The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-07-20
viii Do Their ''Bit" To Help
America Win War
MEETING IN ST. PAUL
These Sessions Are Described
BY Mrs. M. R. Coulter, Who
Attended
From Fridays Daily.

From Fridays Daily.
Mrs M. r. Coulter, who was recently
appointed vice chairman of this dis
trict for the women's auxiliary of the
state public safety commission, has
returned from st. Paul, where she
attended convention of the auxil-
iary. The meeting had been called
at the request of the public safety
commission, and was held July 10 and
II in the capitol building, and the
state farm school.
In practically all states women'S
auxiliaries of the public safety COM
missions are being formed, and will
work under the direction of Herbert
Hoover, who is at the head of the
food conservation for the United
States. The great work of organi-
zation is being rapidly accomplished
and everyone will be asked to aid in
winning the war.
"This move for food conservation
does not mean that the people will
be asked to eat less, or live more
cheaply. Saving the wheat will not
enable people to live cheaper, as the
substitutes cost just about as much.
The idea is to use one-fourth of corn
meal, rye, or whatever can be used
for the purpose, instead of using all
wheat when baking, and thus save
one-fourth Of the wheat for our al
lies" stated Mrs. Coulter in an inter-
view today. 81 was much impressed
by the earnestness of the women at
the conference, and such crises GER
tainly work as class Jewelers., as the
rich and poor labor side by side. The
meeting was called for conference
purposes, and to make definite plans
to work together. Every district and
almost every county was represented
at the meeting, and the large gather
ing of women about filled the house
chamber.
First Task For Women.
1.-THE first task we have before us
is to circulate the Hoover pledge
among the women Of the state. The
pledge cards have already been
printed, and will soon be sent out,
and it is the patriotic duty of every
woman to sign this pledge. 1t does
not ask them to have less to eat, or
cheaper things. but to stand ready to
cooperate with Mr.. Hoover in what
ever he decides to be best. The idea
is to save the things that money
cannot buy if they are consumed. We
know that the allies must have more
wheat, and Mr.. Hoover has asked us
to save one-fourth of what we or
dinarilly use, by substituting corn
meal, rye. barley, ETC., which will
cost us just about as much as the
Tv, hA
stitute rice -four and cotton seed
meal. The allies must also have
part of our Cuban and Porto Rican
sugar, and part of our fats, as well
as our wheat. Every woman will be
asked to sign the Hoover pledge and
prepare herself for efficient service.
Neither signing the pledge or
registering is compulsory, but the
women may act voluntarily. 1t is
their patriotic duty to do what they
can to help win the war and by CO.
operating in food conservation they
will show their loyalty to their coun-
try.
Ideas on Food Conservation.
Every important were the three
principal ideas on food conservation,
which were impressed upon the
meeting by Miss Berry, head of the
home economics department of the
state university, who had just re-
turned from a conference with Mr..
Hoover. The first was to save one
fourth Of the wheat; the second to
eat perishab1e things, articles that
cannot be shipped or saved; and the
third to eat local products and spare
railroad companies work of trans
portation. None Of these will cause
any hardship to anyone, and will
result in great good, aiding us to win
the war. Miss Berry gave us a dem
onstration in canning, and distributed
large number of recipes. 1t is her
duty to plan on the county chairmen
for every county, and she will con-
duct eight canning schools of five
days each in different parts Of the
state this season, the places to be
decided upon later. The teachers for
these schools will be selected by Miss
Berry. If the government passes the
food law these schools will not be
charged to the counties, otherwise
each county where school is con-
Quoted will be required to pay about
$780,"
Simple Was Menu.
The first session of the conference
on July 10 was devoted to general
discussion on patriotism, patriotic
education, Red Cross work and foods
In the evening a dinner was served
at the Y. w. G. A. Governor ]. A. A.
Burnquist being guest and deliver
ing talk. Mrs. T. G. Winters
state director of the women's aux
Hilary, acted as toast mistress, and
talks were also given by President
Ames of the Public Safety commits
sion, and Attorney General Smith. The
menu was simple, consisting of po-
tato, chicken, green peas, whole
wheat bread, rolls, ice cream, plain
cake and coffee, carrying out the idea
of the conference. Simplicity was
also the rule at the "war time
luncheon served at the farm schoo
the following afternoon, where every
one was allowed just what science
decided they ought to have, ard there
were no second helpings." Creamet
potatoes, vegetable salad, sandwiches
rolls. oatmeal cookies comprised the
bill of fare On the second day oil
the convention number Of talks