York County, Nebraska - Chapter 18: The Medical Profession, 1921 (part 2 of 2)

The York Blank Book Co., one of the big employing institutions of the city, had a handsome float in line, and it was in keeping with the big institution it represented.

York College is always up and coming when anything civic is pulled off, so it put a beautiful float in line and deserved all the compliments that were showered thereon.

The York Floral Co., Wilken's cleaning works, the Jerome Drug Co., and A. C. Snyder were also well represented. The Van AVickle Crain Co. also had a float in line.

As no prizes were offered for the handsomest or most original floats there were no judges and no decisions. But the Democrat opines that especial mention should be made of the floats representing Middlebrooks, the Cobb Co., the Read Dry Goods Co., Rademacher's, McMullen, German-American Bank, the Johnson Art Store display. But each one in line was a good one, and every one reflected credit upon the designer and upon the enterprise of the firm represented.

The Darktown Fire Department, the Sight Seeing Car, and the athletic stunts of the Y. M. C. A. boys added a lot of zip to a parade that was all to the merry.

The first big event of the day after the parade was the ball game at East Hill Park between a picked team from Company M and the Lushton ball tossers. Thirtyfive hundred people saw the game and most of them "pulled"' for the soldiers. But Lushton was too strong and won the short game by a score of nine to two.

At 4 o'clock the dead game sjiorts and sportesses to the number of nearly a thousand gathered at Athletic Park to see a boxing match and a wrestling match. The boxing match was between George Brewer of York and "Battling" Coffey of Kansas City. Brewer's complexion would make a piece of charcoal look gray, and Coffey's complexion was about as yellow as the streak he displayed in the ring. It was to he a four-round go, but something happened. As a boxing match it was about as full of thrills as near beer is full of "kick." Coffey had about as much "punch" as grape juice, and Brew'er used his feet and legs a great deal more than he did his arms and mitts. Coffey was outclassed by a wide margin, and in the middle of the third round he was counted out on a blow to the chin that might possibly have torn a hole in a tissue paper hoop. Jim Fleming officiated as referee to the satisfaction of everybody.

The wrestling nuitch between Pesek of Shelt(m and Reif of Kansas was a whirlwind. It didn't last long, but it had the spectators up on their toes all the time. There wasn't any of the usual "stalling" in this match. The contestants were out to win, and win in the shortest possible time. They went at it hammer and tongs the minute Referee Cy Sherman of Lincoln gave the word to go. Pesek won two straight falls, the first in 5:20 with a toehold and the second in 9:15 with a head scissors and wristlock. Dennis Meehan, who knows the record of every wrestler and boxer from the clays of the set-to between Cain and Abel down to day before yesterday, made the announcements, and the bands played merrily in between.

A few less than a million people foregathered in Ellis' pasture at 9 o'clock in the evening to see the fireworks display. All the autos in the world, it seemed like, were parked around the eiglity-acre tract. The display was all that it was advertised to be, and therefore fully up to the expectations of a multitude that expected a whole lot. There was not a single "bobble" in the whole business. A couple of tableaux were staged during the display, and while the band played "America" and "The Star-Spangled Banner" the multitude arose and cheered.

And that finished the program of the day. But the people seemed loath to leave the city, and until midnight the firecrackers kept popping, the people kept buying pop and ice cream and "hot dogs," and the heavens were alight with skyrockets and roman candles.

The celebration was staged under the auspices of the York County Commercial Club, with Frank Borden as the chairman of the committee. And right here and now the Democrat doffs its chapeau to Colonel Borden and hails him as the best Fourth of July go-getter between the two oceans. And to each and every one of his aides the chapeau is doffed likewise.

The Red Cross workers let no man escape. They started in with the rising sun and remained on the job until the streets were deserted. Red Cross buttons were as common as sandfleas in California before the day was done.

Col. Charley McCloud took a couple of the Red Cross women in tow about 2 :30 in the afternoon and corralled every man who went by. He made sixty of them drop a dollar in the box inside of thirty minutes, and had more fun than a box of monkeys while doing it.

