Patriotic Etiquette for WWI Rationing

“Don’t forget that every patriot in the nation has a personal obligation to aid in winning this war by reducing consumption of wheat to a minimum, until the next harvest. Wheat means victory.”

— Photo source Etiquipedia private family library  

Don’ts for the Patriotic Diner

While practically the entire commercial baking and public dining industries of California, including hotels, restaurants and clubs, have pledged strict conformity with the wheat saving rules and regulations of the United States food administration, and have perfected organizations among themselves to force observance by those who might refuse to do so voluntarily, their cooperation, to be 100 percent effective, depends largely on the attitude of the individual patron, Ralph P. Merritt, federal food commissioner for the state, announced today when he issued a list of “Don’ts” for the guidance of patriotic “diners out.” They follow in brief:

• “Don’t ask for food containing wheat flour or wheat products unless you are an invalid and must have it for your health’s sake. 
• “Don’t ask for more than two ounces of wheat bread and wheat products combined at any one meal under any circumstances. The restaurant is fordidden to serve more.
• Aid in observing the restrictions. “Don’t allow the waiter to serve you any foods containing wheat on the wheatless Mondays and Wednesdays, or at the daily evening wheatless meal. 
• “Don’t buy more bread from your baker than you absolutely must have. 
• “Don’t hesitate to report personally observed infractions of the rules to the food administration, or to your local food administrator. They will be investigated. 
• “Don’t forget that every patriot in the nation has a personal obligation to aid in winning this war by reducing consumption of wheat to a minimum, until the next harvest. Wheat means victory.” 
• The advice to the people to eat chicken and game is a good deal like the suggestion of Marie Antoinette that the people of Paris eat cake instead of bread. — San Pedro Pilot News, 1918

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