Spring Creek Township

Spring Creek Township

Owing to the fact that about 90 per cent of the women of Spring Creek Township were already engaged in Red Cross work, we were rather late in effecting an organization, and were unable to fill all the offices and departments. However, we were able to register 253 women, and our women worked faithfully in all the different drives that were made to win the war. The Child Welfare Committee weighed and measured a large number of babies. Through our Allied Relief chairman, our Woman's Club adopted one French orphan. Our Finance chairman, assisted by our Rural District chairmen, collected a considerable sum for the Armenian and Syrian Relief Fund.

The heads of departments were as follows: Finance, Mrs. George Blackwell; Food Production, Mrs. A. Wall; Conservation, Mrs. J. T. Franklin; Child Welfare, Mrs. L. A. Roberts; Allied Relief, Mrs. C. E. Swayne; War Savings, Mrs. J. D. Harpole. School district chairmen were: Mrs. J. M. Witty, Mrs. E. E. Allison, Mrs. T. J. Borrowman, Miss Verna Meyers, Mrs. Ivy Joslin, Mrs. Laura Sidwell, Mrs. S. A. Sheppard.

r writing a history of how the subscriptions for Pike County's share in the five loans to the Government for prosecuting the great World War were secured, it would first seem proper to take into consideration the financial condition of the county at the time of the first call. For three years previous to our engagement in the war unusually small crops raised, coupled with moderate prices for farm® products, reduced the deposits in the banks of the county to less than 60 per cent of the present amount, and there being no establishments in the county manufacturing and furnishing equipment for the armies, it was impossible for the agricultural communities to obtain quick returns for the money its people were sending out in such large quantities until after the armies were mobilized and in the training camps. The question of how to maintain the accustomed commercial relations within the county and yet part with such large sums of money as were called for was a serious one. No plan for securing the co-operation of the people in raising the money had been developed, so that those called upon to lead in the work could point to no well-tried plan. Consequently, when the Federal Reserve Bank of the 8th District at St. Louis, Mo., was beginning its efforts to raise the quota assigned to the district, it took into consideration the importance of protecting commerce, and therefore called for a meeting of the officers of all the Chambers of Commerce within the district for the purpose of devising a plan. When the meeting was held it resulted in a declaration upon the part of these men that the matter of raising money and protecting the commercial interests of the country properly belonged to the bankers, and that while the officers of the Chambers of Commerce were willing to send out calls to the bankers to meet with them for the purpose of devising plans, they should only be required to lend hearty co-operation with the bankers' plans when made.

It so happened that the Chamber of Commerce at Quincy furnished the call for 18 counties in Illinois and Missouri, sending out notices to all the bankers in those counties to send representatives to Quincy upon a certain day to attend the conference. The writer well remembers the fact that Mr. H. F. J. Ricker, the president of the Chamber of Commerce, announced to those present the purpose of the call, and stated that they were without plans, and placed the responsibility upon those present to formulate them. When he had asked that someone speak on the subject, and sat down, a great silence fell upon the audience and continued until he was obliged to name some one who should speak. When he named John Weber of Barry as appearing to be the oldest banker present, stating that we would hear from him, Mr. Weber turned the remark by saying he was much younger in the banking business than many others present, but that he brought with him from Pike this morning perhaps the oldest man in point of service, and believed that he might make helpful suggestions in the matter, and sat down. The gentleman from Pike was called upon and after expressing surprise that the people who had known the call was to be made and having had the matter under consideration before our assembling should call upon one who was unaware of the character of the meeting before reaching the place and listening to Mr. Ricker's remarks. But with a purpose of bearing his share of the responsibility and of provoking a discussion of plans, he stated concisely his views regarding the matter, and before sitting down he outlined the plan which was adopted by the meeting, and had the satisfaction some six weeks later, at the time of the meeting of Group Eight of the Ilhnois Bankers' Association, to hear the State officers of the association urge upon the bankers of the 12 counties represented in the meeting to pursue a like plan.

The plan provided for the Chamber of Commerce to name three bankers in each county, whose business it should be to call all of the bankers together, and secure from them, if possible, pledges that each banker would undertake to secure subscriptions for the bond allotment to his county in such amount or in such ratio to the whole allotment as his share of

The plan was received with favor by the bankers of Pike County, and by their skill in directing the matter an over-subscription was turned in upon each call, notwithstanding the increased capital required to raise larger yields of food as called for by the Government, and which were actually produced. A careful inquiry revealed the fact that neither the bond issue nor the farming interest suffered from lack of funds.