A lot of people who were wise had a lot of fun watching people trying to slake their thirst at the sanitary fountain on the Felton corner. Despite the complaint made in the Democrat this fountain was not repaired and those who tried to get a drink there received an involuntary shower bath.

For refusing to countenance a street carnival on the big day the Commercial Club has the thanks of all good citizens. The addition of one of those immoral carnivals would have detracted from the real enjoyment of the day.

Speaking of sinecures, the special policemen had 'era all day. All they had to do was walk around and see the sights just like the rest of us. There was not a single arrest during the day, not even for speeding.

Mayor Tom Smith was the proudest man in forty-eight states on the Glorious Fourth. And why not ? Isn't he mayor of the best little city in the country ? And didn't his city pull off the biggest celebration in the West?

"Cy" Sherman, sports editor of the Liiieola Daily Star, wiio refereed the wrestling niatcli, is one of York's most enthusiastic boosters. "Y'ou've got the best little city of its size I ever visited," said Colonel Sherman. "It's got cities of five times its jjopulation backed off the map for energy and civic pride. It is always a pleasure to me to come here, for I not only meet a lot of good fellows but I know that 1 am in a city that does things worth while."

The crowds were too busy to pause long enough to even listen to such spellbinders as Judge Wray, Postmaster Gilbert, Senator Sandal 1, and other orators who were thus forced to keep bottled up the thrilling and soul-stirring speeches they had prepared to deliver in aid of the Red Cross. But the buttons sold just as well, anyhow - perhaps better.

The street commissioner deserves praise for the good work of his department in getting the streets cleaned up after the celebration was over. By noon the next day the streets were in as good shape as they were the day before. And it took a lot of work to accomplish this result.

The fire whistle blew just as the crowd was leaving the fireworks display. The department made a record run. Init did not have to do any work. But the run afforded a lot of entertainment for the people.

Without exception the local dealers in fireworks observed the ordinance against selling the deadly dynamite crackers, and as a result no fingers were blown off during the day. And at that there was noise aplenty.

Waco sent up a big delegation of Red Cross girls, every one of them as handsome as could he and all of them enthusiastic workers in the cause.

One of the most pleasing features of York's successful celeliration of Independence day was the music rendered by the band from the neighboring little city of Benedict. It is only now and then that a town of the size of Benedict comes to the front with a band of that size and ability, and when such happens it is an evidence of civic enterprise, commmnty spirit and musical atmosphere. The Benedict Band of twenty-one pieces, under the direction of George McCall of this city, rendered splendid music in Y'ork on July 4th, and contributed immensely to the enjoyment of the day.

Mr. McCall took the Benedict band in charge aliout a year ago, when it seemed as if that organization was about to disband for lack of leadership. He interested the young men, interested the people, and as a result Benedict can now point with pride to a concert band that would reflect credit upon a city many times larger than Y'ork's enterprising little neighbor on the north. Y'ork people will look forward with pleasure to another entertainment by this capal)lc organization.

The First Drawing

After York Count^-'s sons regi,stered on June 5th, the next step in the selection of those who should be called into actual military service was undertaken by assigning to each registrant a number, proceeding serially from one upwards, tlie series being separate and independent for each local board area in the country. Thus each registrant in York County could be identified by citing his York County local board number and his York County serial number. The local board, by which name the Selective Service Board for the county has been commonly designated, proceeded to number the cards with red ink numbers, consecutively, without regard to alphabetical arrangement. Five lists were then prepared, one retained for the records of the local board, one copy posted in a conspicuous place in the courthouse, one copy given out for publication by the press, and the two remaining copies furnished to the state authorities at Lincoln and the office of the provost marshal general at Washington.

In order then to designate with tiie utmost impartiality the sequence in which the registrants qualified for military service should be called as needed, a single national drawing was held on J\ily 20. 1917, for those who had registered on June 5tli.

