Broken Arrow, Oklahoma - Tulsa County in the World War

Tulsa County in the World War

To the supervision of Broken Arrow was left the conduct of all war activities in eleven school districts in Tulsa County and a number of others in Wagoner County. The parent organization, the Broken Arrow War Council, was composed of men who were at the head of the leading war organizations, and all labors and investigations of whatever character - Council of Defense, Food Administration, Liberty Loan or Red Cross - became their special charge. The War Council proper was what might be called a close corporation, being composed of four members, all residents of Broken Arrow. Eleven branch Councils similarly had charge of Council of Defense, war drives and other work. When difficulties arose in the ranks of the school districts the cases were taken to the War Council.

The purpose of this body was to handle all war measures in what is known as the Broken Arrow trade territory. All data and instructions from the Tulsa County Council of National Defense was received by the War Council and handed down by them to the school districts. After the Second Liberty Loan each school district was assigned its quota and none ever failed to attain it. A corps of fifteen Four-Minute Men was maintained at Broken Arrow. When others were needed the county organization at Tulsa was quick to supply them. These men were sent out by twos to all local points where meetings were held preceding and during the big drives. To the lot of one of these fell the duty of making a patriotic speech - to the other that of ex- plaining to the audience the manner in which the pledges or subscriptions should be made. The meetings were usually held in school houses and were well attended. Music was furnished by the central body.

The Broken Arrow War Council was organized March 27th 1918, preparatory to launching the Third Liberty Loan. The First and Second Loan campaigns had been conducted more generally by individuals, and were not the results of organized efforts. The quotas had been reached more as a result of the banks assuming a larger proportion of the burden than was intended to fall upon them than by popular subscription.

The effect of the organization throughout the trade area was soon apparent. The Tulsa County quota in the Third Loan for the eleven school districts was $89,000 and the amount subscribed $110,950, the total number of subscribers being 1,349. In the Fourth Loan the quota was $149,000 and $156,000 was taken by 1,227 subscribers. One individual subscription of $7,000, another of $5,000 and three others for $2,500 each headed the list. The total subscription in the five Liberty Loans was $465,000, the First being $26,450, the Second $28,600 and the Victory Loan $143,000.

All of the Red Cross campaigns were well supported. In May, 1918, when the district largely oversubscribed its quota of $7,500, a mammoth auction sale was held at Broken Arrow. On the Saturday preceding the drive each town in the area had a booth at the big auction sale. Farmers, townfolk, miners and oil people from all over the district came to Broken Arrow bearing the gifts that were to constitute their donations. These were taken to the individual town booth and sold to the highest bidder. As purchasers were not looking for bargains on that day a large sum was netted.

The Broken Arrow War Council consisted of the following members, the entire operations being under the charge of F. S. Hurd. Chairman F. S. Hurd, president of the First National Bank, representing the Council of Defense, vice-chairman, Robert B. Mitchell, vice-president of the Citizens National Bank, representing the Y. M. C. A. and the Fuel Administration ; secertary and treasurer, Charles E. Foster, teller, First National Bank, representing the War Savings Stamps campaign, and Rev. Harry Morgan.

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territory, the Council of Defense matters having come before those bodies for adjustment, failing in which the cases were taken to the Broken Arrow War Council for final decision:

District No. 6, Lonesome Valley - T. W. Smith, chairman; W. S. Vanaman, secretary; Butler Gibson, A. S. Harlan, Jim Fisher and H. Letterman, captains. For Sunnyside Section - W. H. Neas, chairman ; J. A. Dowdy and F. C. Bierbrich, captains.

District No. 7, Broken Arrow - F. S. Hurd, chairman; Charles E. Foster, secretary; R. B. Mitchell, D. A. Wilson and John Watkins, captains for outside territory.

District No. 31, McCullough - G. W. Vohon, chairman; William Schuttler, secretary; Mrs. Sam Gaddy, William Schuttler, C. Kramer and C. A. Peterson, captains.