The writer, being a banker, does not desire to claim too much for those of his calling, but believes he is justified in feeling pride in the fact that the bankers throughout the county, acting under one plan and with one purpose, did so wisely counsel and direct the committees appointed that they avoided unfavorable criticism and charge of neglect, and secured instead for its citizens an honorable mention after the close of every loan.

I do not recall the allotment on the first issue of bonds, but do know that it was oversubscribed and that in advance of taking the subscriptions the banks pledged themselves to subscribe to the amount of $246,660 in bonds; and that the allotment in the second issue was $473,000 and subscriptions were secured to the amount of $507,450. The allotment in the third issue was $426,850 and subscriptions were secured to the amount of $745,300. The allotment in the fourth issue was $943,000 and the subscriptions were $1,069,200. The allotment in the fifth or "Victory" Loan was $733,150 and the subscriptions secured were $880,550.

Probably the man who did more work than any outside of those actually engaged in the banking business was Judge Paul F. Grote, who had the position of sales manager.

Probably the woman who showed herself the most helpful was Mrs. Caroline Kibby of Perry, who was chairman of the Women's Organization of the county, and who brought to the Liberty Loan Organization the names of women in every township in the county who could be relied upon to co-operate with the bankers in any capacity in which they might be called upon to serve. She not only was the means of providing a meeting place and securing an audience at a meeting in her own township, but showed herself an able and effective speaker when called to visit other points.

I feel greatly indebted to B. H. Swan, who was chairman of the publicity committee, and who did such effective work, and to the editors of all the papers in the county who co-operated with him so generously; to Harry English, chairman of the committee of distribution of supplies; to W. S. Binns, chairman of township organization, and to Judge Harry Higbee of the speakers' committee, all of whom rendered most helpful and efficient service. The work accomplished by the Liberty Loan Organization has proved to the people for all time to come that it is not worth while to say that things are impossible of accomplishment until they have been tried. The contrary has been clearly shown by the results obtained.

In closing I desire to say that the splendid co-operation of the bankers and of those engaged with me in making the undertaking a success, has greatly endeared them to me. And I shall always be grateful for the splendid spirit shown upon every occasion, and especially to the officers of the five banks in the county who said "I will join you in guaranteeing the balance of Pike County's share of the Fourth Liberty Loan" when the State officers were indicating that they were feeling discouraged because of the fact that so few were reporting their work completed, and it was nearing the date when the drive should close.

I sincerely hope that through the efforts of the World Peace League they will make unnecessary forever a repetition of such efforts; but should there ever come such a time for service to the country and its interests, I could wish those leading in the enterprise no better and their helpers was the War Savings Organization. irities was $472,000, and there was sold $642,000 enth place in the State in record of sales. The as regards the precinct workers Pike County quota of the War Savings Sect worth of the stamps. The county held sev Pike County Maximum War Savings Club (composed of persons who held $1,000 worth of the stamps) was also one of the largest in the State.

It took considerable time to educate the people of the county in this branch of war work, but when they understood, the money began to roll in and continued to do so until the end of the war. The public mass meetings held in each town and village in the county aided greatly in arousing the interest of the people, and the leaders apparently had the co-operation of everyone. 1e precinct chairmen. It will be seen that and those who were appointed to fill them. County Chairman, Lee Capps. Vice-Chairman, Joseph C. Shastid. Publicity Director, Bentley Caughlan.

Miss Helen Biddle

N June 23, 1917, A. L. Kiser, Dr. W. E. Shastid and N. R. Davis were appointed as members of the Local Exemption Board for Pike County, and on July 2 met at Pittsfield and organized, with A. L. Kiser, chair- * man, Dr. W. E. Shastid as physician, and N. R. Davis, clerk. The Board was in almost continuous session from the date of its organization until March 31, 1919, when it was formally mustered out.

During this period the Board was served by three very efficient stenographers: Miss Edith Colvin from Aug. 10 to Sept. 1, 1917; Miss Ora Irick from Sept. 1, 1917, to March 1, 1918, and Feb. 10 to March 31, 1919; Miss Helen Biddle from May 25, 1918, to Jan. 30, 1919. Public mention should also be made of the many women and girls of Pittsfield who served at different times when a rush of work made extra help necessary.

