Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-02-23
City Faces Bread
Cards in 60 DAYS


order to do so. Mr. Cooke announced.
This was not known until today. Mr..
Cooke did not know whether local mill
ers had received the order, but said that
If not it was on the way.
This order was issued to reach the
situation at the source. If 1t Is not
successful the wheat must be obtained
somehow. and the only alternative is
the communicating of the invisible sup
ply now in the homes of the country he
pointed out
Following the communicating Of this
supply, there will he several months
before the new wheat crop is available.
and wheat. or bread cards. will he ncccs-
saTy for Philadelphia and the rest Of
the country. was added in explanation.
These cards would be n last resort,
however, and the hope was expressed
that such drastic measures would not
be necessary through the strict appli-
cation of the conservation measures ad-
vocated by the administration.
we do not want to have to go into
the home. 1t seems iuadvisable to del
uge the retailer with wheat flour he
! cannot handle by ordering every one TO
return all wheat -four to their dealer.
Things have reached "a serious pass,
however, and some remedy has become
q military necessity" he said. our
own soldiers in France must he fed.
Also our allies must be fed if they are
to continue in the war. For some rea-
son, the full seriousness of the situation
has not been made clear to our citizens.
1t is now time they knew exactly how
| things stand"
! Well more than 100000 pounds of
! u.b ha r.rigtprp1 nv
! householders in this city. with Il supply
lin excess of thirty-day requirements.
/ the food administration ANNOUNCED to-
nday.. This -four has been reported by
| approximately 1900 people. The returns
are still pouring in to such an extent
/ that il has been necessary to employ
| two women, expert in tabulating re-
| turns, to handle the reports.
| If strict conservation measures are
not adopted at once by every ono in this
| city and in the United States. it will be
necessary to mobilize the home supply
! for the use of the nation by rediStrihut-
| ing II. Mr.. Cooke sald in his statement
/ The conservation program has been
| fairly successful to date, he said, but
| furIhcr efforts must be- made. In many
| reports from dealers il was shown that
/ the saving effected by the 'fifty-fifty or
der had resulted in cutting down the sale
. of wheat HOuI so per cent. In some
cases the failing off has reached 10 per
| cent, he announced.
All housewives are urged to use po-
tatoes, and wheat substitutes or face
the consequences. By the use of oatmeal
for breakfast, corn or other cereal for
the midday meal, and hominy for sup
per, the use of wheat flour can be en-
tirely supplanted, the administrator
pointed out. BY the use of these and
other cereals the sarle food value as
contained in bread can be had. Their
use will prevent the necessity for ra-
| ton cards. and the cause of America
will be served as it could be in no other
manner.
1t is intimatcd that the ban OH the
sale OF wheat flour TO any one other
/ than the Government will remain in
| force to the millers for sixty days. Be
I fore the expiration of this time the sup
| ply the dealers now have on hand will
be entirely exhausted the food officials
say.
In the face of this situation Mr.. Cooke
sends forth a last call to the house,
wives of the city to fall i'm line with the
Government in the prosecution of war
against the Hun. The housewife can do
more than her share by saving the nec-
| essary foods for her son, relative or
friends in France. or about to leave for
France, in the fight for liberty.