USA > Iowa > Scott County > History of the war activities of Scott County Iowa, 1917-1918 > Part 10
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Close on the heels of this activity came the second Liberty Loan. The Scouts were on their mettle for this campaign, over forty winning medals for bond sales.
Scout Executive Carl Becker resigned to enter the Ordnance De- partment of the army. Former Scout Commissioner, John Wallace Cooper, received his commission as captain and went overseas.
The end of the year brought with it the necessity of the election of a new Council. It was at this juncture that the Boys' Committee of the Rotary Club, casting about for some worthy field of work among boys, decided to take over the job of getting the Boy Scouts organization in Davenport on its feet and going strong.
W. T. Waterman, as president of the committee, at once began a vigorous campaign of re-organization with the result that an A 1 council was selected. V. V. Allen was secured as Scout Executive. Some new troops were being organized, and old ones regenerated, and when the third Liberty Loan came on the Boy Scouts gave a good
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account of themselves. Their pledges in that campaign amounted to $50,600.
About this time the Board of Directors of the Rotary Club con- ceived the idea of establishing and supporting a Scout Fife, Drum, and Bugle Corps-an organization which was to take part in patriotic parades, to act as escort to draft contingents, and to give Boy Scouts the splendid training afforded in work of this kind.
Of the various draft contingents which left Davenport there was only one for which the Boy Scouts did not furnish a flag escort. That one came very near producing several fatalities.
All arrangements were made, notice was sent out, Scouts were notified to be on hand at the Dempsey Hotel at 4 o'clock in the morning. All well and good, but the Scout who was to have notified the others in the morning slept past his alarm clock and the flag escort did not appear. The result was that McCulloch, Phillips, Petersberger, Horne, and those others leading the draft contingent with a tiny American flag held aloft were chaffed unmercifully, and Scout headquarters was hard put to it to offer a satisfactory explanation. They were ready to do murder, but that did not help the situation.
In May of 1918 came the task of looking for walnut trees, the result being that the Boy Scouts of Davenport located for the government two carloads of walnut lumber and listed the exact location of every tree, the name of the owner, and the price he would be willing to take. The Boy Scouts of America the country over were able to report to the gov- ernment 6,000 carloads of lumber after the government experts had declared that the available supply was exhausted.
In the fourth Liberty Loan everyone recognized that the Boy Scouts were up against a very difficult task. Some had even suggested that they be permitted to work along with the Liberty Loan teams; however, it was felt that their best service could be done by having them solicit as gleaners after the reapers as they had done before. In this role they secured subscriptions amounting to $110,000.
The Boy Scouts' participation in the United War Work Drive took the form of their leading the peace day parade and carrying a huge flag into which contributions were thrown amounting to somewhere near $268.
At about the time of the fourth Liberty Loan a call had come through the Red Cross for a "pit and shell" campaign to secure materials from which to make gas masks. Nothing had ever appealed to the boys quite so much, and at the time of the signing of the armistice there were tons of pits and shells ready to be forwarded.
All during the year 1918 the Boy Scouts were busy with the War Savings Stamp campaign. The result was that the Boy Scouts sold over $52,000 worth of stamps.
In the meantime, December 24th, the Boy Scouts put over one of the best pieces of work that they had managed so far. The Industrial Relief Society had listed very carefully all of the deserving and needy poor of the city. They had prepared baskets to be sent out to these people. The delivery of these baskets had never been found a difficult task before, but the day before Christmas came with a driving storm
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which blocked the streets with snow. All day the Boy Scouts detailed for the work kept on the job, and it was quite late in the afternoon before the last package was delivered. The Boy Scouts had surely made good on their oath to help other people at all times.
To sum up the work of the Boy Scouts during the war: They took Liberty Loan subscriptions amounting to over $298,000, they sold War Savings Stamps amounting to $52,000, they helped with the distributing of Red Cross publicity material, they helped with the distributing of Council of Defense posters, they made a canvass of the available walnut trees of the country, they collected a huge amount of pits and shells, helped with industrial relief, helped in the United War Work, and their Fife and Drum Corps had given inspiration to the United War Work Drive teams. And in the midst of all this service their organization had prospered, had grown far beyond the comparatively limited organ- ization at the beginning of the war. They had proven the truth of the adage: "He profits most who serves best."
