North Carolina Newspapers

FOOD CONSERVATION MEETING Johnston County Commission Large ly Attended Here Yesterday and Was- Addressed by Mrs. Jane S. Mckimmon. Mr. S. G. Kubinow, Mr. K. H. Mason, and Mr.* J. M. Johnson, of Italeigh. Messrs. W. M. Sanders, M. C. Winston, T. S. Kagsdale and Others Also Took Fart in the Discussions. The Johnston County Food Conser vation Commission held a very inter esting meeting here yesterday. The meeting was largely attended, repre sentatives from about two-thirds of the townships of the county being here. The meeting was presided over by Mr. M. C. Winston, of Selma, the Chairman of the Commission. After a few opening remarks ho presented Mr. T. S. Ragsdale who introduced Mr. S. G. Rubinow, of the State Ag ricultural Department, who made an enthusiastic talk on the awful eco nomic crisis now on in this country. He reminded the audience that the newspapers of the country had given much space in bringing the serious ness of the situation before the peo ple. He told of the shortage of labor and said that he was not so sure that the people were able to put more land in food crops and tend it well. He spoke of the shortage of all crops, the great exporting of food and the loss from importation. Even the great State of Texas was short in feedstuff s. Mr. Rubinow said that the South bought from the North and West from six hundred to seven hundred million dollars worth of food and feedstuff's every year. Now we have to grow it or do without. Iowa says that she is no longer going to feed the South, that she is going to help feed the army and navy. So the South is faced with the acute problem of feeding itself. Mr. Rubinow reminded his audience that we must do two things. First, we must produce more food if pos sible. Second, we must conserve food and practice rigid economy. He fur ther said that we must not stop cot ton ? it would throw millions out of employment. There must be a diver sification of crops. In closing Mr. Rubinow said there were some things we needed to do. 1. Encourage folks to believe as we do in regard to the serious situ ation. 2. Practice the most rigid econo my in all things. 3. Provide better accommodations for the tenant farmers and the ne groes. 4. Bring about a better spirit of co-operation between the producer and the consumer and get rid of the speculator. Miss Elizabeth Kelly ,n introduc ing Mrs. Jane S. McKimmon, the head of the canning club work, and a member of the State Food Com mission, said "People won't save until they get hungry." In beginning her talk, Mrs. Mc Kimmon said that the women had got to be a great big factor now. An other striking thing she said was this: "If we women will only realize the situation and determine that we are going to save what we have been wasting we are not going to be hun gry next year." It should be our duty to save every particle of food. She further said that cultural education alone in a time like this does not make a woman worth as much as a factory hand. Mrs. McKimmon urged that the people, the women, produce food and save it. That they should have a suc cession of string beans and tomatoes in their gardens and do all they can to help the men to make enough to feed the County and State. Mrs. McKimmon spoke earnestly on the importance of the caning club work in the State. She said that since May 1st seven new counties had called for a home economics agent. She spoke of the importance of can ning all the fruits and vegetables and of grading them correctly. She said that if these things were done right that there would not be one can in a hundred on an average to spoil. A record of only six spoiled cans in six thousand had been made ir this work. She said that the women ihould be organized and help given them as to the best way to do can ning. She further said that the girls, in doing these things were doing as much for their country as were their brothers who were joining the army and navy. The slogan should be "Every pantry well stocked and a surplus." It is a wonderful thing to help ourselves and also help our neighbor. Mrs. McKimmon also spoke of how the time had come when there was a good market for every can the club girls had to sell. She also plead with the leaders in the canning work to get together and help the negroes learn to do the same things. Teach the negroes to save. (Miss Kelly stat ed that this was being done in John ston). A few of the other things Mrs. McKimmon emphasized may be sum med up thusly: Fill cans in summer for use in winter. Nine hundred thousand cans were put up in North Carolina last year by the club girls. This year they ex pect to put up from one and a half to two million cans. Women are urged to write to the papers and tell what they are doing. The big women's journals are