Lee County, Illinois - Chapter 17, 1920

With the signmg of the armistice on Novemljer 11, 1918 suspending hostilities between the armed forces of Germany and other Central European powers and those of the United States, France, Great Britian and their allies, this tremendous conflict which for four years has involved m.-iiiy and affected to a Ki'eatcr or less (lciv,-ce all of the nations of the world, is virtually ciiilcd. The period of the wai- closes ami tin- jieriod of re-adjustment and re-construction liegins. Perhaps never before in this country has there been such a union of all forces, such a l)lending of all classes, creeds and conditions of people working together for the accomplishment of a common ]3uri50se, as in the rallying of American citizenship foi- the defeat of Prussianism, and the pei'maiient estalilishment of democratic liberty- anil justice.

With the thought that efforts put forth in each connnuiiity and tlie names of the men, wom(>n and organizations contributing to the success of the war policies will be of interest to future generations and that a record thereof should be jireserved, it is the purpose of this article to set forth some of the activities undertaken by the Young ^Nlen's Christian Association of Dixon, Illinois, during the war period.

Soon after the outbreak of hostilities in 1914 and before the United States became involved, the International Committee of the Association with head(iuarters in New York was asked to undertake welfare work among the armies in the tielil and in hospitals and prison camps. Similiai- work had been successfully carried on by this organization in the Spanish-American War, the Russo-Japanese War, and during the mobilization of American forces on the Mexican border. Work was at once inaugurated in Russia with the British forces in Flanders and in Germany, and American Seiretaries placed in charge. Later the militaiy authorities of France and Italy apjiealed to America for men and funds to carry on similiai- work, as it was found effect i\-e and of great value in sustaining the morale of the men while away from their homes ami in aiiny camps. A national campaign for funds was inaugurated in the United States and camixiign managers appointed for each State. In Illinois, Lee County antl Ogle Count>' wei'e districted together, and the Dixon Association being the only oi-ganized unit in the two comities, was ask(>(l to be responsibh' foi- the campaign. The Directoi's of the Dixon Association at once met, accepted responsibility, sent icpicsentatives into the towns and villages of the two counties to enlist local co-opei'ation and in November inid, laised and for\vard(>d the account reciuested from this Disti-iet, about .Sl'iOO.OO.

After the declaration of war by the Uiiiled States, ami witli the expansion of military and naval forces, the gathering together (if uiillidiis nf nuii in i raining camps, and the immediate transportation of troops aliroad. the demands upon the Association for its work multiphe.l many fold. In the Atitimm cf 1<.)17, .lohn 1!. Mnit, Chaiiman cf the four months on the Western Front, issued a call for ?35,000,000 to provide for thi- needs of the Association War Work for the coming six months. The country was appalled at the magnitude of the sum. Men accustomed to raising money stated that it was impossJMe. Lee anil Ogle Cotmties together were given a quota of S35,000 and the I~)ixc)n Association was asked to organize a campaign and raise it. The Directors met imc Sunday morning at the Association Building, accepted the ([Uota and arraiigcil to cover the two counties in automobiles on the following Tuesilay and enlist l(jcal leaders. A week or so latei'. i-ejiresentatives of both f'onnties met at luncheon in Dixon, accepted th.e quota secured in nearly every T<iwnship, amounts appoitioned and a dehnhe week set tor the campaign, in Novemfier 1917. Alore than .?.36,000 was raised, a report from State Headquarters of subscriptions and collections under date April 3, 1918 being as follows: Lee County f20,053.26. Ogle County $16,03.o.ri7, total S;36,088.83. Subsequent collections were made and remitted, increasing this ;nnount, liut definite record is not now available. The Campaign throughout the whole country resulted in the raising of more than $53,000,- OOO.CO.

The success of Air. ,1. DerKinderen, Cieneral Secretary of the Dixon Association in effecting a county organization which made the atio\'e campaiiiii a sui-cess. k d to his appointment as Executive Head of the Membership < 'anipaign for the Lee ( 'ounix- ( 'hapter American Red Cross in January 1918. He accepted the aiipointment , jiroviding the Association released his time, which iT(|uest was readilv granted. At a Husiness Alens' Luncheon where the Red ( 'ross Alcndership Campaign was discussed, Air. Der Kinik'ren modestly stated that he believed 10,000 meml.iers should be secured in Lee Co\uil>-, which was more than three times the membership then existing. Certain Dixon men present replied that if he would jjut on a campaign and secure 10,000 members, they woulil present him with a suit of I'lothes, a hat and a pair <if shoes. The campaign was organized, launched and c( mpleted in nndwinter with snow and drifts making the roads impassabk', and weather conditions which maile puldic meetings out of the question, l)Ut more than 12,000 members were secured. Air. DerKinderen soon afterwards left for Europe to take up Association War Work, liut the suit of clothes, hat and shoes were not overlooked.

At al out tkis time the Lee County Finance Coinmitt.v was oi-ganized witli representatives m (ach Townsliip and \'illage, whicli Connmttee undertook the direction of all subsequent campaigns for war purposes. Man>- of the workers enlisted by the Association, accepted positions on the County Finance (ommittee and rendered splendid service in (vfry rndertaking throughout the entire jieiiod. A complete record of the work of tiiis Committee has l:een preserved and it is umiecessary to duplicate that record in this article. Sufhce it to say that the next campaign for funds for Association War Work was merged in the United W^ar Work Campaign in November 1918 wherein S170, 000,000 was raised to provide for the needs of the various organizations including the Y. AI. C. A. This is the largest sum ever known to have been raised by voluntary subscription for any philanthropic object. Lee County maintained its record and over-subscribed its quota.

The men officially conn(>cted with the management of the Dixon Young Mens' Christian Association and active in war undertakings during the foregoing period are as follows:

Allen W. Davis, Genei-al St'eretary Alay 191S to iiresent. DIRECTORS E. B. Raymond (President 1914 to May 1918) H. H. Hagen {\. President and President since May 1918) E. H. English Oliver :\I. Rogers Homer E. Senneff

The Dixon Association sent from its membership four Secretaries, three of whom saw oversea's service, and nearly 100 officers and enlisted men. Many public meetings were held with able speakers, thus contributing to the right formation of public sentiment.

With the close of the wai- and the return of the men to civil life, three montlis free membership with all the privileges of the building was at once extended to every returning soldier and sailor including young men in the Student Army Training Corps. A special Assistant Secretary and Phj^sical Director has been secured to study the particular needs of the young men returning to civil life and assist in finding suitable employment. It is the aim of all those connected with the Organization to serve to the utmost these splendid young men who have gone from this community, laying aside every personal ambition, and enduring privation, hardship, separation from home and friends, and in some cases, returning disabled and incapacitated for manual labor, in order that the ideals of our country for right and justice, might be established and maintained.