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The Davenport Woman's Club
BY MRS. LOUIS BLOCK, Recording Secretary
In the summer of 1914 a terrible depression overcame the world. Women everywhere began to measure up their qualifications to live the best and do the most to alleviate and end the sufferings and evils of the most terrible conflict of history. Many women had husbands or sons or brothers who left for Canada to swear allegiance to the English flag that they might get in their best efforts to hasten its end. As soon as Uncle Sam joined the allies war work was the greatest bend of each de- partment of the Woman's Club. No meetings were held at which there were not many, many knitters among the audience, women even knitting in the street cars to and from the meetings.
The Home Department brought about a lasting education in the conservation of all kinds of materials and foods, by having talks or papers or practical demonstrations on the purchasing of worth-while materials, not only pleasing to the eye, but having durability of quality, also the practical and economical make-up and use of these wares. Many lessons of thrift were taught by the lectures on gardening, hydrat- ing, canning, preserving, using substitutes, the preparation and the serving of foods. At one meeting each member was asked to bring a generous sample of an original dish which was passed around that all might look at it and guess its contents. It was passed again that each might have a taste, then its recipe was given and noted if cared for. So many original dishes were at hand that it was necessary to overstep the time. One conservation luncheon was demonstrated at which 145 mem- bers were served at a cost of 19 cents each. One meeting was devoted to making new out of old, the removal of spots, etc. Work along these lines is still continuing.
The War Savings Stamps Committee succeeded in selling 547 War Savings Stamps, amounting to $2,285.44; 1,058 Thrift Stamps, amounting to $264.50, a total of $2,549.94.
The Education Department supervised the making and shipping of 5,000 trench candles to the chairman of the Navy League at Washington, D. C.
The Hospital Committee made weekly, sometimes bi-weekly visits, with occasional telephone calls to find out the condition and the morale of the convalescent soldiers detained in the Rock Island Post Hospital. Games, sporting gloves, and balls, rocking-chairs and cushions were supplied and much appreciated. A phonograph with a number of new records and a piano were placed in the hospital. A billiard table was also installed. Forty dollars was placed at the disposal of the hospital head to procure needed medicines not found on the government list. Also twelve dozen oranges, twelve dozen lemons, and five pairs of bed- room socks were contributed. Three hundred triangle bandages were
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made and sent to various hospital stations. Several sick soldiers were transported to this hospital from troop trains and given the best of attention. On quarantine of the Spanish influenza epidemic all calls were discontinued and only flowers were acceptable. A cottage for the nurses was made comfortable by being furnished with rugs, scrim cur- tains, cushions, writing-desks, electric iron, flowers, fruit, jelly, and tea. Entertainment for nurses began but quarantine interrupted. Flowers were sent for the burial of a nurse.
Under the Y. M. C. A. Committee a series of lectures was given by Rev. Arthur M. Judy, on "The Advancement of the Allied Armies." From five hundred to a thousand pounds of magazines and other read- ing material were collected per week. When fully digested at this post this reading matter was forwarded to the government proving grounds at Savanna, Ill. This work is still going on. .
Under the Arsenal Y. M. C. A. Hut Entertainment Committee twenty- one programs were given in July, with 105 entertainers and 8,400 in attendance; twenty-three in August, with ninety-two entertainers and 9,200 in attendance; twenty-four in September, with 120 entertainers and 12,000 in attendance, and sixteen in October, with eighty enter- tainers and 8,000 in attendance. The work being most difficult because it fell at the noon hour, a most disadvantageous time for the overseer and entertainers. "The noon hour being short necessitated the opening of the entertainment on the minute and a rapid continuance to the close. A large variety of talent had to be secured to keep up the interest. This was done without one criticism from the War Department, which scru- tinized each entertainer most sceptically, showing wonderful organizing ability, patriotic spirit, and self-sacrifice."-(From J. F. Tasher, Camp General Secretary.)
