WOMAN'S LIBERTY LOAN ORGANIZATION OF

BURT COUNTY

Craig . . Miss MATT MCDONALD
Lyons . . . MISS ESTHER LITTLE
Oakland . . MRS. WILL SWANSON
Decatur . . MRS. FRANK GRIFFIN

THE Woman's Committee of Liberty Loans was not organized in Nebraska until after the first bond drive. There were county chairman in seventy-five counties at the time of the second loan. Before the opening of the third campaign, Nebraska was fully organized with a chairman in ninty-three counties, and the fourteen district chairmen. Before the fourth and fifth campaign Burt county was so organized that it had five local chairmen, one in each town in the county; each town chairman had a committee of five and each rural district teacher visited personally every woman and girl over eighteen in her district soliciting bonds. Much credit is due the rural teacher. Some may feel this work by no means important and did not require any time or labor. Two weeks of every drive Mrs. Wetherell wrote eighty letters each week, and visited each town personally, besides speeches and mailing of literature to each worker. Over seventeen million has been accredited to the work of the women of our state for the second, third and fourth loans. Especial emphasis has been placed in each buying bonds, with the result that in each succeeding bond sale, large numbers of our women have become holders of bonds in their own names. The work of the women of the Liberty Loan committees all over the United States measured by a money standard will be, all told, over four billion dollars. The service that was given in sentiment making, education and patriotism has no standard of measurement.

During the First and Second Loans we were unable to make a definite estimate of how many women were at work, although the number ran into the hundreds of thousands, but during the Third Loan there were over eight-hundred-thousand on our lists, and the number during the Fourth and Fifth Loans has increased to more than a million. Although the returns from our Liberty Loan chairmen in districts and states are by no means complete, those received so far show that for the fifth time the Liberty Loan Committees have another notable victory to their credit

Mrs. Wetherall was also honorary member of National Council of Defense, being appointed by W. G. McAdoo. It will be of interest to know what deposition has been made of the funds remaining in the treasury of the woman's committee of the State Council of Defense. It was decided by the executive board that it should be put to some good use for the benefit of the women and children of the state. To this end it was given to the state university for assisting in the maintaining of a public health nurse. She will be under the woman's section of the extension service, of which Mrs. A. E. Davison of Lincoln is director.

WAR SAVINGS CAMPAIGN--BURT COUNTY RESPONSE
UNITED WAR WORK CAMPAIGN

THE intense interest and loyalty of the citizens of this county was demonstrated as much by their response to the government's appeal for the purchase of the War Savings Stamps and the organization of the War Savings Societies as in any other activities. At the beginning of the campaign, the treasury department, through State Director Ward M. Burgess, appointed Mr. J. F. Nesbit as county chairman, and Mrs. C. V. Haywood as county director of the War Savings Societies. Under their leadership and inspiration the quota of $254,520 was over-sold by $48,000 December 31st, showing maturity value of War Savings Stamps held by Burt county as $303,320. Likewise in the organization of War Savings Societies, the energetic work of Mrs. Haywood must be given much credit for the wonderful success this county made in these campaigns, with the assistance of Mr. Nesbit and the various town chairmen as follows: Walt Beckman of Oakland, Ray Thurber of Craig, Bert Lyon of Lyons, Will Eggleton of Decatur and Mr. Gano of Tekamah, and other loyal workers throughout the county, resulted in the organizing of 139 societies, while Washington's appeal had been for only 42. In the establishment of agencies for the sales of the War Savings Stamps, 47 applied to, and were formerly authorized by the Treasury Department. A quota of 42 had been set.

This outstanding success meant, of course, a vast amount of work for the leaders and their assistants, but from the very first it was realized that the intense patriotism exhibited by the citizens would insure the accomplishment of more than the government asked.

The first big campaign came on March 22nd, when every man and woman in this county were asked to meet together and pledge themselves to regular purchase of War Savings Stamps. At that time the county's quota was over-subscribed, and it was a pleasure to note how faithfully the great majority kept those pledges.

