davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-10-29


Into these two short paragraphs is
condensed the story of a great achieve
ment; the Accomplishment in one year
of work that would be monumental
as the lifework of any man. He has
made possible the winning OF the great
est war OF all time. and as a byproduct
to the doing OF it he has conferred on
hundred million people great and
lasting benefit.
The impress of thrift put upon hun
dred million wasters No man has vision
great enough to estimate what that will
mean in the years to come. Genera
tions of Americans yet unborn will reap
the major benefits. but it means so
much TO the generation which is here
today that volumes might be written
on II.
It generally is agreed that the end
of the great war will mark the begin
ming OF the greatest commercial strug-
gle in the history of the world. Had
America remained a nation of food
wasters the handicap would have offset,
perhaps more than offset, natural ad-
vantages which this country possesses.
That impress of thrift may well prove
the weapon which will save America
from defeat on the great battlefield Of
trade.
Americans became a nation of food
wasterS because food was over
abundant, and. therefore. cheap. Food
never again will be overa bundant, and
it never again will be cheap. as it was
cheap when the wasting habit was
formed. Eventually, America would
have been forced to learn that lesson Of
thrift, but it would have taken many
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-10-29

he had no authority of law back of
him. and did not have until the food
control bill was passed in August.
Whatever he accomplished had to be
through voluntary cooperation. His
first act, after addressing an appeal
to the women of America to con-
serve food. was to call the grain
dealers of the country to washington
for a conference. He asked the grain
men, as an act of patriotism,' to stop
all speculation in wheat. They
agreed, and the food panic was at
an end Imitation was brought to an
abrupt halt, and since that day prices
of foodstuffs. taken as a whole, have
most essential to human life prices
are lower today than they were
year ago. Flour. for example, is
selling for about Sl1 barrel. as
against SIT. That imitation of food
prices should have been halted; and
is something absolutely unprecedent-
ed in the history of wars.
The only money available for or
ganizing the food administration un-
ill after the food control law was
passed was set aside by the President
out of the emergency war fund. and
every dollar had to be made to count.
Mr.. Hoover served and continues to
serve, without salary, and many of
the men and women who have come
to assist him also are volunteer
workers.
The list of these patriotic men and
women is a long one, and the fact
that all cannot be mentioned here is
no reflection on the important contri-
button they have made to a great ac-
complishment. Among the Hoover
lieutenants. however, are two men
and two women who have done work,
the results of which have been felt
in every American household, but
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-10-29

Special Correspondenee
WASHINGTON, D. c.,
o7 VICTOR BoRET, the
IMMi French minister of food. in
UHIl a recent interview, said;
q VSO 1.-THE allies will owe
debt OF gratitude TO two men after the
victory has been obtained. First, to the
general who leads the soldiers to win
the decisive battle. Second, TO Herbert
Hoover. who rendered it possible for the
soldiers to eat so that they might
fight"
And a distinguished American said:
Herbert Hoover has taken a nation
of wasters and put the impress of thrift
upon it."
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-10-29
ROME,

ROMEt ----~ ---
0NHE value of time lost in looking
for articles to eat and wear is
one of the new elements that has
come to be counted in connection with
the high cost of living in Italy, ac-
cording to Food Controller DIR. Silvio
Crespi.
Practically every member of every
household now spends several hours
each day in searching for butter, su-
gar, firewood, coal. coal oil or cloth
ing needed at home. Those persons
who have servants have been COM
PEELED either to increase their num-
ber of servants or to do part of the
servants work while the latter runs
from store to store attempting to To-
cate articles absolutely required to
keep the household going.
The question of high prices, which
was long a disturbing factor. has been
supplanted by that of scarcity. There
exisists everywhere a scarcity of car
pets, table linen, dishes, kitchen uten-
sils, shoes that fit, mems collars and
every article that can be named.
In Rome, the capital city, heads of
families, whether ambassadors, min
listers, clerks, doctors or cooks, are
now compelled to occupy themselves
with these details Their conversation
regarding the war, diplomacy, peace
and other important matters is in
terspersed with the problem of where
they are going to get the next meal,
or if they are going to be able to
h n II E<K1
rows coffee.
The test of true friendship is no
longer If a man will lay down his
life for you or loan you money" re-
Gently said David Lubin of the In
ternational Institute of Agriculture,
but If he will tell you where you can
find some real tea imported before the
war, or If he will lend you a pound
of sugar under solemn pledge not to
reveal your secret that you obtained
the aforesaid pound of sugar from
your family physician who got 1t
from a druggist, the druggist sur
rendering 1t though liable to pay q
fine of 800 for so doing"
One of the most popular men in
diplomatic circles for a time was the
Japanese ambassador, Hikokichi
Iyuin, who was reported to be about
to receive a few tons of fine white
rice as personal consignment during
the period when rice could not be had
for love or money He was courted
and fattered by a large contingent
of men and women who were rice
hungry and who fancled they could
secure loans or gifts of few pounds.
They had all their trouble for moth
ing. however, as the rice never ar
rived.
On another occasion an American
Navy collier was arriving with. a
cargo of rice at an Italian port,
whereupon an officer from the United
Sts tes naval attaches office put on
his best clothes and most ingratiat-
ing manner and went to the port of
arrival. ostensibly on Official business.
At last. as he was going, he delicately,
casually, brought the conversation
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-10-29

