The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, October 11, 1917, Page 12

A Letter to a Farm Woman From Her Sister in the City =~ EAR Margaret: Yes, I at- tended the great conference of producers and consumers at St. Paul. The thing that I wished most, was that you and all the other farm women whose husbands were there could. have heard it all. Most of the women who attended the day meetings were con- sumers, like myself. The tone of the whole meeting was a healthy one for women. There was no patronizing or talking down to the “fair sex”. There was no mention of suffrage, except for one short suffrage speech. That one speech and all the other speeches took it for granted that women are peopie, that they -under- stand problems discussed without any separate explanation or reference to them; that the men present helieved in organization for women as well as for men, and that there was no need of mentioning a “woman’s problem". A woman member of congress talked on the copper mines without apology for entering man's sphere. We felt, in - short, that we were among friends who respected us so much that ther¢ was no need for mentioning their respect. Ordinarily 1 hate to listen to speech- es. But I sat through every session of this meeting for three days, from 10 a. m. to 11 p. m, and I could have stood more. I heard at least 15 differ- ent speakers tell how much profits the great corporations are making and they did it so cleverly that .we .never got tired, Everybody told a different stery, but put the same facts and figures into it; . SOME QUEER THINGS THAT WERE SAID You ‘will read a lot of queer ‘things about the conference. Oné¢ St. Paul paper, for example, criticized the con- ference for mnot applauding certain speakers more warmly. Among other things which were not appreciated, it quoted this, which I am sure you will enjoy: ! “Put the realization in your ' heart that the stress and strain we are go- ing through during the next three years will touch every one, millionaire and pauper. It may take longer to get some than others. But all will suffer to- gether.” Sttt I admit that I was not fired with en- thusiasm over these sentiments. The speaker was trying to soothe the farm- ers and consumers into contentment with their lot. He was trying to make them think that during the war they should stop working for better condi- tions—that they ought to be willing to suffer because as he asserted the rich would keep them company. But there are other sacrifices which the poor are making all the time, which the welfare of humanity demands that they should never make, but which war ‘demands that they shall make to a greater extent than before. The sud- den overwhelming tragedy of the death of a soldier son brings terrible grief; to rich or poor but the constant daily grief of the mother or the father who sees a beloved living child growing up without a chance, is even more bitter. - It is easier for a hardworking parent to see a child give his life for his country than to see him go through life without an education, without comforts, without the beautiful things which others en- joy from the fruits of his labor— sacrificed, not to save his country, but to let other people’s children live in luxury and idleness. If the example of European countries holds good in American, the war will have to continue for many years if it is to unite the rich and poor through suf- fering. It will have to continue until there are no rich—until all are poor! After three years of war, the poor in rermany—the women in the factories, the aged men and women, the children of the poor,—are suffering for food. The population is on rations—on limi- tations as to the amount of fats, of sugar, and of milk—but every report which describes the rationing system adds, “But these things can be obtain- ed, if you only have the money. The rich manage, by one method or another, to get all they want.” Now, if I lost my baby (as so many of those German mothers are said to ‘“‘Alice’’, who signs the letter on the woman’s page this week,is a progressive woman, alive to the problems of the farm, possessed of a quick perception and an insight into the feelings of mothers and their daughters. This letter is something new and superior for Leader readers. It is the first of a number that will be print- ed, although all may not be printed in succession, without a break. ““Alice’’ lives in a bustling city of Wisconsin and is writing to her imaginary sister on the farm about things that interest women. Here she writes of the great St. Paul producers’ and consumers’ conference which she attended and brings out a point that will be appreciated by every woman reader of the Leader. haye lost their babies) because I could not buy milk for it, should I sit calmly and wait for the “stress and strain to touch everyone”? Should I get com- fort from the fact that while “it may take longer to get some than others, all will suffer together”? ALSO SOME QUEER IDEAS ON ECONOMY On the day I heard that speech in St. Paul, I went for lunch to a well known tea room in a big department store in Minneapolis. It was filled with well dressed, prosperous women—wo- men with “diamonds and beautiful clothes, They were the kind of women who are touring the country in auto- mobiles selling Liberty bonds and dis- tributing literature on economy. ‘While we waited for our order to be filled we listened to some of the talk around us. One woman, very extrava- gantly dressed and jewelled, was say- ing to her companion, “I've just made the greatest discovery! You can buy eggs in the summer for 30 cents a dozen and put them down in water glass and keep them to use in the win- ter when eggs are selling for 50 or 60 cents. Isn't that fine? I'm going to try it”, meaning of course, that her maid would try it Then this beautiful