The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1917-08-24

is shown in the bountltul harvest OF
fruit and vegetables now being gath
cred. 1t is predicted that we will
have the largest potato crop that we
ever raised and that the shortage of
onions, cabbage and other vegetables
which caused such high prices last
winter has been overcome.
This great harvest is the result of
our energy in planting war gardens
and also the increased acreage plant
ed by farmers. The demand for war
gardens did not start until the plant
ing season was we'll under way in
many states but the American peo-
pie were right on the job and an
swered the call for food and now they
are getting their results.
Steps are being taken to store
these crops and the prices of pota-
toes, apples, onions, cabbage and sim
liar products will undoubtedly be
normal this winter
Now, there is something further
to ask of the American public-that
we use these first fruits of our war
planting program to help US save
wheat, wheat and fats for shipment
to allies
Over in Europe there are millions
of men fighting our battles and tens
of millions of men and women back
in the factories supplying the fight
ers with munitions and war supplies.
The efficiency of all these fighters
and workers can be measured and
actually be put upon pair Of scales
and weighed. If we send them only
as much wheat as we could spare
from this years crop after using
what we have been accustomed to,
there would be not enough to prop
perly nourish our Allies. If we can
save and send them one-third of
what we normally consume they will
be properly nourished. Nothing could
be palmer than that.
On the bread plate before you are
three slices of bread. If you eat
two and send one abroad somebody
over there will have strength to fight
your battles. If you eat three and
send none the time may come when
you or some other American must
go abroad to fight.
Now, in the great crop of perish
able foods which we are harvesting
there is abundant nourishment for
every American worker. Our food
saving program will not tolerate un-
der-nourishment in any American
family. We must be we'll fed our
selves, for we, too, are called upon
to carry out great world tasks. Food
economy with US is matter of using
our brains to get the same amount
of nourishment by modifying our diet
Instead of eating meat and bread,
which are extremely rich foods, in
the large quantities that we have
been accustomed to, we must now eat
fruits and vegetables which will give
us equal nourishment at lower cost
and improve our health.
The standard of living in America
is something that we should all ieal-
ously guard. 1t must not be lowered
even in war times if we can help it.
Our country is so rich and our ma
tional enterprise is so great that we
can meet any food scarcity by increas-
ing our efforts and stopping our
wastes.
A standard of living does not nee
essarily turn on food alone. The
trained American workman on good
wages is proverbially lavish in his
expenditures for his table. He wants
his family to have an abundance of
the best that is in the market and
he is absolutely right. But the
most expensive foods do not always
give the best nourishment, and the
most nourishing foods can often be
used in a combination with cheaper
things like fruit and vegetables to
improve ones health.
In the European countries the liv-
ing conditions are harder. The peo-
pie have long learned to nourish
themselves on less chosen diets of
comparatively cheap things. We
might very well take a lesson from
Europe to reduce the cost of our
food without impairing our health,
and put the money saved thereby into
something that counts bigger in
maintaining a high standard of liv-
ing.
Suppose we saved our food and put
the extra money into better schooling
for our children, more play and rec
reation for our wives and ourselves.
more comfortable living quarters, for