The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1917-04-12
HOOD RIVER, OREGON THURSDAY, APRIL II, 1917
FOOD MEETINGS
DRAW INTEREST
EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN is BEGUN
Students Of City Schools Attend Lectures
In Body-All Eastern Oregon
To Be Covered

given Dy the cOIerle OF tfalneu lectur-
ers who appeared here Monday after
noon and evening in the initial meet
ings of the two weeks food prepared
ness campaign that will be waged in
communities of eastern Oregon by the
Oregon-Washington Railway Co. under
the auspices the extension department
of the Oregon Agricultural College.
Hood River business men, lawyers,
physicians, ministers and bankers had
already begun a campaign for the cul-
tivation of vacant city lots, and during
the past several weeks, these plots Of
soil, most of them of virgin fertility,
have been spaded up and ploughed by
the scores. The joint railway and col
lege campaign has stimulated the
movement, and not vacant lot in the
city will lie idle the coming season. In
instances the sides of streets on which
traffic is light, will be planted to pota-
toes and onions.
Although the plans of the demonstra-
tion train and lecturers were received
by local people last week too late for
publication in the papers, through the
cooperation of the Commercial club,
fraternal organizations, Woman's club
and the churches, the message was
carried throughout the county. Hand
bills distributed Saturday when the
apple growers of the outlying commun-
itles we're in town by the hundreds cre-
ated a great interest. The food cam
paign was reported to the members of
the Japanese Farmers Association,
who, when the purposes of the move
ment were explained to them, gave an
assurance of their cooperation, and
several Japanese were present at the
sessions.
The demonstration train, consisting
of baggage car and coach filled with
exhibits in representation of vegetable
gardens and little poultry farms and
showing the most economical use of
foods, arrived at 1890 Monday morn
ing as part of the Pendleton Express.
The train was accompanied by William
McMurray, general passenger agent of
the O.-W. R. & N. Co., Traffic Mana
ger F. w. Robinson and Travelling
Passenger Agent j. H. O'Neil.
The private car of Mr.. McMurray,
who expresses an unlimited enthusiasm
over the success of the plans that are
being set in motion, also forms part
of the special demonstration train.
For the local lectures the manage
ment of the food conservation cam.
paign were fortunate in securing the
rooms ef the big building of the Hood
River Garage, structure located con-
veniently both for the interested visit
ors and the lecturers. The demonstra-
tion cars were parked not over 100 feet
! away from the garage structure.
Members of the Oregon Agricultural
faculty with the demonstration train
are: R. d. Hetzel, director of extern
sion A. G. B. Boquet, professor of
vegetable gardening Miss Grace John.
son, professor of home economies Miss
Helen Cowgirl, assistant club leader; ;
c. G. Lamb, extension poultry man ;
H. A. Vickers, extension secretary.
The sincerity of Hood River people
in their expression of willingness to
cooperate fully in the joint food pre-
paredness campaign being waged by
the O.-W. r. & N. Co. and the O. A.
G. even surpassed the expectations of
the enthusiastic officials back of it.
The climax of the sessions was
reached Monday afternoon at the
rooms of the Commercial club, when
| with about 30 of the representatives of
the business men of the city, of school
boards, the Woman's club, churches
and civic organizations present the
following central committee was ap-
pointed to carry the preparedness cam
paign to every section of the county :
Mrs. W. L. Clark, of the Woman S
club; DR. J. W. Sifton of the CONNER
cial club, c. C. Cuddeford, of the city
council; J. 0. Mclaughlin, superinten-
dent. This steering committee has al
ready begun its work, and its members
have pledged themselves to carry the
message to the five county oranges,
every Parent-Teacher Association and
all rural organization.
| Mondays sessions were inspiring.
All of the city schools were closed in
order that the children might attend in
body. Another side to the patriotism
of Oregon people was shown. Listen
ing to an address by Mr. Lamb, the
college extension poultry man, the
hundreds of children of the city offered
to do their bit toward waging what
may be the nations most critical
struggle by engaging in raising poul-
try. The little boys and girls eagerly
crowded around the extension man and
with wrapt attention listened to his
words of poultry instruction.
The meeting of climax, held at the
Commercial club was the more remark
able in that it was assembled at the
suppestion of Mr.. HetZel on less than
an hours notice.
| I'VE have called the meeting,' de-
clared Mr.. Hetzel, in order that there
will be no tagging in the follow UP
work that we by our demonstrations
have begun today"
"We are here, said Mr.. Robinson,
mot merely on railway work and col.
lege work, but on the work of the
nation.
When E. L. Smith, Hood River 8
grand old man, called on for talk
arose and nominated Mrs. c. H. Cast.
ner as chairman of the local centra
committee he was greeted by cheers.
Quickly Mr.. McMurray and others sec
onded Mr.. Smiths nomination. Mrs,
Castner declined the honor, saying
that she would be away from Hooc
River considerably during the next 81
days. However, the woman leader ex
pressed the heartiest endorsement OF
the state women's clubs, and pledged
their active support.
1--WE started the campaign at HOOD
River" said Mr.. McMurray, because
we felt that you would benefit from
the spirit of the movement and thai
the campaign would gain momentum
because of your enthusiasm. You hav,
learned already the benefits of diversi
fled farming. You have had the repu
tation of growing apples exclusively
s Why, the news that you had exportet
carload of hay the other day was tel
egraphed all over the United States
But you have learned that diversifyint
pays, and you have sensed correctl,
the Importance of this campaign.