Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-08-03
re LOSING FOOD-By Frederic j: Haskin

In this, as in many Other emergency war meas
ures, the government is dependent on the co-opera-
ton of the press. Some day the Indispensable part
played by the American press in the hurried war
preparations will be recognized and appreciated
So far the only step in this direction has been
the proposed super-tax on the newspaper business
included in the original draft of the war revenue
bill The great success of the Liberty loan was
largely the result of press cooperation, the
treasury department gladly admits; the unprece-
denied achievement of the seective draft, whereby
a census of.10 900 900 men was taken in one day,
and the order of liability of each Of them made
known within forty-eisht hours of the drawing,
would have been impossible without the efficiency
of the newspapers, according to General Crowder
himself The home garden planting. which ex-
ceeded all expectations Was made possible by tho
printing of tens of thousands of columns of news
matter and editorials bringing home the necessity
to the nation. Now the need Of saving the per-
ishabe foods, which Cutting the markets, is
being brought home to the people in the same
way
Mr.. Stoddard, the special assistant to the sec
rotary, has a staff including a number Of expert
newspaper writer's, selected with the aid of prom-
nent newspaper publishers. This staff is sending
carefully prepared material daily to every news
paper in each of the twenty-four states where a
surplus of perishabes exists. They sending in
formation to press associations, chambers of COM
merce, boards of trade, rotary clubs, charmen Of
food committees and agricultural committees OF
the state defense councils, and to the numerous
private committees which did such good work III
pushing the garden campaign. The people have
shown themselves ready to do anything in their
power for the cause, they realize what has to
be done.
Home canning, home drying. picking and pre-
serving absolutely necessary measures. Be-
sides this, the community drying plant where per-
ishable foods are brought to a common center, is
a very promising development. Every house
hold has duty in the matter. The families who
have planted gardens expected to preserve
what they can not eat, but more than that every
household is expected to do its share toward saw
ing the market surplus. Vegetables fruits and all
sorts of pershables plentiful and cheap in the
markets now. There is daily surplus almost
everywhere. 1t is less than the duty Of house
keepers to go out two or three times weekly and
purchase a share of this surplus and preserve. it.
This is not only patriotic but good economy.
Besides the publicity which is being given to
the situation the perishabe food division expects to
do much work by demonstration and direct appeal,
in cooperation with the very efficient machinery OF
the states relations service The division will also
become sort of clearing house where the numer-
problems of preserving perishables can be re-
ferred to existing agencies to avoid duplica-
ton of effort. One man with home garden re-
Gently calculated that less than six separate and
distinct agencies, official and unofficial were urg
ing him to can, and ready to show him how to do
it. This state of affairs makes for confusion.
central Office to direct the whole campaign is
sorely needed and the new division promises to
supply it. For example, the question Of cans came
up for consideration. 1t was found that the. supply
of tins inadequate, and the use of glass jars
necessary. The glass jar manufacturers were
called into conference, and plan mapped out by
which they could supply the country with min
imum of competition and resulting dead stock"
in any particular locality. The manufacturers
promised to turn out 100000 jars In 100 days
and distribute them through the country in proper
ton to the need. Official assurance has been given
that unfair prices will be charged for jars in any
locality.
In almost every state there are dozen dinerene
clubs committees councils and organizations work.
ing on the perishable food problem, and they are
doing valuable work. But complete cooperation
Is needed to prevent great loss of efficiency. Now
that Secretary Houston has taken up the matter In
person. his Office promises to supply the necessary
central authority In the last analysis, of course,
success failure depends on the people, but the
people have never yet failed to do their share