Neverth eless, 1t has been ascertained
persons in England connive at this
practice.
English censors can very capably
manage whatever mail of this kind
passes through their hands. Ameri-
can censors, on the other hand, would
be overwhelmed with their task, so
gigantic would 1T prove to be. In
deed, it could not he done with any
great degree. of thoroughness or effi-
cheney.
1t is just here that the Red Cross
has come to fill the breach and solve
the riddle. A great organization like
the Red Cross can arrange to send
mail through neutral countries and
on into enemy countries with more
speed and fewer difficulties than those
attendant upon individuals, even were
they allowed the practice. The plan
which the Red Cross has developed
has been under consideration for
some time. Changes and revisions
have been made until at last it stands
as near perfection as under existing
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-10-29

put an end TO the communication be-
tween the clever German spy and his
native land. Spies can, of course, be
arrested and made to pay dearly for
their transgressions. But the clever
spy makes It increasingly difficult for
representatives of the law to catch
him.
markedly different from those exist
ing in countries CT the other allies.
If forced to face the question with a
Yes" or No" the British govern
ment, for instance. when confronted
with do you allow any communi
cation between the people of England
and Germany" would reply. NO"
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-10-29

member who has the authority to
vouch for him, he will be compelled
to ask some one whose good standing
is known to write a letter for him.
The letter should contain a statement
or two relative to his character, and
this he must present at the Red
Cross when he makes request for an
application. This letter is made fast
to the duplicate of his application and
carefully filed for future reference If
need be.
ali letters eventually pass through
the hands of the Red Cross at. ma
tional headquarters. When things are
we'll started there is every reason to
believe that from one to three thou,
sand letters day will be received
by it. A little later ii is expected
that the post office will put a censor
in the communication bureau of the
Red Cross, which will greatly facili-
tate matters. The actual delivery of
letters cannot possibly be guaran-
teed but the Red Cross will do ev-
erything in its power. The Red
Cross asks no fee for this work and
the letter will be entirely without
cost to the writer.
1t is taken for granted that If mes
sages are received they will be an
swered. The answers will be sent
by way of neutral countries to the
Red Cross. Here the bureau OF COM
munication will translate or para
phrase whatever letters it is neees-
sary to change in this way and the
answers will be forwarded to those
who made the original inquiries. This
work will all be handled with as
great a speed as is compatible with
accuracy.
"a
Mr.. Castle says that the bureau of
communication. constantly receives
the most pathetic appeals from peo-
pie who declare their loyalty to the
United States. but at the same time
are greatly perturbed because they
have been unable heretofore to get
so much as a line through to some
very dear friend or relative in one
of the countries of the enemy.
There was the case of a Serbian
officer who had been sent to this
country to get recruits. For many
in touch with his family in Serbia.
Naturally, his anxiety was extreme.
Hearing of this new work which the
Red Cross had recently begun, he
visited headquarters and to the bu-
reau of communication related his
story and told of his hopes and his
fears in regard to the lost family.
The Red Cross pledged him its word
to do everything in Its power to get
some trace of the family. Immedi-
ateIy through Switzerland, inquiries
were started. The work took time,
and to the waiting man so eager for
news affairs seemed to move with
agonizing slowness.
But in only two months the Red
Cross was able to give him news of
| his family's health and whereabouts.
Again. there is the story of Thomas
Hitchcock, a young American aviator
whose plane crossed over the enemy
lines and failed to come back. After
a time his worried father made urgent
inquiries of the State Department
and endeavored also to obtain news
! through Spain. But 1T was the Red
| Cross. working through the German
Red Cross, that gave him the news
of his son, who was held in German
prison camp. From two weeks to
! six months is usually required to get
J news of missing men.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-10-29
American Red Cross WIFI Send Letters Into Enemy Countries

