Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-03-20
SCHOOL GARDEN ARMY

l. desires the Telegraph to talk to
the people of Central Pennsyl-
vania concerning the United States
School Garden Army which is just
beginning to mobilize.
The whole plan has been carefully
worked out and so far there hasn't
been single hitch in the program
The Secretary of the Interior
through the Bureau of Education, is
calling upon State and county super
intendents and also upon the COVER
nors of the different States, the
mayors of the different cities and
school superintendents in cities
towns, villages and suburban COM
munities, and asking everyone OF
these people to fall in line and get to
work in the greatest practical vol
unteer campaign that has been start
The Germans organized their gar
den army years ago and just because
they did do that very thing they have
been able to stave off starvation for
so long.
For back of every bullet and be-
bind every shell, and under and over
every cloud of poisonous gas and
running every submarine and direct
ing every aeroplane is a man who
must keep up his energies with food
We might as we'll send our men
to the trenches. to face cannon and
airships and poison gas and eXplo-
sives dressed in suits of pajamas,
with nothing but their bare hands
for weapons, as to send our army
overseas without enough provisions
fighting trim when they get there.
Where are we going to get the
food to send them?
We have just one storehouse from
which to draw, and that storehouse
is in the fertile fields and the rich
harvests of our own country.
Our troops abroad need -four and
sugar and coffee and tea and corn
and meat-we must send them these
things or be ready to bow our heads
under the German heel.
There is no use blinking the fact
minute longer; the whole thing
comes right down to the question of
bread and meat, and enough of it.
If we send all that we raise abroad
what shall we do here at home?
This is the time to begin to son
slider these things. We have been
blind and dull of wit, and deaf and
Indifferent long enough.
From one end of this country to
the other the people are beginning
to realize what this question of food
means. No wonder that the United
States School Garden Army idea has
taken such a splendid hold, not only
in the imagination, but of the stern,
practical faculties of this whole
country.
Five million school children mo-
bilized into an army, with officers
and privates and sergeants - with
drill and hard work and great re-
wards and splendid service.
What child is there on the face
of the globe who would not be proud
and eager to be one of such an
army?
Have the schools in your district
begun to organize?
Have you obtained vacant land in
your town to use for the garden?
Who is going to be captain of the
First Regiment in your town?
You don't know. Why not?
Aren't you interested?
You will be interested some day
when that boy of yours comes home
with a chevron on his sleeve or your
girl is made first sergeant and
wears a badge which tells the world
that she is ready to do her bit for her
country and her country's flag.
Why not interest yourself person.
ally in this matter to-day?
Why not make this a part OF your
duty to Uncle Sam?
Secretary RaISer sava ba hos boo,,