Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-05-09

We stand with our BACKS 10 lne
wall, that call to the civilized world
made by General Haig, is being an
swered by the women of the civil
lied world, Charles Lathrop Pack,
president of the National War Gar
den commission of Washington.
told the members of the General
Federation of Women's Clubs in
session at Hot Springs.
And only by their cooperation
can that call be answered, contln-
ued Mr.. Pack, for no nation can do
a great work unless the women OF
that nation put their influence into
the Job. Women have long been
the silent partners, but you are
now being given a voice in AFFAIRS
in many of our states and this is
the first war in which women have
had a recognized place outside OF
hospitals.
All that we have and are as men
and women is dedicated to the sa-
cred cause of victory. This is more
than a war to decide policies or
mark boundaries. 1t is a war in
volving the most sacred questions
with which men and women have
to deal-the sanctity of woman
hood, the sacredness Of childhood
and the right to live quietly In free
peace. We will not yield these
rights while we have strength to
defend them.
Women have already been the
conservers, the leaders in thrift
and anything else that points the
way for right living. The women
of France astonished the world
when that country paid off the war
debt the Hun demanded in the
Franco-Prussian war. 1t was be-
cause of their thrift that France
was able to lift that load so quick
ly.
In this war the question of food
goes hand in hand with thrift. We
must all set our minds to one thing:
winning the war and the victory is
to be brought about by our ability
to produce food and save it after we
have produced it. To the glory Of
England be it said that her men in
the trenches have never missed
their chow" 1t has gone to them
in the trenches steaming hot right
on the dot, no matter whether the
guns of the Hun were raising a
hell Of shells into that sector or
not.
We must see to it that our boys
get the same service. They are
there giving their lives. Must they
be allowed to worry as to food?
Now how are you going to answer
produced as close to the kitchen
door as possible. Plant it, can 1t,
dry it, for the Hun hungers, and
if you do not help to feed yourself
you will have to help feed him, for
he is fighting for a strangle hold
on the resources of the world.
When you leave this annual meet
ing will you not carry the message
of food production and food saving
wherever you go? The National
War Garden commission will send
you instructions in either or both.
1t will suggest how to organize for
community work in canning and
drying
You can help win this war right
in your home, and If you don't, let
me read to you the plan the enemy
has for you and yours. I read a
short paragraph from book called
War" by Klaus Wagner, publish
ed in 1916. 1 take this paragraph
from page 165 as follows:
Not only North America, but
the whole of America must be-
come a bulwark of German
kultur, perhaps the strongest
fortress of the Germanic races.
That is everyone's hope who
has freed himself from his own
local European pride and who
places race feeling above his
love for home.
Mark that we'll. His race feel
ing above his love for home, and
then let me read to you one of
thousands of letters being received
by the National War GARDEN COM
mission. Here it is from a boy:
I have decided to help win
the war by having a war gar
den, and I have just read your
notice that anyone can have a
free garden book Please send
If to me. My father joined the
army in 1915 and was killed in
1916.-Harvey Cameron, New
Glasgow. Nova Scotia
If that boy can~look the job in |
the face that way, what can you |
DO? You are sending your boys to |
the front to make this world a de-
cent place to live in. In the name |
Of that liberty for which he is fight !
ng-not for himself, but for you-i
provide him with the food with |