call ing on them for their best recipes and other help. Let there be no waste in the pan try. Plan meals without -meats. Give one meat meal a day and two meatless ones and make them so good and pal atable that the men will never miss the meats. Make the men fat and sweet-tempered by taking away ev erything that would have a tendency to make them cross or irritable. The fireless cooker is the biggest saver and ought to be in many homes. With a fireless cooker the cheap cuts ?f meat and the tough old hen may be made sweet and tender. The iceless refrigerator is an other important thing, especially to the country home. Let every woman be a factor in helping the county feed itself. A large number of women and girls were present to hear Mrs. Mc Kimmon. The girls in the domestic science classes in the Selma and the Turlington graded schools, with their teachers were present and enjoyed the tclk. It is a great pity that there were not present one thousand wom en from all over Johnston County to hear the fine talk on these all im portant things. In addition to the other women present, there were Quite a number of the members of the Smithfield Woman's Club on hand. Following Mrs. McKimmon, talks were made by Mr. R. H. Mason on silos and silage; by Mr. J. M. John son on soybeans and peas, and by Miss Paris, Domestic Science teacher in the Selma school. These talks were interesting and fuller reference will be made to them in a later issue. Mr. W. M. Sanders made a few remarks on the great importance of panning for another year by planting more wheat this falL Mr. Ragsdale offered resolutions asking the government to stop the manufacture of grain into alcohol, and also asking the President to close all produce exchanges which deal in margins and sell futures. These res olutions were adopted by a rising 'Fota. TEX MILLION MEN IN DRAFT. Subject to Selective Conscription Under Law. Washington, May 12. ? Ten million men in the United States will be sub ject to the selective conscription on July 1, within the ages agreed upon in the conference report on the war army bill, Director Rogers of the census bureau announced today. This number of men between the ages of 21 and 30, inclusive, represents very nearly 10 per cent of the total es timated population of between 103, 000,000 and 104,000,000 on July 1, 1917. Of these conscription eligibles the bureau estimates Alabama will have 209,800, Arkansas 156,600, Flor ida, 95,300, Georgia 255,400, Kentucky 202,200, Louisiana 171,000, Maryland 121,500, Mississippi 175,100, North Carolina 194,400, South Carolina 137,000, Tennessee 195,080, Texas 420,200, Virginia 186,400. 200.000 TONS OF AMMUNITION USED IN FIVE OR SIX WEEKS London, May 12. ? General Sir Wil liam R. Robertson, chief of the im perial staff at army headquarters, declared in an address tonight that in the last five or si? weeks the British had expended 200,000 tons of ammu nition in France alone. He was speaking at the anniversary dinner of the newspaper press fund, at which he was the chief guest. AMERICA'S HEART IN TASK. War Means Grim Business, Says Wilson, but People Will Net Hlench. Aid for Red Cross Is Best Directed. President Urges That All Philanthropy Be Concentrated So Far as Possible Through Single Channel to Secure Maximum of Effectiveness. President Wilson said in a public address at Washington Saturday that the struggle against Germany "means grim business on every side of it," but that America had put its heart into the task and would respond as a united nation to the call to service, says an Associated Press dispatch. Speaking at the dedication of a Red Cross memorial for the women of the War of Secession, the presi dent predicted that the present strug gle not only would obliterate the last division between the North and South but would wipe out "any lines either of race or association cutting athwart the great body of the na tion." "We look for no profit," said he. "We will accept no advantage out of this war. We go because we believe the very principles on which the American republic was founded arc now at stake and must be vindicated." Former President Taft introduced Mr. Wilson as "the nation's leader in the greatest war in history, a war whose sacrifices we can not realize." Secretary Baker formally presented the memorial building to the Red Cross society and the president's ad dress was made in accepting it as honorary head of the society. The building a handsome $800,000 structure built by the Government, was dedicated to the women of the North and South. Among other things President Wil son said: "I believe that the American peo ple perhaps hardly yet realize the sacrifices and sufferings that are be fore them. We thought the scale of our Civil War was unprecedented, but in comparison with the