Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 March 1918 — INDIANA STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE PUBLICITY [ARTICLE]

INDIANA STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE PUBLICITY

Liberty Guard companies are citing the food administration alleged specific violations of the regulations. In all such cases Dr. Barnard is summoning the accused to appear in his office'to confirm or deny the charges. The survey of the state disclosed an estimated volume of wheat in storage totaling 300,000 bushels. The food administration is using using three points of argument in endeavoring to persuade the farmers to move their wheat stored now. (1) The 1918 prices have been fixed and nothing is to be gained by holding wheat longer. (2) Farmers will soon be too busy with planting to give attention to this important matter. (3) The millexp need and want the wheat now> and it is important that if the stream of foodstuffs is to continue eastward to our armies and associates in the war, the mills must be permitted to operate. Hotels and restaurants of. the state are required to print license numbers on their menu cards according to the amended regulations. Bakers wilfully refusing to use 20 per cent of wheat flour substitutes in baking bread and rolls, will be denied the privilege of doing business during the period of the war by the food administration. Where the substitutes cannot be secured, temporarily, the bakers will be required to reduce their normal output 20 per cent, thus reducing the consumption of wheat flour. No restrictions as to the production of perishable foods will be made by the government. This applies particluarly to the melon' crop. Growers are urged by the food administration to produce their usual crops, bringing forth a maximum harvest.

The food administration is lending its encouragement to the war garden movement. Herbert Hoover himself has personally endorsed the efforts to increase the number and output of these food sources. No deviation will be made from the rule of meatless and wheatless days and conservation generally to meet “special occasions.” Further inquiry as to concessions for church society efforts and alleged “patriotic” purposes have met with a reiteration of the statement that the food regulations apply to everybody all the time. The use of Wienerwurst to make sandwiches on meatless days and the right of farmers and others to kill and use their own hens and pullets have occasioned some inquiry. In reply to each question the same statement obtains—that so long as there is any meat used contrary to the government’s orders, no by whom, whether producer or dealer, the offense is the same. Hotels and restaurants are directed to observe breakfast as a meatless and wheatless meal each day. Short-order lunch counters are directed to serve no wheat or meat until after 10 o’clock each morning. This is to make effective the president’s proclamation covering one wheatless and meatless meal each day. ' Rural schools which have been in the habit of celebrating the close of the school year with a lavishly prepared dinner are cautioned against this practice this year, because “of the critical condition of our food supply.” Teachers and trustees, county and city superintends are askpd to co-operate in forestalling any such extravagant waste.