Connecticut western news., 1917-05-24
A SURE ENOUGH RALLY
Town Hall Well Filled to learn About
 Food Conditions.


 Friday night saw the hall full of interested and enthusiastic citizens to listen to the Hon. Robert Scoville, member of the state committee on Food Supply.
 Previous to the address of the even. ing, the audience joined in singing patriotic songs led by an orchestra con- sisting of Miss Emma Kegler at the piano, E. W. Adams, John Adams, l.. A. Caldwell, Jr. and John Pease.
 E. B. Stone, as chairman of the town committee on food supply, pre- sided. In his introduction, MT. Stone referred to the fact that while we were at war, it was not of our own choosing, it had been thrust upon us, though we might be cornered there was way to get out of the corner and MT. Scoville was present to tell us of one way.
 MT. Scoville acknowledged the cor dial reception accorded him remarking that from the number present, it was evident that Canaan was thoroughly interested in the plans for food produc tion and conservation. lf .a
 That there was need for an increase of food production, together with addi- tional help to produce the same, is shown by the fact that twenty five million men, who ordinarily are en. gagged in productive labors, are now occupied in destructive warfare. The failure of the grain crop of the South American states and 50 per cent loss on the wheat crop of the United States makes the situation, even more serious than most men imagine.
 MT. Scoville said there were just two things to do to relieve this situa. tion; save all we can, produce all that is possible, Already there have been promises of 25. .000 more home gardens in Connecticut, these to be cared for by Boy Scouts, school boys and factory hands released by employers for that special work. ."E ..f. ...
 He declared there was a yearly pre- veEtable waste of $70O, 000, 900 caused by ignorance, laziness or failure to make the best use of combinations of materials. To waste food is as wrong as to steal it. When there was sufficient interest manifested woman county agent would visit communities to instruct the women in the proper canning of vegetables, home economics and the use of substitutes. It was not small proposition for modern warfare means that everybody goes to war.
 In reply to a question as to why not use the tobacco land of the state for crops of wheat, corn or potatoes. MT. Scoville stated that up to the present time over 2500 acres of such land had been secured for potatoes.
 In regard to the meat supply MT. Scoville urged that farmers take ad- vantage of the opportunity to fatten beef steers to be had from the West He stated that there was a general mov vement to finish the harvesting of the hay crop by July 10, so that laborers could be 1sed for the other crops. a .-a.
 At the close of MT. Scoville's re- marks, Chairman Stone announced that Mir. Rudd, who had expected to be present, was unable to be at the meeting, so he would be glad to hear from anyone in the hall who wished to speak on the topics under discussion.
 Rev. A. H.. Nesbitt stepped forward and in a characteristic manner empha. sized the seriousness of the situation. He hoped Americans would profit by the experiences of the British and the French in the early years of the war; citing the failure of the English to realize the serious nature of the Boer war. The present struggle was matter of life and death, a question whether democracy or imperialism should rule the world.
 It was no time for indifference on the part of anybody even in Canaan The questions before the country was "Are we ready?'
 His brief speech struck responsive chord in his listeners and they enthu. siastically cheered him, joining heal tily in giving three cheers for President Wilson.
 MT. Stone reported that the local committee had found over forty school boys ready to take up garden or farm work, berry picking or any work that a boy could do of that kind, he antici. pated there would be as many boys as there were jobs.
 The committee has secured a supply of blanks and leaflets which would be found on the table in the rear of the hall. The lady members of the com mittee were to canvass the town before Saturday night to obtain signatures to the home canning proposition.
 As a closing feature patriotic pictures were thrown on the screen and the meeting adjourned after the singing of America,