While it was held' in Washington, D. C.. this national drawing was a notable event in the history of the lives of so nuuiy York County citizens, that it becomes an incident in the history of York County.

Eoom No. 226, the ]>ublic hearing room of the United States Senate Office Building, was the scene of the first drawing, ten thousand five hundred numbers were drawn, the first capsule being taken from the glass bowl at 9 :30 A. M., Friday, July 20, and the last at 2:16 A. M., Saturday. July 21, 1917: elapsed time, 16 hours -46 minutes, during which time the nundiers were telegraplu'<l and bulletined all over the country.

Early Em.Istmrxts

During the early summer of 1917 numerous York County boys and men began to leave their respective stations for posts of duty and enlist even before the call of the selective service reached thorn.

Aniiing the very early recruits in this spirit were : Ora Devore, son of Mrs. J. H. Devore, who left for the navy, and Frank Peck, another York County boy, who went through the hospital corps, returning in May. J. H. Wilson, for a long time the superintendent of Odd Fellows' Home in York, resigned his position, left for Fort Snelling for the first officers' training camp. Howard Bell was also another York County son to leave for this same camp. Chick Hannis went to the Xavy earlj' in June. Harold Requartte, son of H. F. Rcquartte, enlisted in the hi)s|)ital corps in July.

L.Vte Sltmjier And Early Fall Of 1917

York County's first gold star came with the death of Sergeant Leo of ('ompany M, Fourth Nebraska Infantry, in camp at Grand Island, in July. It was reported first that Sergeant Leo had died of ])tomaine poisoning, and that other members of the company were dangerously ill. Immediately strange and alarming rumors were set afloat. Investigation by the military authorities, however, revealed that Sergeant Leo had died of a cerebral hemorrhage and that there were no traces whatever of poison. No other mend)ers of the company were sick.

Sergeant Leo enlisted in Company M from Merna, Nebraska, and was well liked by his comrades because of his soldierly qualities and his unfailing good humor. The remains were taken to Merna for interment.

A mighty fine bunch of young men left York early in August bound for Fort Crook to join Company M, Fourth Nebraska. These young men found their numbers well towards the top in tlie draft drawing, and just to show that they had neither fear nor hard feelings, they beat the draft board to it by enlisting. Following are the names of these loyal young recruits: Leonard W^. Herrold, Benedict; Andrew J. Eberle, York; Cecil G. Thorpe, Waco; Edwin L. Humphrey, Bradshaw; Victor F. Pickrel, Bradshaw: William J. Bergen, MeCool; Adolph Kreshel, Tobias; Allen E. Fay, Bradshaw; George W. nickerson, Bradshaw; Blaine Grover, McCool; William R. Courtwright, York; Leo V. Jacks, York; James A. Blackman, Gresham; Frank A. Sdiall, Waco; Henry I. Brown, Vermont, III., and Virgil L. Shadel, York.

Some idea of the magnitude of the task thrown upon the shoulders of each county's selective service board, which consisted of the sheriff, the county clerk and one chosen member of the county's medical profession, is gained by the following account published in August, 191 7, of the progress of the physical examinations made in York County to supply the first call made upon the county.

examination under tlie draft for the purpose of securing 129 soldiers from York County began at the courthouse last Monday morning. Under the direction of Doctor McKinley, assisted by Doctor King, an average of about fifty men a day have been physically examined. The board proper consists of Sheriff Miller, County Clerk Beck, and Doctor McKinley. Nearly fifty per cent of those examined are disqualified for physical reasons, and the claims of exemption are running well above that figure. Some of the dependency claims are far fetched, and tlie closest examination will be given all claims.

"It is now quite certain that the second call for 24.3 men will bo pretty well exhau!;ted before the required 129 men are secured. All claims for exemption on occupational grounds will have to be submitted to the district board, and appeal lies from exemption allowances. If appeal on dependency grounds is denied, then the man so denied has the right of appeal to the district board. Also, if anyone believes that an exemption has been wrongfully allowed, the one so aggrieved may appeal. It is a common expression that the County Council of Defense should be represented when exemptions are allowed on claims of dej^endency and see to it that all sucli claims are well founded."

