Evening star., 1917-11-20
ASKED T0P[EDGE
FOR FOOD SAVING
Heads of District Homes
Visited Today by Volunteer
Women Workers.
MEANS OF WINNING WAR

Organization of thousands of Wash
ington homes into food-conserving
army-a fourth line of defense-was put
into active operation today with the be-
ginning of the pledge card campaign
under the auspices of the District food
administration.
More than 100 volunteer woman
workers, supplemented by detail OF
Boy and Girl Scouts. early this morn
ing began a campaign among District
housewives to obtain food conservation
pledges to help win the war for Amer
lea.
Thirty thousand signers of the pledge
card was the high goal set for the day.
Every volunteer set out with the
names of the heads of forty District
households and with more than LOO
women giving up the entire day to the
work, attainment of this figure by
evening was regarded by officials as
likely.
Mr.. Wilson Is Hopeful.
Clarence R Wilson. federal food ad-
ministrator for the District. was hope
full today that every householder in the
city would be enrolled by Thursday or
Friday. If necessary the campaign will
be extended until next Tuesday.
From colored schools came complaints
to food administration headquarters at
1439 K street northwest that confusion
resulted in attempts at organization this
morning. Experts were sent to straighten
out matters. 1t was found there had
been a delay in the delivery Of pledge
cards.
Supervisors of the forty -one subdivi-
sions reported for duty promptly at )
o'clock. and an hour later the movement
to enroll capital families with other home
patriots Of the nation In food conserva.
ton was well under way.
Following final instructions at an organ
ization meeting in the auditorium OF
Woodward & Lothrop's store Yesterday
afternoon, the workers got their pledge
cards in readiness and waited for the
word this morning that sent them on the
house to- house canvass Of District homes.
Purpose Is Made Clear.
Food administration officials have taken
special pains to make clear the purpose
Of the pledge card campaign. 1t Is not
to coerce the population into rationing IT
self, they explain. but to organize line
Of defense among housewives upon whose
frugality depends to a large extent the
success Of the allied armies.
'eWindow cards in the home and home
cards in the Kitchen" was the urgent
message that food conservation mission
ARIES left with District housewives The
wfndov card testihes that the owner has
formally enrolled with tho food admins
istration and the home card explains the
various ways in which to save food in
the kitchen.
In the business sections the canvassers
win interview only those who live in
hotels or In rooms adjoining their places
Of business.
Warns Against Imposters.
Coincident with the beginning of the
Campaign In Washington today came a
statement from Herbert c. Hoover. ad-
yising citizens to be on their guard
against persons who claim to be So
licitors for the National Food Admins
tration.
"We have reports from various parts
Of the country of crooks thieves and
confidence operators who are going
from house to house, purporting to be
authorized by the food administration
and other departments of the govern
ment to collect or commander food
stuffs for the government or the
Army" says Mr.. Hoover
IT wish to say emphatically that no
department of the government has or
will ever make such demands upon
housekeepers, and that all such people
are petty frauds and should be held
for the police. The government agencies
are investigating various cases and in
formation Is sought of all such persons
by this department."