struggle into which we have now entered the Civil War seems almost insignificant in its proportions and in its expendi ture of treasure and of blood. And therefore it is a matter of the great est importance that we should at the outset see to it that the American Red Cross is equipped and prej ared for the things that lie before it. Of course the scale upon which it shall act will be greater than the scale of any other duty that it has ever at tempted to perform. "It is in recognition of that fact that the American Red Cros* has just added to its organization a small body of men whom it has chosen to call its war council. Their first duty will be to raise a great fund out of which to draw the re sources for the performance of their duty, and I do not believe that it will be necessary to appeal to the Ameri can people to respond to their call for funds because the heart of this country is in this war. "I say the heart of the country is in this war because it would not have gone into it if its heart had not been prepared for it. It would not have gone into it if it had not first believed that there was an opportu ntiy to express the character of the United States. "We have gone in with no special grievances of our own because we have always said that we were the friends and servants of mankind. We look for no profit. We look for no ad vantage. We will accept no advantage out of this war. We go because we believe that the very principles upon which the American republic was founded are at stake and must be vindicated. In such a contest, there fore, we shall not fail to respond to the call to service that comes through the instrumentality of this particu lar organization. "And I think it not inappropriate to say this: There will be many ex pressions of the spirit of sympathy and mercy and philanthropy and I think that it is very accessary that we should not disperse our activities in those lines too much; that we should keep constantly in view the desire to have the utmost concentra tion and efficiency of effort and 1 hope that most if not all of the phil anthropic activities of this war may be exercised, if not through the Red Cross, then through some already constituted and experienced organiza tion. This is no war for amateurs. This is no war for mere spontaneous im pulse. It means grim business on ev ery side of it." PRICES GO TO DIZZY HEIGHTS. July \\ heat Contracts Made a Net Rise of 22*4 to 25 >4 Cents at Chi cago Saturday. Traders Are Per plexed. In the Leading Grain Mar kets They Were Asking Each Other What Steps, If Any, Can Be Taken to Check Flight. Chicago, May 12. ? At the close of a day such as the Chicago Board of Trade never saw before, traders were asking one another what meas ures would be taken, if any, to check the sensational upward flight of wheat prices. And in other markets ? Minneapolis, Kansas City, St. Louis and lesser bourses ? the same query was being put. There wr.s no answer, save in the resolutions of such bodies as the Illinois council of defense, which urged Congress to take rigid control of the whole food and basic emmodity situation. May wheat was legislated out of existence by the board of directors as a "patriotic duty," and because its skyrocketing course might inspirt a runaway market. As a check for ad vances, the move failed signally. At the opening price for July and Sep tember options hesitated a few cents below the previous close, but in a short time began to boom. When the closing gong sounded at noon July had shown a net rise of 22% to 25 % cents, with final figures ranging from 2.73 to 2.75, and September an ever more startling jump of 26 to 29 cents, with last sales varying from 2.44 to 2.46. The course of the market was best visualized in the big smoking room of the board where quotations from the markets of the world, as well as those of the home market, are posted. There were those watching the blackboard who saw more in the fig ures than the cold record of the law of supply and demand. To them it told the story of a stricken world's demand for bread, the cry of despera tion from the ruined cities and the wasted farms of Europe, the plea of emaciated children, and the savage hunger of soldiers. In the massive trading room, with its octagonal pits, the brokers and their clerks were clamoring for wheat which was not for sale. Higher and still higher went their bids, but those with wheat were indisposed to sell it, and there were few who would take a chance, even at the top, of selling short, as it is termed when a trader sells something he has not for future delivery, hoping that the future will enable him to buy in at a lower price what he sold at the apex, before de livery day comes around. Prices con tinued their ascent until the shorts had "covered" and