The York County Woman's Connnittee of the National Council of Defense was organized in August, 1917, and did valiant service in the different lines suggested by the names of the following committees, which are given here with the names of the ladies who acted as chairmen in the City of York :

The registration under this jilan liad been taken by the women before the end of September, showing tlie following by townships: Stewart, 114; Thayer, 46; Morton, 111; Arborville, 3.5; Bradshaw, 70; Lockridge, 23; New York, 47; Waco, 99; Beaver, 14; Leroy, 13; Baker, 55; Brown, 5; Henderson (A), 36; Henderson (B), 12; Hays, 54; McFadden, 67; West Blue, 68 - total. 859; York, First Ward, 200; York, Second Ward, 136; York, Third Ward, 96; York. Fourth Ward, 158 - total, 590; sum total. 1,449.

The Coxtixgent Started

Six men were York County's first contribution under the .selective conscription act. The county board selected the following: Carl W. Helms, Ral|ih I. Hoatson, Andrew Kline, Dan Berger, James S. Barbee, Benne F. Barbee. This was five per cent of York's quota. These six young men left York at 1 :54 P. M., Thursday, September 6th.

York's second draft contingent started off to training camp Saturday morning, September 14th. Fifty-two stalwart young men, good samples of the Nebraska spirit, answered "Here" when the roll was called, and fifty-two earnest young men waved their hands and cheered in respon.se to the cheers of relatives and friends as the long train moved away from the depot. Those called for this contingent were: Archie Gray, Henry 0. Schneider, John Krous, Fred Paul MeCaty, George Earl Gaskill. William James Stewart, Louis Augustus Schlechte, Ray Elsie Anderson, Floyd L. Hudson, Alkana Ben Cantrell, Harry G. White, August Bro\\'n, Fred Rus-

Liberty Boxd Drives

The first Liberty Bond Drive was met in Y^'ork County, as in practically every other county, by the banks taking virtually the entire subscription, and in some cases parceling part of it out td their larger custouici-s wlm wished to help. By the time the second drive came plans were made to allow the entire community to take part. In October explanatory plans in this matter were launched when ex-Senator Burkett made a rousing patriotic speech at the courthouse as a preliminary to the general hustle, and he put the "pep" into tliem in fine shape. The bankers held a meeting the evening preceding and arrangcil for their share of the big drive. The next Sunday had been designated as -a (biy nl' prayer by Pi-esidi'ut Wilson, and the Christian men and women of the iiatinii |irayed for the success of our soldiers and. sailors who were fighting the big battle for the preservation of democracy. The churches of York observed the day with appropriate exercises. Y^ork County's quota in the second Liberty Loan was $519,000, and the banks iiiuiiediately took $300,000 of this at their own risk in disposing of that part they could not very well handle themselves.

Late in October as an auxiliary effort to the work of the County Council of Defense, local bureaus were established to assist the farmers in securing corn hnskers in the uniform rates that had been established by the local and state councils of defense. This work in the various communities was in charge of the following men: York, George W. Shreck; Henderson, L. R. Misner; Waco, S. A. May; McCool Junction, J. E. Finney.

In November Floyd Hudson, another of the soldier boys from Y'ork County, died at Camp Funston, pneumonia being the- cause of death. His wife and father were with him at the last. His mother expected him home on sick leave and hurried from church Sunday morning to get ready for him. Instead of seeing her boy she was met by a telegram announcing his death.

Young Hudson, although married, claimed no exemptions, and when Uncle Sam called him he answered with a cheerful "Here." Quietly and patriotically he performed his duty to his country. It was not given to him to sail to "somewhere in France" and engage his country's enemies face to face. For him there was no glory and dash of the battle line, no shouting and tumult as the charge swept on.

But Floyd Hudson, soldier of the Republic, doing his duty where his lot was cast, is -entitled to the thanks of the country he served, and dying in the ranks the honors of the soldier dead are his.

