History of Santa Clara County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, Part 34

Author: Sawyer, Eugene Taylor, 1846-
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1928

USA > California > Santa Clara County > History of Santa Clara County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 34

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The third Liberty loan, April, 1918, proved the quality of women's service under the guid- ance of Mrs. C. A. Wayland, chairman. The Red Cross campaign in May, 1918, War Sav- ings Stamp drive in June, 1918, and the regis- tration of all children under six years of age, also in June, were directed by members of the Women's Army. In October, 1918, came the fourth Liberty loan, and no one will ever forget the Volunteer Day preceding it on Sep- tember 7. On this day members of the Wom- en's Mobilized Army served in the regular polling places throughout the country, more than 850 volunteering for this work in San Jose. The result of efficient organization be- came apparent when a "check up" of the day's returns showed that about 65 per cent of Santa Clara county's quota had been volun- teered in one day. The United War Work campaign in November, 1918, and the Liberty loan drive closed the book of the Women's Mobilized Army history. No tabulation of campaign returns or bare record of work can ever tell the story in its entirety. The mem- bers of this army made every sacrifice, some of them even the sacrifice of health in the pat- riotic endeavor to leave nothing undone that would speed the coming of the day when peace should dawn on a war-worn world.

Among the thousands of appealing inci- dents during the work of the Women's Army are two particularly worthy of special men- tion. In San Jose Precinct No. 10, Mrs. E. H.

Baker made no changes in the personnel of her workers during the entire war period. The faithful coterie of women were: Mrs. E. H. Baker, Mrs. L. 1. Lamar, Mrs. C. E. Parsons, Miss M. Blomdohl, Mrs. C. O. Neale and Mrs. E. Perkins. The other instance of valiant service was that of Mrs. J. M. Church Walk- er, in charge of the mountain district above Los Gatos. This little woman having no other way to do her work walked every step of the necessary sixteen miles to organize her district.

The latter part of 1917 was a great succes- sion of drives. The first week in December the National War Council of the Young Wo- men's Christian Association issued a call for $4,000,000 for the purpose of establishing soc- ial and rest centers for heroic nurses at the front. Santa Clara County's quota was $16.000. At a meeting on December 5, Mrs. L. T. Smith made her appointments for the county, and Mrs. D. A. Beattie named the following team captains for San Jose: Mrs. Robert Syer, Miss Mand Blackford, Mrs Peter Dunn, Miss Bertha Fair, Mrs. C. C. Lit- tle. Mrs. Stephen Maynard. Each captain selected ten to twelve women for patriotic service. San Jose responded, as it always did, with an oversubscription. Not only San Jose but the County. The quota was reached with $4000 to spare.

During the summer of 1918 the local Y. W. C. A. made a gift beyond price to the cause of suffering humanity when Miss Mary Helen Post offered herself through the Association for overseas work.

The Knights of Columbus and the Y. M. C. A. received appointments at the same time from President Wilson. The big task before these organizations was to raise funds for the special needs of the soldiers. The Knights undertook to raise $50,000 for the entire coun- ty, San Jose's share being $10,000. It was to be a fund for all, a work for all, regardless of creed or fraternal affiliation. Plans for the campaign were made in December, 1917, at a luncheon at the Hotel Vendome, at which time Rev. Edward J. Hanna, the guest of honor, expressed his pleasure in the co-opera- tion of different organizations. "For the first time in its history," said Bishop Hanna, "the country has placed its moral and physical wel- fare in the hands of the religious men of the nation. The best way to make good soldiers is to educate men to high ideals."

The drive, scheduled originally for Decem- ber 19, opened at that time in the residential districts only, the business district not to be canvassed until after Christmas. Charles M. ()'Brien led the K. of C. forces as chairman of a committee consisting of J. F. Brooke, D. M.

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

Burnett, Jay McCabe, F. G. Canelo, F. J. Somers, Robert Benson, W. F. Benson, J. S. Williams, John J. Jones, Dr. B. L. Wise, Frank Martin, F. J. Reidy, R. Bressani, N. A. Pellerano, M. E. Griffith and D. 1. Flannery. Peter Dunne was assigned to the Alameda : Joseph A. Bihn and James Hancock led the campaigners in the Willows: J. S. Cunan, E. S., San Jose, Joseph Solari and C. O. Wendt were committeemen to cover "the city."