The second call of the government was answered on the 28th of June when this county again did better than one hundred per cent in the organization of the War Savings Societies. In addition to organizing societies in lodges, churches and other

business and social institutions, practically every school organized as a unit. Through the meetings of these societies interest was maintained in the Government War Savings program, and other topics were taken up and discussed. The following plan was originated by Mr. Gano of Tekamah for the purpose of forming the War Savings Societies in the towns.

Why - First - Because our government has said it should be done. Second - Because the government needs the money. Third - Because the government needs the man-power and every person must be impressed with the fact that man-power must be conserved. Fourth - Man-power must be conserved by teaching every person not to buy unnecessary articles for either food or wearing apparel, thus saving man-power for the necessities.

How - A Suggestion. - First - Divide your town into districts. Second - Appoint a captain for each district. Third -Have each captain appoint a good worker for each 50 people in the district. Fourth - Have the captain and their committees meet with you and explain your plan fully. Fifth - Divide each district and give each committeeman a certain territory in which to organize a Savings Society.

Instructions already sent you will explain fully, how to organize.

This printed circular was mailed to each local chairman as a helpful suggestion for the June 28, 1918 drive, and signed by Mr. Gano and County Director Mrs. C. V. Haywood.

In December, 1918, Mr. Nesbit and Mrs. Haywood resigned in favor of Will Minier, of Craig as chairman, and Prof. Linn, of Craig as director.

In the 1919 campaign the government is placing much stress on the maintenance of all these societies, and in the organization of additional ones. It is felt that they accomplished very much in Americanization and unification of the community activities carried on in response to the appeals of the government. The administration at Washington therefore, felt that the societies should be continued, not only for the purpose of assisting in promoting a further sale of War Savings Stamps, but to aid in concerted and wise consideration of many problems arising during the reconstruction period.

As suggested, the War Savings campaign this year is along distinctly different lines than that of 1918, and the main goal will be a thorough teaching of the real meaning of saving or thrift. Every stamp bought is a distinct aid to the government, of course, and there is still a great need of money, but there is a much broader view than that. Every stamp sold carries with it a possibility of making the purchaser a permanent saver. Thus the seller and the buyer are not only helping the government, but their own state and themselves. To turn the spendthrift into a systematic saver means another good citizen. This is a step in the right direction.

However, after the armistice had been signed, the people began to lose interest in furnishing the government with money, and it was quite a problem to make them see the need of it. The people of Burt county, however, were as eager and willing as before to do their bit. Their record will prove this.

The government was planning on the Victory Loan drive in April, and a War Savings Stamps drive in March. Because the Victory Loan was considered such a

big undertaking, the War Stamps drive some how seemed to be neglected as an important factor, and consequently did not receive as much publicity as it might otherwise. It was also the intention of the government at this time to have War Savings Stamps drives in the year of 1919, one in the spring and one in the fall. It was the belief of many of the officials that many of the farmers would be unable to purchase as many stamps as they would like in the spring because at that time, they would be short of money, with no idea what the crop prospect for the year would be. By fall, however, they would have good bank accounts and would know how many stamps they would buy.

The drive for War Savings Stamps was scheduled for the month of March. The director of the various school districts took charge of the drives in their respective districts. A quota of $280,000 had been assigned to Burt county, and this was divided among the districts according to assessed valuation. At the completion of the drive, statistics showed that about 60 per cent of the quota had been raised at the spring drive. This was one of the best records in the state. A few districts filled their complete quota at one drive, districts 22, 25, 31, 51 and 52 being the honored ones. District 25, with Chris Shawver as director made the most excellent record with a pledge to buy 187 per cent of their quota. Up to this time Burt county has been the third in the state in number of sales of stamps, Douglas and Cedar being the only ones ahead of us. With a record like this, for the first half of the year, there is no doubt but that our county will have made a remarkable record at the end of the year.