circumstances. it is possible to get 1t.
In the middle of April the first In
structions were sent to the various
chapters of the Red Cross. So at
this time the plan is just getting well
under way.
All those who wish to send a mes
sage from this country to some one.
other than a prisoner of war, in an
enemy country must get in touch
with his local Red Cross branch or
chapter. The Red Cross will imme-
diately provide the inquirer with an
tfon, and this must be filed in with
great care as to detail. The full
name and address of the applicant
must be given, as we'll as that of the
addressee. The relation between the
two must be known. as, for example,
whether the writer is about to COM
municate with sister, mother, friend,
uncle. etc.
= *
These messages are of necessity re-
stricted and brief. No letter that is
not wholly personal and relating to
ones family will receive the sanction
of the Red Cross. 1t will be thrown
out and will stand not the slightest
chance of delivery. Any mention,
even though 1t be but word or two,
concerning politics. financial ques-
tions or matters of vital interest to
the public will serve to bar a commu-
nication. Also 1t will be impossible to
send one message to more than one
person in the land of the enemy. This
is absolutely forbidden by the authori-
ties.
No doubt there will be a very con-
ufA Aar u / "A HaF~ nE E4aE &c w n n
are unable to write. But this does not
make communication impossible for
them, as the Red Cross has made am
pie provision for just such emer-
gencies. Such an applicant will find
a chapter representative very glad to
render all possible assistance. If the
applicant cannot write at all the rep
resentative will pen the entire letter.
If the applicant writes slowly and
haltingly, but prefers to write the
letter himself, he does so with what
ever help he may seek from the Red
Cross.
The Red Cross insists upon dupli-
Gates of all these messages. Both du-
plicate and original must bear the
signature of the person sending the
message. The applications, retained
at headquarters, are written in En-
giish. Individuals in Austria, Ger
| many. Turkey or Bulgaria who know
nothing about the English language
will receive their letters in their own
| tongues.
No man or woman who is in any
sense under suspicion will be permit
ted TO forward letters. AS a matter
| of fact. before an applicant is entitled
to an application blank he Is obliged
to prove himself worthy of the trust
| placed in him. If he is quite reputa-
| BILE, and is known among his fellows
as such, the fact is more than likely
I EA L. ~ 60
| tive. and this will sufffce. If he is a
| comparative stranger in the commu-
| nifty. or for some reason he is too OBJ
! scure - he known to any Red Cross
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-10-29
TROUBLES AND EIUMORS OF
FOOD SHORTAGE i'm ROME

around to the food problem, and let
1t be known there was a rice famine
in the land which included all the
Navy officers households. AS the
officer in command of the rice ship
didn't appear to take the hint, the
man from the naval attaches office
eXpatiated on the condition of the
children of the various families who
hadn't had any rice for weeks.
Thereupon the rice ships commander
explained how sorry he was, but that
his orders had been to deliver a COM
plete load of rice and he couldn't pos
sibly make any inroads upon it Or
ders were orders.
&k
The loss of time consequent upon
filling out food cards and coal cards
and rice and macaroni cards has been
such, with the loss of time in going
after the provisions which the cards
call for, but don't deliver, that many
classes of persons have joined co.
operative associations o. formed new
ones.
One such cooperative association is
that formed by the newspaper men.
This cooperative has its own store.
chestnuts, cheese, wine and other
groceries may be obtained by mem
bers.
The government DEGREES regarding
the use of gas in particular have
proved expensive to many as regards
heating. Early in the winter it was
known that there would be little
coal or. wood available, except at
high prices, so many families nut In
gas stoves for heating, since many
of the municipalities have so far
been able to supply gas at prices
comparatively reasonable.
Then came decree that gas heat
ing would net be permitted. as there
was barely enough gas for cooking
purposes. Those who had the money
to spare in desperation bought kero-
sene DIR stoves, despite the disagree
able odor of the oil. At present
their problem is to obtain oil to keep
the stoves going. The oil is selling
at 80 to 35 cents the uuart-when
Strange obsessions result from the
constant worry occasioned by the
food search. Persons who never
cared much for candies or tobacco
find themselves dreaming about these
articles. Although candies are made,
not of sugar, butter. eggs, -four and
fine favored essences, but of honey,
saccharine, corn meal. prunes nuts,
dates and other materials capable of
being pasted together, the demand
for such candies is abnormal, Accord
ing to published statistics. with the
price at 81 to s1.50 the pound.
It has been noted repeatedly that
never have people worn such fine
shoes or paid so much attention to
footwear as since the prices have
increased from So and Sb the pair to
who formerly wore low shoes the
year around, as they were able to
do because of the mild climate. now
want shoes with leather tops reach-
ing half way up the calf.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-10-29

cattle in Belgium and practically all
in the occupied portions of northern
France are carried off or killed by
the Germans. Because of the terror
under which the mothers of these
regions lived. the average period of
breast feeding was under four
months. Then 4 was question OF
condensed milk or starvation. In
northern France, especially, there has
been scarcely a child born since the
German invasion. whose continued
life has not been dependent upon con-
densed milk from America. Export
of condensed milk from the United
States has increased from pre.war
yearly average of about 1000
pounds to a present yearly average
of 12O. 100000 pounds, a percentage of,
increase of nearly 10000 per cent. Ship
ments of condensed milk alone have alb
solutely meant salvation of the race to
the peoples at war against Germany.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-10-29