Christmas time. several other drives in pro- gress-and $10,000 to raise! That meant $1000 every day for ten days! The vaudeville show for the Camp Fremont boys had just been given by the Knights of Columbus and stimulated interest in the drive. Then the war fund received a Christmas gift from Man- ager James Beatty of the Liberty Theater. This gift was 2000 theater tickets to be sold for the benefit of the campaign.

The day after Christmas the drive began in earnest. Judge W. A. Beasly, C. C. Coolidge and John J. Jones called upon all the attor- neys. Doctors and dentists received visits from Drs. Philip Wise, Arthur T. McGinty and Dr. Murray. John F. Brooke, J. R. Ry- land and David Burnett visited all fruit can- ners. Frank J. Somers, Will Prussia and F. J. MeHenry claimed the territory on the east side of First Street from Santa Clara. The west side of the street was canvassed by F. G. Canelo, Jay McCabe and Henry Hoff. Santa Clara Street was assigned to Charles L. Barrington, P. J. Foley and H. J. Dougherty ; Second Street between San Antonio and San Fernando was claimed by Joe Solari, Frank Reidy and W. J. Benson. John S. Williams, N. A. Pellerano and Richard Bressani cover- ed Market Street.

Daily luncheons with encouraging reports spurred to greater endeavor and on December 30, when Chairman Charles M. O'Brien an- nounced that the quota had been reached with a generous margin there was a burst of en- thusiasm.

The gift of $10,000 to the war fund did not end the local offer of Catholic helpfulness. Father Walsh and Father Cox, of Santa Clara College, followed the flag overseas, and Father T. C. O'Connell, pastor of St. Patrick's Church, spent more than a year on the fight- ing front, offering his chaplaincy in the ser- vice of the boys.

The first idea of Christmas cheer came to Eleanor A. Brown, and she talked it over with five other San Jose girls-Marion Goldsmith, Marion Cassin, Maud Thomas, Evelyn John- son and Luita Arnold.

At the Chamber of Commerce on November 1. 1917, there was a meeting. Eleanor Brown and her five girl friends met with representa-

tives of the Chamber of Commerce, the Rot- ary Club, the Red Cross, Y. W. C. A., Y. M. C. A., and the Woman's Club and other organi- zations to make plans and perfect some kind of working committee. J. J. McDonald was made chairman and Luita Arnold secretary. Other present were Mrs. Charles Osenbaugh, Brownie Schillingsburg, Mrs. W. B. Irish, Mrs. Arthur Langford, Mrs. Claude Winans, Dr. M. E. Dailey, Charles R. Parkinson, W. T. Rambo, and Joseph T. Brooks. The inten- tion was just to lovingly send to each boy in trench or camp, a Christmas remembrance "from the folks at home." Committee leaders were quickly selected. Finance, Eleanor Brown; publicity, Mrs. A. B. Langford; to secure the names of the boys, Mrs. W. B. Ir- ish ; supplies, Mrs. Claude A. Winans; box packing committee, Mrs. N. J. Gray. Later Mrs. F. J. Loel, Mrs. S. L. Cunningham, Mrs. W. M. Beggs, Mrs. J. J. McDonald, Judge W. A. Beasly and Jay McCabe were added to the general committee. More and more were add- ed until San Jose simply became a committee of the whole to see to it that not one boy from home was forgotten. Mrs. Claude A. Winans shared her committeeship with Mrs. Bert Goldsmith., Mrs. J. E. Hancock, Mrs. D. L. Smith and Mrs. A. D. Grant. That gave the Woman's Club a place of prominence in the supply department and the club recognized its Christmas honors by offering to pack the boxes.

The Boy Scouts accomplished wonders rais- ing in one day $1175.80. The original plan called for 500 boxes. There were at least 900 that went as Christmas cheer to the boys at the front. In addition to the box 300 pounds of candy were sent. The boxes contained raisins, prunes, nuts, candy, cakes, toilet articles, local papers, Jack Graham's songs and San Jose's Christmas greeting. The first thing to catch the recipient's attention would be the city's greeting. "Its warm-heartedness must have seemed like a handclasp across the dis- tance-the handelasp. of a friend !