The following poetical tribute to the first three American lads to make the supreme sacrifice on foreign soil, penned by a man then a citizen of York County, is inserted at this point as being worthy of preservation.

Enright, Gresham And Hat

Arthur Wolf, a resident of Ericson and formerly a student at York College, died at Camp Funston late in November. Monday morning, November 26th, memorial services for tlie young soldier were held at tlie college chapel. The students of the business college attended in a body. The services were solemn and impressive. Young Wolf went to Camp Funston as a member of the Wheeler County contingent. The services held in his memory were a fitting tribute to his loyalty and his patriotism and were befitting to the young soldier of the J!e])uhlic who died in the line of duty.

William Sullivan, a "^'ork county soldier boy assigned to Camp Cody, died at the camp hospital on J)e(end)er 17. The body was sent home and buried with appropriate ceremonies in the cemetery at E.xeter.

William Sullivan enlisted from York County and at the time of his death was a member of Company G, 134th Infantry. Captain Henlon says he was a good soldier, well liked by his comrades and always ready for duty.

Sunday morning, January 6th, the Congregational Cliurch organization hung out a service flag with thirteen stars, showing that thirteen young men of that congregation had joined the colors. The names of the thirteen young men were read as follows : Martin Ettel, Cloyde McKinley, Ernest Ettel, Wendell Froid, Edward Gould, Ora Devore, Arthur Bell, Allen Lamb, Charles Hannis, Harold Hade, Adolph Smalia. Floyd Richard, and Floyd Thompson.

The Questioxxaires

Following the drawing on July :iOth, the local selective board had proceeded during the summer and fall months to call in groups of registrants as their numbers were reached, give them a physical examination, and receive and determine upon their claims for exemption upon the various grounds designated. That method of calling all men as their numbers were reached and discharging or accepting rested upon the general assumption that a specific number of men were known to be needed for military service at a given time, and, therefore, enough registrants should be called by the county board in the sequence of their order numbers and selected according to the laws and regulations, until a nund)er of qualified men has been obtained equal to the board's current quota, and the remainder discharged or exempted.

That was necessarily adopted for the early stage of the war, and proved efl^ective for the purpose whether in all instances absolutely fair to all concerned or not. But experience was showing that it was wasteful, and would grow more ineffective as the quotas grew larger and speed became more necessary in meeting the quotas. So, late in the year of 1917 a new method was worked out by the authorities of the War Department. This became effective on December 15, 1917, at which time the first call for 687,000 men had been more than filled by local hoards niid a lull in the work presented the opportunity for changing the plan.

The essential change was this: First, that the physical examination followed, instead of preceding, the determination of the claim for discharge or exemption; second, the registrant was required to fill out a document that will always occupy a historical place in American life hereafter - the questionnaire.

The questionnaire was a document of some twenty pages, which included lists of questions that all registrants must fill out; others that needed only be answered when applicable to the particular case and essential to constitute the proof for filing a claim for discharge or exemption; and the whole document covered every

The attorneys of York met witli the le.ual advisory hoard in Deceinhfr and ai ran,i;enients were made for liandling the work ineideiit to the making out of the (luestioniiaires which were then being maih'd to the registered men at regular intervals. The legal advisory hoard consisted of .luilge Corcoran, Judge Spurlock, and Senator Sandall. 'Jdiere were twelve Uivvyers, hesides these gentlemen, and two attorneys who sat with a niendier of the hoard each ihiy to attend to the husiness as it was required.

Kach registrant was reijuired to make out his own statement unless he was unable to write. But the two assistants did what was permissible in giving advice and assistance subject to the rules as inter])reted by the member of the legal advisory hoard and the provost marshal. They met in the juryrooni or the District Court room at the courthouse regularly each day at il o'clock until the close of the specified time.