The Music Department held open house for soldiers on Christmas day, 1917, at the Davenport Commercial Club. Continuous entertain- ment was furnished for three hours, including violin, piano, and vocal solos, humorous readings, fancy dancing, impersonations, and the sing- ing together of songs when the soldiers surrounded the piano and joined in. The Home Department served cake and coffee. In January a "visit and sing" was held at the Masonic Temple, very like the former, for the soldiers of the Arsenal. This time the Music Department served the cake and coffee. Later a similar song and festival was given at Unity Hall.
During the spring, on five Sunday afternoons, community sings were held at the Davenport High School auditorium, which drew capacity houses. Several hundred were turned away, the auditorium and stage only accommodating about 1,400 people. These were open to everyone; many soldiers attended, several taking parts on the programs. (This work was later turned over to T. P. Ratcliffe, of the War Camp Com- munity Service.)
Many active club members took part in the almost daily noon pro- grams given at the Arsenal "Y" Hut, and a number of them entertained at Camp Dodge and Camp Grant. In the fall of 1918 thirty-two instru- ments were collected for war camps and cantonments, including a piano, a violin, seven mouth harps, a flute, a banjo, a ukulele, five guitars, five
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mandolins, two phonographs, with 189 cylinder records, two accordions, three zithers, 658 Victrola records, 289 player-piano rolls, about 8,000 sheets of music, 600 Etude magazines, and several books of music. The valuation of these instruments, records, and music amount to over $3,000. These were assorted and packed and sent to various places. From this work letters of appreciation are still arriving. One message from Camp Cody saying "it is the spirit like this back home that has helped to win the war."
Friendly House
BY HARRY E. DOWNER, Head Resident
The war activities of Friendly House? Nothing especial-just about those of other folks. All who came to the Settlement were filled with win-the-war Americanism and did what they could. The older boys joined the colors. The younger boys made hospital scrapbooks, picked oakum, made gunwipes, and trench candles. A boys' knitting class turned out creditable work. The younger girls knitted soldiers' wear and the older ones did all manner of work, specializing on clothing for refugees. An evening group of young people did anything the Red Cross asked. A West Davenport branch of the Red Cross was estab- lished by the ladies of that section of the city and here they worked through the afternoon or all day as the call for help varied in in- sistence. The conservation of food was encouraged through canning clubs. Much food was saved by the school district dehydrator located for the summer at Friendly House. A three days' conservation exhibit was held in the theatre and gym.
The flame of patriotism was fanned by the singing of audiences at the weekly motion picture entertainments and the monthly vaudevilles. The motion picture screen was steadily employed in showing patriotic pictures and making announcements regarding Liberty Loans, War Savings Stamps, and fuel and food conservation. The morale of the rep- resentatives of the Settlement in the army was steadied by many letters written by large groups of young people gathered in evening classes and clubs. The Settlement drookery printed and mailed a Round-the-World Chat, giving the news of each of the seventy-nine members of the classes, of the corps of instruction, and of the Board of Trustees to each absent one. The memory of these defenders of our homes was kept bright by a large service flag.
Throughout the war Americanization work was done. The foreign born were constantly urged to achieve citizenship and helped in the endeavor. The Head Resident instructed classes in civics, maintained by the Davenport Institute. Friendly House joined other welfare organ- izations in trying to make sure that when the country was saved it should be found to be worth saving.
The Catholic Women's League
BY MRS. J. J. DORGAN
When war was declared by the United States, the keynote of the Catholic Women's League became "Service."
All our activities were along war lines, and the League became a central organization through which the Catholic women of the city did their war work. We co-operated with all national movements-Red Cross, civilian relief, food conservation, promoting sale of Liberty Bonds, War Savings and Thrift Stamps, and United War Work.
A representative from our organization attended all meetings of im- portance on war work, and brought back ideas on what our club could best do to further the project on hand, and the members were ever willing and ready to do their part.
At the beginning of the Red Cross Society in Davenport we solicited memberships, and during the first week our club had the honor of securing the largest number of members. We gave $5.00 a month during the period of the war to the Red Cross permanent fund of the local Red Cross.