"San Jose bids her soldier boys, wherever they may be, a Merry Christmas. We would like to have you think of San Jose not as a col- lection of houses and stores, a mere hive of busy people, but as a living personality whose heart warms to you who have left home to de- fend our beloved country in this time of dan- ger. We would convey to you a bright reflec- tion of our Christmas cheer. We miss you from our firesides and amid the rejoicing of the holiday season we are at once sad and proud that you are absent. We call upon you the blessing of Him in whose name the Christ- mas feast is spread. Christ was born to bring peace and goodwill unto all the world. You

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have given yourselves to the same cause; for peace and goodwill cannot thrive in the same world with Kaiserism. As on Christmas day your thoughts turn lovingly toward home, our hearts' best wishes go forth to you. Thomas H. Reed, City Manager of San Jose."

In preparation for the third Liberty loan, Dr. W. C. Bailey was made chairman for Santa Clara County, John D. Kuster declining to serve again. Dr. Bullitt, Judge Gosbey and Joe Brooks, a chorus of Normal School girls, forty voices strong, and numbers of patriotic citizens carried out an educational campaign that covered the county. H. D. Melvin visited all lodges and patriotic pledges were secured with the assistance of J. E. Hancock, Judge Gosbey, S. G. Tompkins, Arthur M. Free and Alexander Sheriffs, speakers of powerful con- viction. Dan J. Flannery's Speakers' Commit- tee consisted of A. V. Shubert, Victor Challen, Arthur Curtner and Judge Urban A. Sonth- eimer.

H. W. McComas, chairman of the Four Min- ute Men marshaled his force of twenty-five speakers early in the campaign. The Woman's Mobilized Army, with its powerful organiza- tion of more than 1400 under the colonel, Mrs. L. T. Smith, the lieut .- colonel, Mrs. D. A. Beattie and Liberty loan chairman Mrs. C. A. Wayland combined with the War Work Council.

Saturday, April 6, 1918, designated "Liberty Day." opened the third Liberty Loan drive with one of the grandest educational military demonstrations in Luna Park ever staged in Santa Clara County. As a result almost $1 .- 000,000 of Santa Clara County's quota of $2,- 605,000 was raised. The committee in charge of the Luna Park spectacle was a bank com- mittee, consisting of Geo. B. Campbell, cashier of the Security State Bank, chairman; J. H. Russell, R. D. Pearce, D. S. Glendenning, C. A. Baronne, Bank of Italy ; A. D. Baker, W. E. Drew, First National Bank; Waldo E. Lowe and M. B. Davis, Bank of San Jose; Lester Hyde and Percy Thompson, Garden City Bank ; Harold Ahlman, George Pierson, Security State Bank.

The burden of the campaign fell to the lot of the ten committeemen under the Liberty loan leaders. These committeemen were John D. Crummey, Alexander Sheriffs, A. D. Curtner, Louis Campiglia, Henry M. Ayer, Chas. M. O'Brien, Chas. R. Parkinson, Elton R. Shaw, E. A. Richmond, Alexander Hart, Walter G. Matthewson, Howell D. Melvin. Henry Hirsch became special inspector for the San Jose district to see that the plans were car- ried out.

Not every one purchased bonds voluntarily. Everywhere workers met concrete evidence of

insidious German propaganda. The list of those refusing to buy bonds increased to such an extent that the Santa Clara County investi- gating and educational committee, with John D. Kuster as chairman, came into the cam- paign. Other members of this organization were J. W. Grimes, Albert Kayser, V. H. Wylie, A. A. Halsey, A. M. Free, F. J. Mc- Henry, Fred L. Fehren, A. G. Du Brutz, Judge P. F. Gosbey, Sam G. Tompkins, Herbert C. Jones. These men did not shirk their unwel- come task. Over 900 cases were investigated and the members' services were invaluable.