taken their losses, probably very heavy in many cases. SENATE WAR BAN ON LIQUOR. Upper House Adopts Amendment to Espionage Measure Making it Un lawful to Use Grain for Making Whiskey During Conflict. Washington, May 12.? The first legislative step toward conservation of the nation's food resources and a long advance toward an absolutely dry United States was taken tonight by the senate in approving 38 to 32 an amendment to the administration espionage bill forbidding during the war the use of cereals or grain in the manufacture of intoxicating liquors. By a majority of one vote the sen ate also threw out of the bill the ad ministration's press censorship sec tion and then voted overwhelmingly not to put in a modified section as was done in "the house. This action is ex pected to throw the censorship fight into conference where the influence of the administration can be brought to bear more directly. The prohibition amendment was adopted under a rule limiting debate sharply and there were only brief speeches on each side. Just previous ly the senate had voted down, 47 to 25, a proposal to forbid sale of in toxicants during the war. Effective September 1 the amend ment is calculated to confine sale and consumption to whiskey and other grain liquors already in stock and to wines, brandies or other drinks that depend on food materials for their main constituents. Wife ? John, that's the last time I'll go calling with you. Hubby ? What's the matter now? Wife- ? You asked Mrs. Smith how her husband was standing the heat, and he's been dead for two years. ? Ex. THE COLON EL TO GO TO FR ANCE House Finally Agrees to Senate Proposal That Roosevelt lie Permit ted, if Authorized by Administra tion, to Recruit Division and Go to War. Washington, May 12. ? The way was cleared in congress today for Col. Roosevelt if he is given authorization by the administration to raise a di vision of volunteers for service in France. Reversing its previous action and overriding the conference committee on the army draft bill, the house voted, 215 to 178, to empower the President to extend authority for re cruiting such a division. This sent the army bill back to conference, but the senate already had adopted a similar authorization during original consid eration of the measure and its con ferees are expected to agree quickly to it now. Whether the necessary authority will be given Col. Roosevelt by the ad ministration is problematical. The ar my general staff, whose advice Presi dent Wilson has followed closely in the conduct of the war, is strongly opposed to such a plan, declaring vol unteer units of that character have no place in the great war army. The house passed the authoriza tion after a stormy debate. Repre sentative Anthony led the fight for the colonel, moving to recommit the army bill to conference with instruc tions to accept the senate's Roose velt amendment. Chairman Dent of the military committee and many other Democrats and Republicans fought against the proposal. When the action of the house was reported to the senate Chairman Chamberlain of the military commit tee withdrew the conference report for revision and announced that the conferees would meet Monday. U N I V E RSITY COM M EN CEM ENT. Secretary of War and Secretary of the Navy to Deliver Aridres&es at Chapel Hill June 6th. Many Stu dents Go to Fort Oglethorpe. Chapel Ilill, N. C., May 14. ? Both Secretary of War Newton D. Baker and Secretary of the Navy Jesephus Daniels will speak at the commence ment of the University of North Car olina June 6, according to an an nouncement by President Edward K. Graham of the university. It is plan ned to make the occasion a great pa triotic celebration, and an expres sion of loyalty to the government. President Graham issued a statement as follows: "In response to urgent invitations extended to the secretary of war end to the secretary of the navy to visit North Carolina on the occasion of the commencement of the univer sity, we have the acceptance of each of these officials of the government, and assurances that they will be pres ent and speak in Memorial hall of the University June G, at 11 a. m. "Few men in the world have re sponsibilities at this moment so great as these two men. Their com ing to the State now is an event of unusual importance, and we trust that it may be made memorable by a great patriotic celebration, testi fying our confidence in fche adminis tration of our government and our complete and enthusiastic loyalty to t'.ie supreme cause in which our coun try is engaged. We therefore invite the people of this State and section to come to the University and join in a worthy tribute of welcome to Sec retary Baker and to Secretary Dan iels. Between 85 and 90 students of the University of North Carolina have