We established Red Cross sewing rooms in all the Catholic parishes of the city, with chairman in charge. From these rooms were turned cut 180 anti-vermin garments, 12,000 bandages, 300 bed shirts, 50 pairs of pajamas, 40 bed jackets, 15 convalescent robes, 20 pairs armlets, 600 sweaters, 80 pairs wristlets, 75 helmets, 110 pairs mitts, four scarfs, and 4,876 shot bags.
One day each week was also given by our members to the down town Red Cross rooms. Our club also had charge of the "coal booth" at the Red Cross County Fair, which netted $309.
Every member of Batteries B and D was furnished with a good-sized khaki bag filled with cigars, tobacco, etc., when he left for camp.
Our club entertained 200 soldiers from the Rock Island Arsenal at a dancing party at the Outing Club and helped in securing hostesses for the soldiers for Sunday and holiday dinners.
A big mass meeting was held in the interest of the fourth Liberty Loan with an outside speaker and patriotic music. The club did much in the educational line in the Liberty Loan campaigns, and also was in- strumental in the sale of a number of bonds.
During "War Savings Stamps Cash Sale" week in November we had a booth in the lobby of the Davenport Hotel and sold more stamps than any other booth in the city. We also sold stamps at the polling places at the November election.
Many lectures and demonstrations were given before our club on the subject of food conservation. Our Home Department had a program entirely along this line.
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We assisted the Knights of Columbus of the state of Iowa in their educational work. A representative of our organization attended the meetings along this line in Des Moines. We contributed to the Knights of Columbus fund, and also for the furnishing of curtains for the Knights of Columbus hut.
We furnished three chaplains' outfits, and numerous religious out- fits, and sent forty Christmas packages through the National Christ Child Society to the boys in France. These packages were furnished by the children of the parochial schools.
The Fine Arts Department of the league collected and sent to can- tonments in need of them 300 Victrola records, fifty piano rolls, and thousands of pieces of sheet music.
We have endeavored to do a part in the "care of young girls" prob- lem, which was before us during the war. By co-operating with the War Camp Community Service we found that through a little earnest effort we were able to accomplish much.
Our league joined the Women's Committee of the Davenport Unit of the Council of National Defense upon its organization here, and has taken active part in all work taken up by the local unit.
The Scott County Farm Bureau
BY G. R. BLISS, County Agriculturist
When the United States entered the war we were handicapped seri- ously by two unfortunate circumstances. The wheat in the great Northern spring wheat belt had been blasted the preceding season by a disastrous epidemic of black rust. Moreover, unfavorable winter con- ditions in 1916-1917 had completely killed all the winter wheat, all the clover, most of the alfalfa, much of the fruit, and many useful perennial plants throughout the central Mississippi Valley. Thus we went into the war facing a big shortage of wheat and a great dearth of hay and forage crops. How these difficulties were overcome and Iowa emerged after two years with the largest crop records known, despite the whole- sale drafting and enlistment of experienced farm help, constitutes an interesting and inspiring chapter in American agriculture.
Having been in operation since September, 1912, the Scott County Farm Improvement League was prepared to take up without delay the work which the declaration of war by the United States against Ger- many rendered necessary. The administration early recognized the importance of such county organization in prosecuting the great cam- paign for food. Congress made liberal appropriations and the Depart- ment of Agriculture took rapid steps to complete farm bureau organiza- tions in all parts of the United States. Hence, urged on by the govern- ment and directed by an efficient state leader, every one of Iowa's ninety-nine counties was so organized within ten months of America's entry into the struggle. Iowa thus became the first state to place a county agent in each of its counties. The work of these farm bureaus proved invaluable in carrying on the great offensive against world hunger.
Within a month of the declaration of hostilities the Scott County Farm Improvement League had completed a campaign in all the city and village schools of the county, where the pupils were urged to save food in every way possible and to raise garden produce and poultry to meet the great emergency. Messrs. Frank Holm, A. M. Judy, and F. J. Sessions donated the greater part of two weeks' time in making ad- dresses to the young people. Sixteen meetings outside the city of Dav- enport were held, and thirty-two grade, parochial, diocesan, and private schools were visited in the city. At these meetings 10,000 circulars (printed free of charge by the Tri-City Lithographing and Printing Co.) on saving and producing food were distributed.