On April 16, 1918, San Jose was electrified by the news that Lieut. Douglas Campbell had won the French War Cross by bringing down a German plane and capturing the pilot.

Shortly before noon on Liberty Day, April 26, the message came that San Jose and the county had gone "over the top." It was a great campaign that ended officially on May 4, 1918, with not only the full quota of bonds subscribed and the population requirements met, but an amount credited to Santa Clara County for more than $800,000 above the allot- ment and 12,136 more investors than during the second loan. The most sanguine hopes that came into existence with the organiza- tion of the War Work Council in March, 1918, had been realized. Each member of the Coun- cil gave to the members of the Women's Mobilized Army the fullest credit for the splen- did results.

During the strenuous campaign an advisory committee met every day at the War Work Council headquarters to "talk things over and devise ways and means." Of the following faithful members of this committee many gave at least fifty per cent of their time to the work and others, finding that business interfered with their patriotism simply gave up their business, devoting all their time and energy to the interests of "backing up the boys": Byron Millard, A. B. Post, Judge W. A. Beasly, Dr. James B. Bullitt, S. G. Tompkins, W. S. Clay- ton, W. E. Bauer, V. J. La Motte, Louis Cam- piglia, Arthur M. Free, H. L. Baggerly, Wil- bur J. Edwards, E. K. Johnston, H. G. Coy- kendall, W. G. Alexander, Frank J. Somers, George N. Herbert, John D. Kuster and D. T. Bateman.

Special committeemen were Thomas H. Reed, Karl M. Stull, Victor Palmer, Alvin Long, Sheldon R. Wills. F. A. Nikirk, Frank L. Baker, D. J. Flannery, Victor Challen. Judge Urban A. Sontheimer, Arthur B. Lang- ford, Brooks Tompkins, F. E. Chapin and Wilson E. Albee.

Preparations were now made for the fourth Liberty loan drive. One or two changes al- tered the war work council chart. Dr. W. C.

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Bailey became chairman of the Santa Clara County War Work council; Joseph M. Par- ker, chairman of the Santa Clara County fourth Liberty loan committee: Louis Cam- piglia, chairman San Jose War Work council ; E. H. Foster, secretary; Arthur H. Curtner, treasurer ; Dr. James B. Bullitt, statistician.

The campaign did not open officially until September 28, 1918, but long before the "big day" everyone was at work. The 750 men of the war work council and the 1400 workers of the women's army comprised the Volunteer day force to take charge of the "voting booths" in every precinct and polling place throughout the county. Arthur Curtner gave a "get ac- quainted" dinner to all district leaders at the Montgomery Hotel on the evening of Septem- ber 20th, J. M. Parker making the principal speech. Blind Al Herr, newsboy, bought the first bond on Monday, September 23. His cane. guided him to headquarters. Some throats choked a bit when Blind Al held out fifty dol- lars for some unseen hand to take.

Volunteer day, September 27, 1918, will go down in history as one of the greatest days in the chronicles of the county. On that day, practically without any solicitation, the county subscribed $3,258,650 to the fourth Liberty loan bonds, $1,701,250 of that amount belong- ing to San Jose. The honor flag offered for the largest number of subscriptions in a pre- cinct in proportion to the population went to precinct No. 37 in charge of F. A. Van Dorsten, director, and Charles M. O'Brien, vice chair- man. Out of 373 registered voters 62 per cent made bond subscriptions. This precinct at Wilson's garage, 899 Sonth Fifteenth street, listed among its workers Joseph T. Brooks, Edward Johnson. Ben Brown. H. Trephagen, 'Mrs. W. G. Alexander, May Hoffman, Hattie Hoffman, Miss Jones, Mrs. H. H. Madsen. Mrs. L. P. Edwards, Mrs. P. D. During, Mrs. C. B. Mason and Mrs. J. R. Bailey.