been accepted for the training for officers offered at Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., and left the last of the week for camp instruction. This takes a large part of the senior class, four in structors, and many from the junior and lower classes. Several students have already joined caValry, avia tion, and other units of the army and navy, which brings the number up to 100 or more now in actual training. Over 200 have applied for training, according to college adjutant, Dr. J. B. Bullitt. The farmers have seen the point and are turning their attention to food crops. With good seasons, North Carolina will make more of something to eat this year than she ever made in ary year of her history. And this is the wisest thing that can be done. ? Charity and Children. TO INDICT FOOI) GAMBLERS. Govern ment Has Strong Cane Against Food Hogs in Chicago. Carloads of Fggs That Never Existed I'ass Through as Many as Fifteen Mid dlemen. Chicago, May 13. ? The Govtmment has begun its big drive against food speculators. Here in Chicago, the big objective in my tour of the big food markets for The Charlotte Observer, the big guns of the Department of Justice, under the direction of Spe cial District Attorney Robert W. Childs, have opened fire on the spec ulators and food extortioners before a grand jury specially impaneled by U. S. Judge K. M. Landis. The proceedings before the grand jury are secret, but I am able to state authoritatively that more than sixty subpoenas have been issued. In this case the Government is not con fining its attention to small dealers, but seeking indictments for criminal conspiracy in restraint of trade against millionaire packers, "wheat kings," and butter and egg magnates. In the alleged conspiracy is said to be some big bankers, and indictments are being sought against them. This is the most sweeping attack the Government has ever made on the powers that control the food markets of the country. It is said it is the strongest case ever brought and that the evidence, particularly as to tho conspiracy to boost the price of but ter and eggs, is conclusive. Special U. S. Attorney Chikfe is as sisted by H. A. Emerson t>f New York, who was largely responsible for smashing the New York "poultry trust" and sending thirteen Members of the trust to the penitentiary. It was in connection with this case that Barney Baff, principal witness against the trust, was murdeied. Tho same gunmen who shot Baff, it was shown in court, were also paid to "get" Emerson, and it was only by luck Emerson was not with Baff when he was shot dwwn in the heart of New York's busi3st district. Judgo Landis, in charge ?f the^. "food hog'- grand jury, is best known for his imposition of th? $29,000,000 fine on Standard Oil. When speculation in perishable foods was reaching its climax during the winter, Judge Landis issued an in junction forbidding all trading in but ter and eggs, except bona fide trans actions where the food was actually transferred and cash paid. Part of the evidence before the grand jury, it is understood, contains proof that these injunctions have been repeatedly violated. Carloads of eggs that never existed have passed through the hands of as many as fifteen deal ers, who faked their books, it is al leged, under orders from the group of speculators who were in the game to send "egg prices sky-high." If these facts are established it is certain Judge Landis will order the conspirators committed for contempt. ? Basil M. Manly, in Charlotte Ob server. THIRTY MILLION PEOPLE TURN TO PRODUCING FOOD Washington, May 13. ? Two months of campaigning for a million gardens in the United States are estimated to have turned the attention of more than 30,000,000 people to the task of producing food. "The people are not only endeav oring to produce food for themselves," said Charles Lathrop Pack, president of the Emergency Garden commission to-day, "but they are learning tho value of land as never before." Mr. Pack said hundreds of organi zations were co-operating with tho commission, including the General Federation of Woman's clubs, the Christian Endeavor societies, the Ro tary club of America, the Garden club of America, suffrage associa tions, bankers, insurance companies, educational institutions. FOOD REGULATION HEAD IN GERMANY WANTS TO RESIGN ? Amsterdam, May 13. ? Adolph von Batocki, president of the food regula tion board in Germany, has asked permission to resign, according to a Berlin telegram, owing to severe crit icism by members of the reichstag of his administration of the food supply. While permission to retir* has been temporarily withheld, the message adds, it is understood his rvsigii. lion will be shortly announced, constitut ing a severe setback for the conserva tive party leaders.