years and the price would have been
want and suffering and social unrest
and lost opportunities. A single year
OF war and of Hoover have accom-
plished it.
That the lesson has, been learned is
attested by the fact that today the
American people are eating only 10 per
cent as much wheat as they ate IN
the DAYS before the war-and they are
doing II without complaint, without
hardship and without any real neon
venience. And above all other things
they are in the main doing II Noiun-
tarily ANY autocratic government that
attempted TO force so radical a change
in the eating habits of a people in so
short a time would he confronted pE
throne topping revolution.
Curtailrnent in the use of wheat is
greater today. OF course. than ii has
been at any time in the past, but since
the last crop was harvested the Amer
lean people. by practicing conservation
have saved enough wheat to supply
wore than 10000. 600 OF people with
bread for a like period In other words,
each American family of three persons,
nv practicing conservation, has made II
possible for one person in Europe 10 eat
bread who could not otherwise have
had IL TO eat. That, 1t would seem,
ought to be a pretty satisfying reward
for. the amount of self-denial involved,
but il is only part of the story.
-
The 1917 harvest of wheat in the
United States was short many mill
lions of bushels; one of the poorest
crops. in fact. of recent years. On
the basis of normal consumption in
this country there was an exportable
surplus of only about 25,oOo,oo0 bush
els But consumption in this country
has not been on a normal basis. The
American people have been Hoover
izinC. AS a result, to June l the
U-nitad states had been able to eN-
mort 125. 100000 bushels of wheat, and
another 25.000.000 is to be exported
before the new crop is harvested-a
saving through conservation of 125.-
600 600 bushels, practically bushel
and a peck for each man, woman and
child in America. Four and one-haf
bushels of wheat make barrel of
-four. It figures out, therefore, that
since the first of last August each
American family of seven persons has
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-10-29

These figures tell only part of
the story of what operation of the
United States Food Administration
has meant to the peoples of the al
lied countries of Europe. And the
benefits to them have been benefits
also to us. for their war is our war
and If they perish we must battle the
Hun alone. 1T would be worse than
folly" said Mr.. Hoover in a recent
address, ito put five million of our
boys into France If the civilian pop
ulation of our allies are not to be
maintained in strength and morale
with our food"
Collateral benefits have come to
the American people which are great
beyond reckoning. Complaint is
heard now and then because the
food administration has not brought
about greater reductions in prices.
Price control was not one of the
primary purposes in creation of the
food administration, but its ac-
complishments in the way of pre-
vention of imitation have saved the
American people many hundreds of
millions of dollars. With the declsTa-
tion of war against Germany on
April 6. last year. food prices. already
high. took a sharp upward turS, and
by May II, the date of the appoint
was selling at s1T a barrel, with
prospect that it soon would go to S25.
and other commodities were jumping
daily to keep up with it,
When Mr.. Hoover was appointed
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-10-29

education in household economies, and
as a result of the work she has done
the dietary of the American people
has been revolutionized. Recipes for
preparing all sorts of appetizlng and
nourishing dishes have been sent out
by her division and published in
thousands of newspapers and maga-
zines This campaign has had two
obiectives. One has been to save the
foods essential to the winning of the
war. and the other has been to put
the impress of thrift on a nation of
wasters." American women under
stand today as they never understood
before the nutritive values of foods
and their relations one. to another,
and 1t is safe to say that the Ameri-
can people never again will eat as
heedlessly or as extravagantly as
they ate in the past.
At the head of all the educational
and publicity work has been Ben ),
Allen, trained newspaper man, who
resigned his position with the London
bureau of the Associated Press to ac-
company Mr.. Hoover to Belgium when
the latter Undertook the work OF
Belgian relief From that day until
he broke down a few weeks ago from
overwork. he had been Mr.. Hoover's
right-hand man and chief lieutenant.
BY those competent to judge, Mr..
Allen is credited with having COM
Quoted the greatest and most success
full publicity campaign ever under
taken Day by day, week by week
and month by month thousands of
newspapers and magazines have
published the stories coming from
his office. and they have published
them solely because of their value
las news or feature matter. No
newspaper or magazine has been paid
for a single line of advertising space,
And what is true of the educa-
tional and publicity work of the
food administration has been true of
all of its activities. In these days
when millions flow like water from
the Treasury 1t has been almost
parsimonious in its expenditures.
The entire cost of making 1t pos
sible for the soldiers of the allies to
eat so that they might fight and of
putting the impress of thrift on a
nation of wasters" has not exceeded
to each American citizen the equiva-
lent of a three-cent postage stamp.