The honor flag for the largest amount of subscriptions totaling $68,850, was proudly carried away by Crandallville precinct No. 2 in charge of Alexander Sherriffs, vice chair- man, and W. J. Lean, director. Other workers were W. B. Irish, Daisy Cozzens. Reta Angus, Hattie Prindiville, Mrs. R. H. Topham, Anna Mathews and Bessie Crowfoot. D. M. Dene- gri did yeoman service among the Italian- speaking population, obtaining notable results from the employees of the Greco cannery. All canners and their hundreds of workers stood solidly behind the loan. William Halla cov- ered Chinatown and found bond subscriptions piling up after the news came that young Sing Kee, son of Chung Kee, had been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Sing Kee, the only Chinese soldier in Company G, Three

Hundred and Sixth Infantry, deserved that decoration and the Croix de Guerre which came to him later. He stood for 48 hours at an advance post with wireless apparatus send- ing messages back to his commander after the post had been abandoned by the entire com- pany. Sing Kee fought in many battles and spent a month in the hospital at Tours follow- ing a severe experience with mustard gas dur- ing a Hun attack. A letter of congratulation went to Sing Kee from his fellow townsmen of the War Work Council. The Japanese sub- scribed $50,000. The service flag dedicated at St. Joseph's on Oct. 6, 1918, held almost one- third of the San Jose stars. On Saturday, Oct. 19, 1918, bells, horns and whistles announced victory. Santa Clara County was credited with an oversubscription of $826,650.

Judge P. F. Gosbey of the Council of De- fense made the following acknowledgment of Parker's able leadership: "I wish to express the appreciation of the Santa Clara county di- vision of the Council of Defense for the excel- lent work done by J. M. Parker during the fourth Liberty loan campaign. It was large- ly due to his efforts and to those of his able assistants that the campaign was carried through in this city and county to such great success. The result will always stand as a monument to Joseph M. Parker's ability and loyalty." In the fourth loan San Jose had 20,- 075 subscribers. The total bond subscription was $3,595,000, per capita average of $179. For the county, subscribers 11,662, amount $1,899,700, per capita $163. City and county subscribers, 31,735; amount $5,494,700, per capita $173. In this loan 29.4 per cent of the population subscribed as against 19 per cent subscribing for the third loan.

While priest and Protestant clergymen min- istered to the men of all nationalities and creeds on the battlefields where all differences were forgotten in a common cause, in the homeland there developed a new bond of brotherhood. A splendid demonstration of this broader understanding was the "Seven in One" campaign in November, 1918, when seven great war work organizations united un- der one banner. Santa Clara County sounded an unanimous call for Arthur D. Curtner to be its drive leader. This intensely patriotic American was an outstanding figure because of his magnificent service in all war work un- dertaken by the community. The assisting committee represented each local organization. Y. M. C. A., Herbert C. Jones ; National Cath- olic War Council, including Knights of Co- lumbus, M. E. Griffith ; War Camp Community Service, E. N. Richmond ; Y. W. C. A., Mrs. L. T. Smith ; Jewish Welfare Board, U. S. army and navy, J. H. Levy ; Salvation Army, J. M.

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Parker: American Library Association, Stella Huntington. Santa Clara County's quota was raised with an oversubscription of $25,000.

The fifth Victory loan drive was carried to success against great handicaps. The war was over and there was indifference in the public mind. J. M. Parker was the drive leader par excellence. He stirred up the workers and all went well. W. S. Clayton and John R. Chace broke their own records by securing $318,000 in bond subscriptions in four days. A unique stunt was the Volunteer Day air circus staged by James B. Leaman, F. E. Chapin and A. F .. Holmes. Airplanes from Mather Field circled above the county, dropping 15,000 Victory loan dodgers. On May Day, 1919, came the big re- ception and parade to honor the boys who had gone to the front and had come back heroes. On the night of May 10, 1919, the drive passed into history-an oversubscription, as usual.

