means by which the
problems can be adequately solved IN
the United States. II this cannot be
done I shall certain and willingly
surrender the task TO some other
method OF emergency. l hold that
democracy can yield to discipline ana
that we can solve this food problem
for our own people and for our alhes
in this way. and that to have done so
will have been a greater than our
immediate objective, for we will have
demonstrated the rightness OF our
faith and our ability to defend our
selves without being Prussianized.
Probably more seriously than any
one else in the country, l recognize
the difficulties and possibility Of fall
ure in this work, and 1 appeal TO the
patriotism OF my countrymen for their
support l have no instinct to be
food dictator. Ny ambition Is to see
my own people solve their own prob
lens Those men and women who
cannot serve in the trenches or the
shop can show their patriotism in no
other way so fully as in this service.
and I feel that we have as much
right to call upon them to serve in
this administration as We have right
to call upon them to serve In the
trenches,