The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1917-08-17
CUT DOWN DELIVERIES.
Release Men and Horses for War.

Release Men and Horses Tor war
There went into effect this week ar
order to the retail stores of the coun'
try. from the National Council of De
tense, to reduce deliveries and to les
sen in every possible way, present
service in all the retail houses of the
country.
The command came direct from the
War Economy Board and 1t was Is
sued because Of the absolute knoWl'
edge that tens Of thousands of dollars
is going to be saved to the Government,
through it this year.
It surely awakens US, though bl1
rudely, to the abuse of an always toe
great privilege, that of an unlimited
free delivery.
1t is largely up to the women tC
safeguard against a continuance OF
such waste of men, money and horses
The move is, in fact, one of the best
yet made by the Women's Section OF
the Defense Council. Perhaps it equals
In scope, and it may surpass in pos
sibilities of economic conservation
that other great achievement OF theirs
the saving to the bakers of the coun'
trv and hence to the NatiOn-througt
the cutting off of bread returns, thai
great quantity of stale loaves whose
final destination was often the chick
en- coop-even the pig pen.
This new saving, as in the case Of
the bread, will come through reform
in one of the commOnest, most
thoughtless, everyday practices OF life
namely; the overworking of the ma
chinery that lands our groceries
meats, vegetables, fruit, drygoods
everything almost, at our doors, some
times on our very table.
We shop personally, or we SHOP
through a telephone, and behold the
things magically appear without even
thank you" from us. We require
cake of yeast we call up" and
tired boy who should be freed for more
constructive work, trudges patiently
two, four, or six blocks, to fill our tup-
peny order.
Anything thoughtlessly done costs
something to somebody.
But in this delivery abuse, in war
times, not only the merchant pays the
price, but so do we ourselves. Think
it out So let us conclude that though
daily ordering Of perishables may
be necessary, a weekly ordering OF
staples should be the limit; and even
then, carry home all you nationally
can.
1t is estimated that the annual gross
delivery expense of the retail grocerS
of the country is SIS, 100000. Why!
Because you and I have not carried
home what we could, and because we
have, in many instances, forced de-
liveries to be made, not once, but as
much as half a dozen times day.
But it is sometimes the fault Of the
merchant in his quite naturaD en-
enlargement of public good will. He
has been known to say: oh! no,
don't carry that, just let me send it"
The boy or wagon is going away"
and so you yield, and soon get the
habit" Discourage such courtesy. He
is robbing not only himself but you
too, especially in times like these.
However, it must be remembered that
it is our place, not his, to begin the
crusade.
All this is as true of the depart
ment store as of the food store. Prob
ably one half of the daily purchases
carried home by the shopper herself.
What a wrong this is, at any time.
1t becomes a crime in times OF war.
Let Carroll County be the first, will
lingly to get in line. Begin by adVOca-
ting one delivery a day, which will be
adequate, when we shall have disci-
pIined ourselves to thoughtful regu-
larity in ordering. And when you for
get, just go without that butter or
coffee. Nothing will more quickly
teach you the lesson than that; but a
handy pad and pencil in the kitchen
may avoid such unpleasantness.
Another thing: Don't order things
sent home "on approval" One de-
partment store makes the statement
that it's annual losses in goods re-
turned. is $50, 000-fortune, and
thoughtlessness, or still worse
insincerity of purpose.
American women are going to join
this propaganda whole heartedly, it
is believed, and they must spread the
reasons why the Government, through
its committee of women, is trying to
liberate thousands of men from need
less service during this war shortage
of every kind.
"A package in the hand will then
become as great a badge of honor as
any Red Cross button on the coat
lapel"
BY order of the National Council of
Defense.
Chairman. Carroll County,
MRS. AUSTIN GALLAGHER.