The second extensive campaign was conducted during June, 1917. A meeting was called and an organization perfected with Harry E. Downer, as chairman, to carry on a campaign to encourage the canning of fruits and vegetables at home so the commercial stocks could be re- served for military use or export. Mrs. K. S. Miller and Miss Vivian
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Jordan were secured from Ames to conduct the demonstrations. Of these twenty-four were held in Davenport and twenty-two in the county. As a result of these meetings many housewives canned quantities of fruit and vegetables by the cold-pack method with excellent results.
The league co-operated with the Davenport Parent-Teacher's Associa- tion, the Rotary Club, and other agencies in promoting community school gardens and vacant lot gardening in Davenport. The outcome of these activities was very gratifying. As a result the Board of Educa- tion took over the school garden work in 1917.
In the spring of 1918 the Department of Agriculture made arrange- ments to appoint a man to assist in school gardens and vacant lot gar- dening work in the city of Davenport. F. G. Hauer was appointed and visited a good many gardens in the city and had general charge of the judging of the various school gardens. The Union Savings Bank, of Davenport, gave a valuable line of trophies and prizes for gardens of this sort.
Soon after the outbreak of the war it became apparent that farm help would be rather hard to get. Realizing this fact the Rotary Club of the city decided to conduct a labor bureau, which the Farm League took over on July 20th, putting Leslie M. Carl, who at that time was acting as assistant to the county agent, in charge. This work was con- tinued by the league until March, 1918, when the United States govern- ment and the state located a district employment bureau in Davenport. During the time the league conducted it an average of about eighteen men per week were placed on farms. At certain times there were more requests for help than could be filled. There was not a pronounced shortage until the latter part of the season of 1918, although, of course, reliable help was hard to get at all times.
In 1917 the United States Department of Agriculture concluded that a Home Demonstrator in each county would be of material aid in show- ing people how to save food and how to use substitutes economically. The department offered to place such a demonstrator in Scott county and pay her salary if the local community would pay the expenses. The Farm League called a general meeting of the women of the city and formed an organization to have general supervision over the work and to raise the funds. About $200 was raised for the purpose and the ser- vices of Miss Lillian Jordan was secured. Miss Jordan was kept busy throughout the greater part of the fall in conducting wheat saving and sugar saving demonstrations for various Parent-Teacher's organizations, Women's Clubs, and other gatherings in the city of Davenport. She resigned in February, 1918, and Mrs. Esther Kramer, whose husband had enlisted for service in France, was secured as her successor. Mrs. Kramer continued the wheat saving and sugar saving demonstrations, and also took up the saving of fat, clothes, and other articles. She con- ducted her work very efficiently from that time until the close of the war.
During the summer of 1918 a second series of canning and drying demonstrations was held with a total of forty meetings. As in the year previous much perishable stuff was saved from spoiling.
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It was thought by some public-spirited people of Davenport that were a community dryer installed it would result in the saving of a large quantity of fruits and vegetables. The Farm League appointed a committee, with Rev. A. M. Judy as chairman, to investigate the matter thoroughly. Finally, after careful study of the question, the committee reported, recommending the establishment of a dryer. This report was received and acted upon by the Davenport Board of Education, which felt it might offer a means of preserving such products from the school gardens as might not find a ready market. Arrangements were made, at the recommendation of Prof. Smart and the kindly offer of assistance by Harry E. Downer, that such a dryer be installed at Friendly House. Unfortunately, some difficulty was encountered in securing the kind of heat which would not interfere with insurance regulations and still would provide sufficient hot air for drying the products. At last the adjustment was made satisfactorily, after the season was almost over, and Mrs. Kramer was asked to take charge of the drying of products. She did this very efficiently and made an excellent record during the three or four days the dryer was in operation. It is believed that this dryer will prove valuable in saving perishable food products to the community in the future.
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