lady, with her THEY“APPRECIATE THE LEADER Mr. and Mrs. Homer E. Smith of Dunseith, N. D., enjoy reading the Nonpartisan Leader, its virile discussions of economic and political affairs, its frequent arti- cles of special interest to women, its pictures and its cartoons. In the cartoons their son Lendal also finds vital truths made interesting and amusing. Government Asks Food Conservation The ILeader herewith prints the pledge card for the United States food administration, This is done in order to help the government in a campaign employing a huge organization and in- curring large expense, which the gov- - ernment believes will help conserve the food supplies. If it can help in this crisis the Leader is glad to give the benefit of its 120,000 circulation to this card. Heretofore many of the food ad- ministration and regular department of agriculture household suggestions have been printed in the Leader. More will follow as limited space will permit. Any persons interested may secure the home card of instructions by applying directly ‘to the food administration at ‘Washington. The form of the card is as follows: Pledge Card for United States Food Administration TO THE FOOD ADMINISTRATOR : I am glad to join you in the service of food conservation for our nation and I hereby accept membership in the United States Food Administration, pledging myself to carry out the directions and advice of the Food Administrator in my home, insofar as my circumstances permit. Name.....-...................................................-.....";,s..-..... D R R R e R e kS SRR~ (84 iyt s I A R S i N e S ORIl (D08 Sta.te..,...'x.“'..‘...._..'.,'.:'.';a....,‘.,r,j There are no fees or dues to be E:id. The Food Administration wishes to have as members all of those actually hand g food in the home, Anyone may have the Home Card of Instructi on, but only those are entitled to Membership Window Card, which will be delivered upon of signed pledge. You can fill this out, clip it and send it in as your pledga. . PAGE TWELVH 4 ideas of economizing on eggs, knowing as she did, that eggs were selling some- where for 30 cents a dozen, turned to the menu, and without hesitation or surprise, ' calmly ordered two poached eggs for 45 cents. Not a word against paying 40 cents for the work of poach- ing and serving two eggs for which the wife of some farmer had received five cents. Not a word against an orchese tra accompaniment, and all ‘the other useless: accessories to;a meal, which should be the first things abandoned in time of .war. W8 Her program of economy, like that of many other ignorant:and well mean= ing ladies, probably:.covered fully the economies that are to be made in the kitchens of the poor, but had not yet extended to the fashionable eating places of the rich. And this war will be different from all the other wars that have been fought, if, after many years of it there are mo rich, living im comfort, and eating .daily at places like Donaldson’s, while others are_in distress. ot ey ; HAIR RIBBONS WERE GREAT LUXURIES I remember your saying to me once that you never bought a. necessary new dress, or a hat, or even an ice-cream soda without feeling that you were taking it from some one else who needs it more. I confessed to you that I al- ways felt exactly the same way. We agreed that we had inherited that pain from an impoverished childhood when every new dress for us, and every little luxury in food meant that mother sacrificed something that she needed. We hated to ask for pencil and paper to use at school, for a hair ribbon; we hated to say that our rubbers were worn out, because every request would send mother to the poor little hoard of coins which she was trying to keep for the next sack of flour, for new hlank- ets, or for a cheap coat for herself. What difference does the price of sugar, the price of potatoes, the price of clothing, make to the woman who pays 45 cents for two eggs without protest? The woman to whom prices really mean something is the woman who has to deny her children butter on their bread. It is the woman who stands and watches her little ones trudge off to ‘school in thin undergarments and worn coats, with cold little legs and wet feet; the woman who can not give her baby the doll it cries for; the woman who dreams of a pleasant house where her children can entertain their friends, of pretty furniture, of books, of pictures and music. It is the woman who hopes that perhaps this year, or the next year, or the next after that, she may “ be able to save enough to buy a chair, or a rug, or a few dishes, but who is doomed to disappointment year after year as the prices go down for the things she has to sell, and up for the things she has to buy. No man who has experienced the reality of poverty would dream of standing before an audience and ade vising patience under grievances that are multiplying faster than ever be= fore; patience under disadvantages for which the war is being made the ex- cuse. 'Why should any individual stand back and wait in patience for years of war to level the rich to the same povere ty and suffering that he is enduring when he has the power to MAKE the rich NOW bear their fair share of the burdens and disadvantages? Is it strange that an audience of plain pro- ducers and consumers should receive such advise without applause? As usual, I have spent so much time working off my feelings that there is no time for news. There isn't evem time to tell about the other speakers, but you have read all about them ale ready. ‘With love, 7 . ALICE. LIKES LEADER RECIPES ! Ray, N. D. Editor Woman’s Page: In an issue of the Leader of August 80 there were mome recipes showing different ways of using carrots in pies and conserve. I carelessly lost the re- cipes and wonder if these recipes could be sent to me, ) NRS. J. H. O r