We are advised from latest reports, it has been decided not to hold the fall drive, but to continue advertising the War Savings Stamps, and selling as many as possible. Even then there is no doubt that our county will exceed their quota for the year, and go "over the top" as it has in every other drive.

Burt county made a wonderful record in sales of War Savings Stamps. Up to May 1st the total sales were $366,235. This is a record not excelled, or even equalled by few in the country.

County Superintendent W. T. Poucher was vice chairman in this organization, and did much in assisting Mr. Nesbit in perfecting the committee plan in each school district, which later proved so efficient and successful in the sale of War Savings Stamps, that on a per capita basis according to population of county by the last census, amounts to over $28.00 for every man, woman, and child in this County.

UNITED WAR WORK CAMPAIGN

  THE united War Work Campaign was the last and greatest of the campaigns for gifts for war purposes. It was completed during the week in which the armistice was signed. It was remarkable in the amount asked for from the people of the nation, $17O,500,000 (which was increased later to $250,000,000) and in the fact that there was not the organization to back it as was the case in the Red Cross drives.

  Seven agencies were recognized, by the government and were permitted to work with the soldiers in cantonments, camps and fields. The Y. M. C. A., the Knights of Columbus, the War Camp Community Service, the Jewish Welfare Board, the Y. W. C. A., the American Library Association and the Salvation Army were organizations supported by a few people in certain localities. There was not a nationwide organization as in the case of the Red Cross.

  In order to spare the people the inconvenience of seven campaigns for funds, and in order that there might be an equitable and reasonable distribution of funds among the organizations, the government requested that they unite in their campaign for funds, and that the amount raised be divided among them according to a certain approved ratio.

  A National Committee was organized, composed of representatives from each of the seven organizations. This committee had general charge of the campaign. States and counties were also organized according to this plan, so far as was possible. In Nebraska counties the committees were composed of representatives of such of the organizations as had committeemen in the various counties. The state was divided into districts. The Third District consisted of Burt, Washington, Sarpy and Douglas (Outside of Omaha) counties. Burt county was represented in district committees by J. R. Sutherland, who was a member of the finance committee of the War Camp Community Service, W. T. Poucher who was district chairman for the same organization, and Mrs. W. E. Minier, of Oakland, who was district chairman for the American Library Association.

  The county committee was composed of W. T. Poucher, chairman, representing

the War Camp Community Service; Mrs. W. E. Minier, secretary, representing the American Library Association, and Walter M. Hopewell, representing the Y. M. C. A. This committee appointed as additional members of the committee, W. T. Minier of Craig, Peter Palmer of Oakland, Ernest McDowell of Lyons and E. A. Hanson (succeeded by W. W. Small) of Decatur.

The county was thoroughly organized according to the plans made by the War Savings Committee, school board members in each district composing the school district meetings.

According to original plans, the dates set for the drive were November 11th to 18th. The Burt county committee thought it best to have the drive in this county on Sunday, November 10th. Subsequent events proved the wisdom of this plan, as the armistice was signed on the 11th of November, and the people of the country were so rejoiced over peace news that the campaign was conducted under difficulties in counties that had the drive at the time set by the National Committee.

Burt courty's quota in this campaign was $23,387. An over-subscription of 50 per cent was requested, which made our quota a little over $35,000. As usual, Burt county undertook to do what was asked of it, and succeeded, the amount subscribed by the people of Burt county being $39,000.

Considering the fact that the funds subscribed were pure gifts, there being no investment feature whatever, considering that there was no nation-wide organization to enthuse the people of the various communities, and considering the fact that this campaign was conducted at a time when peace rumors were in the air--even a false report as to the signing of the armistice having been spread over the country the week previous to this campaign - the county committee felt that their work had been eminently successful, and were glad to have had the opportunity of taking part in this great campaign. Considering these various conditions, the people of Burt county are deserving of the greatest praise in seeing that the county went "over the top" again. The people were tired of war, they were wearied with one solicitation after another for money for various causes. Yet in spite of all this they cheerfully met their quotas, and made Burt county gain another laurel.