The assignments for the fir.st six days were as follows: Monday, December ITtli, Judge Corcoran, W. L. Kirkpatrick and O. S. (iilniore: Tuesday, December 18th. George M. Spurlock, H. G. Hopkins, and W". \V. Wyckoff: Wednesday, December l!)th, C. E. Sandall, E. A. Gilbert, J. W. I'urinton ; Thursday, December ^Oth, Judge Corcoran, J. E. Carlin, W. France; Friday, December 21st, George M. Spurlock, F. C. Power, Arthur W. Wray. Saturday, Decendter 22d, C. E. Sandall, Charles F. Stroman, and M. M. Wildman.

The winter of liMT-lS witnessed drive after drive. Fir.st came the annual Christmas season. Bed Cross Boll Call, which met a very liberal response. This was followed in January and February by the War Savings Stamp campaign, shortly after that came the relief drive for the Armenian funds. At a meeting held in York, attended by a Mr. Azim, the following relief committee was appointed to raise funds to send to the starving Armenians: C. A. McCloud, A. li. Mead, J. I. Moore, James B. Harvey, Professor Bissett, Judge Corcoran, Dennis Meehan, George Shrcck. Senator Sandall, F. A. Hannis, Mesdames E. S. Clark, Will Kirk|«itrick, Burnard, Bobert Cojjsey, Overstreet, Behling. An advisory committee consisting of all the clergy in the county was also appointed.

The Home Guards

During the first months of 1918 a company of Home Guards was organized in Y^ork. This organization drilled regularly and prepared itself for service in emergencies. While such companies were never called away from home, an examination of their roster discloses the names of many men of middle age, succe.ssful in their respective lines, civilian life and ofttimes beyond the years of military service. The roster as recruited by the middle of March was as follows:

Third Liberty Loan

The third Liberty Loan was inaugurated all over the United States on April 6th. A patriotic parade in York that day to celebrate the company's first anniversary of entrance to the war was taken as an opportunity to arouse interest in this drive. With a quota of $509,400 for this drive by May 10th, York County had "gone over the top," the subscriptions being $648,900 as announced by the county chairman, J. E. Hart.

Fourth Registratiox

The fourth registration was held on September 12, 1918, when the citizens of Y^ork County between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one, thirty-one and forty-five, stepped up and filled out the registration cards.

The following named persons volunteered to serve as registrars and copyists for the registration at polling places in each township and ward in York County September 12, 1918:

A Real Record

Mr. and Mrs. Davis Thomas of York, Neb., prominent retired farmers, apparently held the state honors for the largest number of sons in Uncle Sam's service, according to the records compiled by Governor Keith Neville.

Six sons of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas responded to their country's call and were serving on the battlefields in Europe or training in American camps. Several other Nebraska families have reported five sons in the service, but none offer six, so far as the compiler of this work lias learned.

Two of the Thomas boys accompanied the Fourth Nebraska Regiment south to Camp Cody and served in the 127th Field Artillery under Col. P. L. Hall, Jr., Lincoln. The Fourth was one of the first regiments called into service.

The Thomas boys and the places where they were serving in September, 1918, were: Sergeant Fred D. Thomas, 127th Field Artillery, Camp Cody; Corporal Edward S. Thomas, Headquarters Company, Forty-second Lifantry, Dover, N. J.; Corporal Forest Thomas, Battery E. 127th Field Artillery, Camp Cody; Gordan C. Thomas, 103d Engineers, Infantry, Fort Benjamin, Indianapolis; George Homer Thomas, wagoner, medical department. Sixty-first Infantry, A. E. F. ; Warren S. Thomas, called in July quota of draft from Nebraska.

Fourth Liberty Loan

The quota of York County for the fourth Liberty Loan was fixed at $729,900, and Monday, October 7, 1918, was .set as the day upon which the campaign would open. There was not an extensive canvass made for this loan, but the people were asked to come and to get their respective committees at their usual voting places on that day and make such subscriptions as they could.