From the very beginning the Board was overwhelmed with work, the plan of procedure originally outlined to us being necessarily very crude, which caused us much unnecessary detail work. During the war we examined physically 1,800 men, classified 5,235, had calls for 599, inducted 661, and had accepted for service 631 men. The June 5th, 1917, registration totaled 2,039; the June and August, 1918, registrations 228, and the Sept. 12, 1918, registration 2,968. Of this number 10 were colored, three of which were inducted into service and three enlisted before the time for their call to service.

Perhaps not the least interesting information, from the public viewpoint, that the compilation of statistics concerning the work of The total amount appropriated by Congress for

914.24 was expended. Upon the basis of these expenditures as per the report of Provost Marshal Crowder, it appears that the per capita cost per registrant for the whole country was $1.26; for registrant classified, $1.74; for man inducted, $10.83; for man accepted at camp, $11.34; as compared with Pike County's average of $7.07 per man accepted at camp. When the cost per accepted man for the entire county is compared with the cost per man secured by voluntary enlistment (in the Army $28.95, and in the Navy $30.23), it is apparent that from a standpoint of economy nothing was lost by the Selective System.

There were many things during our work which made deep and lasting impressions upon our minds. Among some of the hardest things we were called upon to do was to turn a deaf ear to the pleadings of a mother for an only son. Another phase of the work with which we had to contend in the latter part of the war was the persistent efforts of some to drive this or that boy into service regardless of the merits of his claim for exemption because his or her boy had been compelled to go.

In behalf of the Local Board I want to avail myself of this opportunity to publicly thank the patriotic people of Pike County who so loyally stood by us during the dark days in the beginning of our work, and to the majority of registrants whose confidence in us was shown by the respect always accorded us, their willingness to go when needed, and the very few cases of malingering out of Also to Edwin Johnson, Government Appeal Agent, who so beginning of the war by Mr. Ben H. Brunswick for the purpose of putting patriotism and pep into celebrations and campaigns for the Libertv Loans. Red Cross and other war work activities.

This organization was backed by some of the best people in the United States, including Frank Vanderlip of New York, Henry T. Rainey of Carrollton, Ill, E. E. Crabtree of Jacksonville, Ill, Fred Sterling of Rockford, Ill, Judge Harry Higbee of Pittsfield, and many others who wanted to show their appreciation for what these girls were doing. In rain or shine, it made no difference to them, they were always ready and willing to go anywhere to help whatever was being done to aid the cause of Uncle Sam in the World War. The fame of the organization traveled far and wide and their services were in demand at celebrations in many towns and cities both in Hlinois and out of the State.

General Pershing's letter to the Corps, congratulating them on such good work and organization is something of which they are very proud, and they will all be thankful for being members of an order which aided Uncle Sam in "beating the Hun."

13, 1918 until November 18, 1918. Was Hut Secretary with : the 104th Engineers, 29th Division, from November 24, 1918 E until that regiment returned to the States. Sailed with the

Motor Transport Section, Y. M. C. A. Son of Hiram and Jane Weaver, of Pittsfield. Born at Newburg, Pike County, Ill., July 19, 1884. Enlisted in the Y. M. C. A. service at Chicago, in May, 1918. Went overseas June 18, 1918. Served with the 29th Division and was with this division in the Meuse- Argonne Offensive. Returned to New York and was released from service January 28, 1919,

Son of Frank L. and Mary (Elliott) Shriver, of Pittsfield. Born at Pittsfield, August 27, 1879. Entered Y. M. C. A. service, in May, 1918. Arrived in England, July 10 and in Fraiice, July 16, 1918. Served with 29th Division until it returned to States. Spent two months in Paris as Auditor of Secretaries' Expense Accounts. Returned to United States, June 22, 1919.

With The Colors

and Mrs. Wm. Borthwick, of Honolulu, Hawaii. Born at Barry, July 30, 1899. Enlisted in Co. E, 53rd Telegraph Battalion, 1918. Transferred to Q. M. Corps, Finance Div., ter's Office, Nov. 5, 1918; to Co. D, 2nd Hawaiian Inf., Jan. Discharged Feb. 2,

Son of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. of Barry. Was attached to Base Hospital No. 18. Born at Barry, Nov. Enlisted July 21, Trained at Wash. Sept. 6, 1918. Discharged at Camp Lewis in June, 1919.