Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-10-30
Georgia S Imperative Duty
In the Food Saving Campaign.

Hard upon the heels of the great Liberty loan
drive and no less essential to the winning of the
war, comes the Food-Saving campaign. In every
State and county of the Union this will be week
of intense effort to the public to the i'm
Rerative need of conserving food supplies. In
Georgia there is a call for half million house
holders to volunteer to serve the country by CO.
operating fully and definitely with the State and
Federal Food Administrations Any sort of food
economy is better than but the sort that Will
prove most helpful is that which works with an I'M
derstanding of Just what the national leaders are
trying to do and just how the individual best can
serve. Hence the importance of housewives en-
listing in the general movement signing its simple
pledge cards and following the practical sugges-
tions of the experts who ceaselessly studying
all the problems involved. By this plan it will be
easy to economic the food staples which are
scarcest and thus provide the sorely needed sur
plus for export to our allies.
Let no one suppose that this is a matter of sec
ondary importance either to the nation or to the
family The time and money and sacrifice that
will be- required TO win the depend in a large
measure on our success in solving the food prob
lem. The shortage in the worlds food reserves Is
so great that only the wisest outstanding Of such
available will suffice to meet our own
needs and leave enough to keep allies in effec-
tive fighting condition. Their deficiency in wheat
is conSerVatiVely rockOned at some TOUR
million bushels. OF our 1917 wheat crop, less
than seventy-eight million bushels will be left for
expectation unless Americans greatly reduce their
normal consumption of wheat That is to say
there will be gaunt hunger in the trenches and
sharp distress in the homes of France and Eng
land and Italy unless the rank and file OF the
American people eat less wheat bread.
To do this will be little no deprivation to
country where wholesome substitutes for wheat
abound and where the general supply of food es-
sentials IL duly conserved, will be ample. The
plan of establishing three wheatless meals week
in every household is particularly easy for State
like Georgia where the deectable art of corn-meal
cookery has so long hourished Indeed, the aver
age Southern household might we'll adopt six or
nine wheatless meals week. The nutritive value
of products is matter of scientific demon
stration. Dietetists say that the reasonably fire.
uuent use of corn bread in place of wheat bread,
far from lowering bodily vigor, is thoroughly
tanning and healthful. Even if the curtailment of
our consumption of wheat called for measure of
sacrifice or hardship, every loyal American should
cheerfuly render this practical service to the
tons cause But when there is real sacrifice
to be made, when the sole requirement is a little
thoughtfuness and simple change in table rou-
tine who that is in any wise loyal will fail to help?
AS of wheat of other products which the
Food Administration is seeking to conserve that
there may be no want in this country and that
there may be a surplus for allies. The demands
which this duty makes upon the household and
upon the individual easy to meet. But unless
they are met, faithfully and efficiently by the rank
and fle there will be grave weakness if not actual
failure at one of the peculiarly vital points of
Americas war plans. No matter how many bill
lions of money raised to provide for armies
and to aid our allies, if lack the food necessary
to their maintenance all the gold in the world will
be unavailing. While the brave peoples who
fighting by our side for democracy and civilization
need our financial help, they need most of all the
help of our granaries. England and France and
Italy are outstanding their food supplies to the
IRENE of frugality. Their civilian populations
practicng self-denial to truly heroic degree that
the men at the front may not go hungry But their
utmost sacrifice will be insufficient unless rein
force them with portion OF our plenty. For more
than three years they have borne the savage brunt
of German fury defending the interests and prtnci
pies that mean as much to to them. Today
the cause of their troops and our troops the
Western front is virtually the Their strength
is our strength, their weakness is weakness. 1t
is of the utmost importance, therefore, that
help them in their crying need Of food Failure to
do so might easily lose indefinitely postpone the
victory that now seems assured, and certainly it
would mark recreant to a great human
obligation.
It cannot be emphasized too strongly too
often that this is not simply of armies but
peculiarly a war Of peoples war in which national
character plays a supremely important part. The
patriotic duties of the men and women at home are
no less imperative, less essential to victory than
those of the fighters at the front, and of all such
duties few are so urgent that of conserv
ing food supplies. Let every household every hotel
and restaurant every man, woman and child in
Georgia join intellectually in the nationwide
campaign that begins today.