The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-07-30
WILSON URGES
WOMEN TO CAN
Preserving of Fruits and Vege-
tables Is Vital to Win War,
Says President.
WILL HASTEN END OF war
Agricultural Department Committees
Are Ready to Aid In Work-Crops
Large, but Need to Save
ls Great.

Washington, July 30.-President
Wilson, in q letter to Secretary Of
Agriculture D. f. Houston appeals to
the women Of the nation to take imme-
diate steps to avoid a threatened loss
Of vast amount Of perishable fruits
and vegetables. The president says:
Every bushel of potatoes properly
stored, every pound of vegetables put
by for future use, every jar Of fruit
preserved, add that much to our in
surance of victory-add that much to
hasten the end of the conflict.
"We must aim to consume these
things locally SO fan as possible and
thus relieve the pressure In transpor-
tation agencies, freeing them for the
more efficient handling of products re-
duired for military purposes. What
We cannot presently consume we must
conserve"
Large Crops Assured.
Other parts Of the letter which Is
addressed to Secretary Houston and a
direction follows:
II very earnestly desire to commend
your plans and to second your efforts
to secure conservation of perishable
food products. The patriotic farmers
OF the nation gave immediate and ef-
fective response to my appeal to In
crease production. Providence favored
them and we have not only the pros
pect Of increased crops Of number Of
staples, but also the certainty Of O
large production Of fruits and vege-
tables.
But it is of the first Importance that
we take care Of what has been raised
and make it available for consumption.
ITO win we must have maximum ef-
ficiency In all directions. We cannot
win without complete and effective
concentration of all our efforts.
'We can all aid by increasing our
consumption of perishable products,
and by so doing relieve the strain on
our store Of staples.
"The service we are asking the peo-
pie to render in this matter is a public
service. Upon the housewife much Of
the burden Of the task will fall. join
you In your appeal to the women Of
the nation, whether living in a city.
town or country, to devote their time,
so far as it may be feasible, to this
very essential work.
Committee Helps In Work. I"
II am sure we may confidently rely
upon the cooperation Of the editors of
the nation in disseminating necessary
information"
Aiding the department Of agricul-
ture is the national volunteer commit
tee on preserving Of fruit and garden
products, called to Washington last
week. It's chairman is A. D. Lasker of
Lord & Thomas Of Chicago. Other
members are G. J. Brand, chief of the
bureau of markets; DR.. G. L. Alsberg,
chief of the bureau Of chemistry; Clar-
ence Ousley, assistant to the secretary
Of agriculture; William M. Wilkes Of
Washington; F. e. GorrelI, secretary
Of the National Gamers association !:
J. O. Ross Of Boston, and F. G. Ball Of
Muncie, Ind.
Plenty OF Food FOR y. S.
Herbert G. Hoover, Americas food
controller, Ia q statement issued on
Saturday, calculated to dispel war
gloom, declared the people of the
United States through food economy
and stimulation of production have "ac-
complished the most astonishing thing
that ever happened in the history Of
any people"
Asserting the American people have
Accomplished more in four months
than Germany did in year, Hoover
said present prospects indicate an in
creased cereal production in this coun-
try Of 85O,0OO,O00 bushels; the nation
has the largest supply of vegetables
in it's history; American Gamers will
produce nearly 2,OOO,OOO,0OO cans Of
fruits and vegetables, and American
women will preserve this year 2OO,-
100000 jars and cans of fruit and vege-
tables.
Basing his statement on the demon
strations thus far given by the Ameri-
can people, Hoover declared he had no
fear that their capacity for self-denial
twill not prove a wall against which
the Germans may battle for the next
five wears if it be necessary"