With the establishment of Camp Fremont only twenty miles away, and soldiers coming to San Jose by hundreds, a place had to be provided where they might rest, read and write and eat. The Chamber of Commerce lost no time. Its president, Dr. W. C. Bailey, immediately appointed Chas. R. Parkinson chairman of a committee to provide a soldiers' recreation fund. An old fund left over from a rose carnival amounting to several hundred dollars, with accrued interest, was in the hands of Alexander Hart, the carnival treasurer. This amount was turned over to the commit- tee as a starter and made possible the opening of rooms in the Chamber of Commerce build- ing. Help was needed, as the boys kept com- ing, and accordingly a committee of eight was appointed by the Women's National Council of Defense to co-operate with the Chamber of Commerce. The members were Mrs. Nicholas Bowden, Mrs. D. A. Beattie, Mrs. Lester Morse, Mrs. J. W. Davy, Mrs. W. L. Wood- row, Mrs. J. E. Hancock, Mrs. Louis Sonnik- sen, Mrs. R. R. Johnston and Mrs. C. R. Park- inson, chairman. There was a reception and 200 soldiers attended. Forty women made themselves responsible for the club. Mrs. W. I. Woodrow was appointed chairman of the canteen ; Mrs. Frank Leib, secretary ; Mrs. S. A. Appleton, treasurer ; Mrs. C. R. Parkinson, director of service. Upon the abandoning of Camp Fremont the club was closed. The dishes and furnishings were given to worthy charities and to the center for women in indus- try established by the Y. W. C. A.

To help the Belgians San Jose did her part from first to last. In January, 1915, at the call of Herbert Hoover, Dr. W. C. Bailey, presi- dent of the Chamber of Commerce, called an important meeting, which resulted in $2,600 worth of foodstuffs being sent to Belgium.

The drive for funds was engineered entirely by the Chamber of Commerce with Fred L. Fos- ter as the capable and energetic publicity agent. The real organization was perfected in the fall of 1915, and headquarters established in a room in the Chamber of Commerce building.

The first work under the new organization, with Mrs. J. W. Davy chairman, was the rais- ing of a voluntary subscription of $2400 for the purchase of new clothing. After the big mass meeting which resulted in the shipment of warm new clothing, the monthly pledges became a feature of the relief. These pledges, voluntarily signed, were the means of send- ing from San Jose $400 a month in the begin- ning; that increased to $600 and the last month's gift amounted to $1300. Approxi- mately $15,000 totaled the local subscriptions to this relief fund and that amount does not include the first funds of $2600 for foodstuffs and $2400 for new clothing, which were for- warded through the Stanford Fund before the San Jose organization was complete.

In all there were four drives for clothing. Two of them were made in conjunction with the National Red Cross. More than 25 tons of clothing were shipped overseas as the result of appeals made during these four drives. One remarkable record of helpfulness was made by the Comforts Forwarding Committee of the Christian Science Church, who gathered at their North First street headquarters one-tenth of all the clothing sent to Belgium during the last drive. From the Home of Truth on North Fifth street there has been issued no record of the unlimited amount of money and clothing they have sent across the sea. Work- ing independently they forwarded hundreds of dollars and box after box of clothing directly to Aladame de Hemptine, a Belgian woman who conducted a refugee house at Calais. From first to last no money was used for ad- ministration of this great mercy fund. Every cent collected for Belgian Relief went to Bel- gium, sent by Jack Russell, of the Bank of Italy, who acted as treasurer.

The committee who served with Mrs. J. W. Davy in this great humanitarian work were Miss Ida Wehner, Mrs. W. A. Beasly, Mrs. S. G. Tompkins, Mrs. Charles R. Parkinson, Mrs. Thomas Blanchard, Mrs. Edwin A. Wilcox, Mrs. Everett Bailey, Mrs. D. A. Beattie, Mrs. J. E. Bell, Mrs. W. A. Johnson, Mrs. A. P. Post, Mrs. W. P. Lyon, Mrs. H. L. Baggerly,. Mrs. George Herbert, Mrs. Nicholas Bowden,. Mrs. David Burnett, Mrs. Edward Sterling, Mrs. Paul Clark, Mrs. Louis Sonniksen, Mrs. Willard C. Bailey, Mrs. Leonard Stocking. Mrs. Robert Syer, Mrs. E. C. Singletary, Mrs. George B. McKee, Mrs. Glendenning, Mrs. E.

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History of Santa Clara County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, Part 34

Author: Sawyer, Eugene Taylor, 1846- Publication date: 1922 Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co. Number of Pages: 1928

Author: Sawyer, Eugene Taylor, 1846-
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1928