Spring And Summer Of 1918

On Saturday, April 6th, a great parade was held to celebrate the first anniversary of York County's entrance upon the great war. The day's program was as follows :

The parade at 11 o'clock A. M. ; Benedict Band; Goddess of Liberty; Uncle Sam; Abe Lincoln; Council of Defense; Liberty Loan Committee; City Council;

County Officials: Grand Army of the Eepublie; -Woman's Relief Corps; all Red Cross units of the county; Home Guards; the S])irit of '7(5; Boy Scouts; Lushton Band; Junior (larden Unit; all school children of the couiitv; 1 :30 o'clock P. M., patriotic concert; 2 o'clock P. M., speaking by Mr. F. S. Howell, Omaha.

When on March 32, 1!:)18, meetings were held simultaneously in every schoolhovxse in the State of Nebraska for the War Saving Staniji work. York Countv went "over the top" in that same day. Although lier quota was ^SDd.OOO, .something in the neighborhood of five hundred thousand dollars was subscril)ed that day.

In May, 1918, the labor bureau connected with the Commercial Cliili widened its scope of usefulness by making arrangements to operate the free einiiloymcnt agency in every town in the county in conjunction with the Y'^ork office, aud to cany on this e.\tensiou work representatives and assistants were chosen as follows:

These gentlemen Joined with President Shreck and Secretary Woodrum in the work of supplying hel]i"of all kinds to all who needed and in finding places for men in search of work.

The York high school, toward the end of the war, took great pride in its service flag of forty-nine members and the Alumni Association of the Y^ork high school who went into the service of their country. These stars represented the following alumni ;

Armistice Day

'J'he liapi)icst day Y'ork County ever knew, or perhaps within the experience of anyone now li\ing may ever know, was November 11, 1918. when the bells, whistles.

guns and every other noise-making appliance man, boy or mob could find awakened everyone from their slumbers in the early hours of the morning to announce that the Arnustice had been signed, and tlie actual fighting of the terrible World war was over.

During October numerous preparations had been made to send a very heavy contingent to camps, but the Spanish influenza epidemic was already raging through the country. From the camps where it had been spreading its dire and dreadful fatalities, it rapidly encroached ujion the civilian population.

'J'he united war work drive of the seven great agencies of relief and cheer was in its midst, and was helped considerably by the enthusiasm of Armistice day. That day every line of business, school and all endeavor was abandoned to one wild, riotous, unprecedented carnival of joy and celebration.

After-Effects Of The War

For two years after the Armistice concluded the active actual fighting across the waters, certain effects of the World war were visibly evident upon the life of the community. The era of high prices, loose money, and the speculative spending orgy continued until in October, 1920, a decided, sudden slump occurred. The depleted condition of the European nations, the destruction of their credit and their inability to purchase food supplies available in America brought about a very sudden tumble in market prices. This fact, coupled with the achievement of this portion of the country in raising in 1930 a crop absolutely unparalleled in pro|)ortions, created a rather decided stringency in the winter of 1020. Corn that had been selling less than a year before around .^l.oO to $1.6.-) and which had been planted in the spring of 1920 at seed, labor and land costs anticipating its eventual sale at around a dollar a bushel at least, fell to around fifty cents, with the market so stagnant that it could hardly be sold at that. Wlieat, raised in anticipation of two dollars, went far below a dollar and a half.

Along with this situation came another drive to help the starving people of Europe, so as to keep those nations in some shape to rehabilitate themselves, and eventually to repay at least some of the ten billions of dollars loaned to them during the war by the United States.

In December, 1920, York County again marshalled her faithful forces and undertook this rather late, post-war drive. The movement to finance this giant benevolent and charitable enterprise was headed by Herbert Hoover for the nation and G. W. Wattles of Omaha for the state, and engaged the thoughtful, heartfelt attention of the people of the nation.

A. E. Mead, county Eed Cross chairman, was requested by the state chairman, Mr. Wattles, to put machinery in motion to provide an agency to raise funds in York County. Mr. Mead has taken the initiative and the result is a skeleton organization which will be quickly developed and energized. De Witt Lee is chairman, A. W. Ballenger, secretary, Rev. George J. Weber publicity director. Dr. George Shidler in charge of four-minute speakers.