The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1917-08-16
WOman's Committee OF National
Council of Defense, Iowa
Division,

Since 1868, the year which mark
ed the organization Of Sorosis, the
first Woman'S club to be organized in
the christian era, there have been
many organizations Of women for
various purposes. study shows
that there are about eighty different
organizations for women in Iowa
cities and towns.
The WomIns Committee Of Coun
Gil vi National Defense has perfected
an .iganiZation in this state which
shall include all these different or
CARNATIONS as we'll as the women of
the state who are not organized. This
Division Womans Committee, Coun
Gil of National Defense. Its initial
meeting was held in Des Moines in
June and was attended by represen
tatlVes from most OF the WOmen's or
CARNATIONS OF the state. Since this
initial meeting permanent organi-
cation has been effected Mrs. Fran
ces g. Whitley, of Webster City, is
the chairman. The district chair
men are as follows: Mrs. M. r. Per-
kins, Burlington, first district; Mrs.
Mae Mayer, of Iowa City, second dis
trict; Miss Mary Bliss, of Iowa City,
third district; .irs. Charles n. Nc
Mrs Jennie L. Berry of Cedar Rapids,
| fifth district; Mrs. r. G. Sprowies, OF
Bloomfield, sixth district; Mrs. f. S.
burberry, OF Indianola, seventh dis
Itrict; Miss Daisy Dighton, OF Shenan-
doah, eighth district; Mrs. Julia
! Haskell Oleson, Of Ft. Dodge, tenth
district, and Miss Margaret Gay Dol
liver, Of Sioux City, eleventh district
Each chairman is required to Ell
! feet an organization in the counties
! i'll her district in such a manner that
all the women may be reached in
their homes. The membership OF
this Organization will be made up OF
all patriotic women who desire to
cooperate with the government in
the food conservation program and
thus assist in the prosecution Of the
war. No dues are required of its mem
bers and its membership is purely
voluntary. 1t is intended that the
organization shall continue it's exist
ence until the war ceases; Its first
Conservation Pledge cards. The
women who sign these cards pledg-
ing themselves to follow as closely as
possible the directions OF the Fed
eral government for food conserva-
ton. 1t will also secure census OF
all the women in order that the fed
eral government may have complete
| information of the woman-power that
may be modified for effective work
Of various kinds during the war.
| When this scheme for mobilization is
complete there will be no other such
compact army of volunteers IN exist
ence to carry out the orders or the
| government in the effort to relieve
the blighting stress Of the war situa-
ton.
| This organization will be welcome
because it means the cooperation OF
| the government in conducting all
our homes on a sane basis during the
war. 1t is an organization designed
for women only because the women
for the home but actually buy most
of the things which enter the home
life. This is as true for clothing and
other items as it is for those things
which are for the table exclusively. :.
Every club starts with the idea OF
some special service; its service may
be so special as to make it appeal to
| to every one because it's service is to
every home and touches the most
vital things of it. 1t has high ideal
1.-The service to all and it is practi-
cal because it stands for activity, for
visible service
A danger has threatened our coun-
try; it has been SO great that we
have declared war. 1t has been caus-
ed by danger from without. Our
army has gone to meet it; greater
armies are to follow; men are to
suffer and die in their effort to
shield us from this danger. dan
ger threatens us from within; it is
the danger of waste. This danger
may be SO great that our armies and
those of our allies will starve unless
it is overcome in our homes. 1t can
be overcome by the loyal patriotic
women uniting their efforts through
the Iowa Division Woman's Commit
tee, Council of National Defense and
following its instructions.