USA > Iowa > Scott County > History of the war activities of Scott County Iowa, 1917-1918 > Part 11
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Soon after the draft law was passed and the Exemption Board began operation requests began to come to the league for help in securing the exemption of many farm operators and laborers. The league took the ground that no actual farm operator should be drafted and agreed thor- oughly with the local exemption board in the belief that one young man should be left with the operator of every quarter section, so there would be one good man for each eighty acres of land. Otherwise production would be seriously curtailed. The league took steps to get as much information together about the registration of men as possible and then responded to a great many requests for affidavits urging the deferred classification of farm operators and young men whose places could not be well filled. In many instances assistance was given registered men in filling out their questionnaires, and after the war closed a great many affidavits were signed requesting the discharge of men from the service who were needed at home because of dependents or for agri- cultural reasons.
In the Liberty Bond campaigns the County Agent was able to give some assistance in the selection of solicitors and township chairmen. Our work had placed us in touch with many of the more capable men of the county, and in most instances the prominent workers for the league were found to be the most valuable solicitors. During the fourth Liberty Loan drive the County Agent acted as one of the jurors of the Liberty Court which was conducted by the Council of Defense. His knowledge of farm conditions and acquaintance among the farmers enabled him to be of some service in fixing equitable values and sug- gest fair adjustments in regard to the number of bonds a man should buy.
Probably the most valuable work of the league during the war was in connection with the seed corn, spring wheat, and winter wheat sur- veys, which were conducted by the school district co-operators who were
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appointed by the Farm Bureau and approved by the State Council of Defense, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the Governor of Iowa. The Governor sent each of these men an engraved certificate showing his official position as district co-operator. These men did very patriotic and efficient work in visiting farmers of their district and reporting the number of bushels of seed corn available for planting in 1918, and urging the men to test by the individual ear method. This survey showed that there was considerable seed in the county, but that only 58 per cent had been gathered from the field and that much of it was very low in germination. Tests made by the league of 3,300 ears by the single ear method showed that but 1,321 ears, or less than 30 per cent was fit for seed. Fortunately the campaign conducted during the spring induced 68 per cent of the farmers to make single ear tests, and most of the others general tests at least. Moreover, weather conditions were unusually favorable at planting time, with the result that the best average stand was secured in the county that had ever been known in spite of the critical condition of the seed. In November Scott county harvested the best crop in many years.
Facing a serious shortage of wheat, the Department of Agriculture urged during the spring of 1918, through the school district co- operators that every farmer sow spring wheat. In order to encourage this movement the Western Flour Mills and the Phoenix Mills, of Daven- port, shipped in four carloads, totaling 4,500 bushels of northern grown Marquis seed from Duluth and St. Paul. This seed was distributed through Scott, Clinton, Rock Island, Muscatine, and Johnson counties. In addition to this some 2,600 bushels, which was located by the Farm Bureau in Scott county, was also distributed among neighbors of the men who raised this seed. As a result the largest acreage of spring wheat was grown that Scott county has produced in many years. June's great prospects were cut down later by weather favorable to scab, but the total wheat crop of the county was 695,000 bushels. Thus were the people of our allies as well as ourselves supplied with their daily bread.
The school district co-operatives were again called into service on the wheat and seed corn survey made during the months of September and October, 1918. These men were instructed to urge the farmers in their district to sow heavily of winter wheat. Scott county was given an allotment of 12,000 acres, or an average of 120 acres per district and seven acres per farm. One man sowed 100 acres, another eighty, an- other seventy-five, a number over fifty, and many over twenty. One school district put in over 400 acres. Six or seven had over 300 and many over 200 acres. The final estimate for the county taken after the wheat had been seeded showed a total of 16,840 acres, a very heavy in- crease over that of previous years.
Along with the wheat survey the county operator urged the early gathering of seed corn in sufficient quantities for two years' supply. This prompting, coupled with the experience of the preceding spring, resulted in 89 per cent of the farmers gathering a sufficient amount of seed in this way.
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In the spring of 1918 the state and the United States Department of Agriculture started a campaign for the eradication of the common and purple barberry, because this plant serves as an intermediate host for the fungus causing the black rust of small grain. Representatives of the United States Department of Agriculture were in Scott county for a considerable time locating and asking for the extermination of these plants. The help of the boys of the High school was enlisted for the thorough survey made in the city of Davenport. With the aid of the Farm Bureau, trips were made to all the small towns in the county. Hundreds of plants were found, and most of the owners responded in a very patriotic way to the request that such plants be destroyed. A total of over 9,000 plants were thus taken out. Only two counties in Iowa had a heavier sacrifice to make in this way. There were a few house- holders, either without proper information or lacking in patriotic spirit, who needed considerable pressure. In such cases the help of the Coun- cil of Defense was enlisted and most of the obstinate ones were finally induced to dig up the barberries. Close observation during the summer in the neighborhood of bushes not destroyed abundantly confirmed the scientists' judgment against the barberry, and recently a state law has been enacted requiring the destruction of all the green and purple leafed plants of the common species. Thus the war and a great shortage of wheat has compelled action which removed a grave menace to the successful culture of all the small grains.
The farmer played his part well. With the double incentive offered by the highest prices since the Civil War and the desire to serve this country the rural people labored long and hard. The eight-hour day did not apply in their case. More often it was a case of two eight-hour shifts. The war taught the farmer to get along with less help-he was compelled to. Often he bought a tractor and usually he went to the field with four, five, or six horses instead of a single team. Fortunately his profits were unusually in accord with the patriotic service he rendered by heavy production.
The onion growers at Pleasant Valley averaged between $500 and $600 per acre on the 500 acres of onions which they raised. Several men realized almost $1,000 per acre on tracts of considerable size. A truck man near Davenport sold $3,500 worth of fruit and vegetables from a small place of about ten acres. A Lincoln township farmer had eight apple trees which averaged over $50.00 per tree. An apple grower near Blue Grass sold $4,700 worth of apples from four acres, a record never before equalled in Iowa. Another farmer near Walcott sold over $1,000 in poultry and eggs -- a mere side issue with him. Seven acres in Rock- ingham township produced over $100 worth of wheat per acre. Many an alfalfa field presented its owner with a hay crop worth from $100 to $125 per acre. One Sheridan township farmer sold over $10,000 worth of hogs. The gross income of many sons of the soil exceeded $10,000.
The year 1918 was the most profitable Scott county has ever known. Our farmers worked hard, produced heavily, profited largely, as they merited, and purchased Liberty Bonds abundantly. Their part in winning the war was an exceedingly important one.
Food Saving and Thrift
BY MRS. ESTHER G. KRAMER, Home Demonstration Agent
The challenge which came to the women of America to mobilize their forces for a heroic attack upon the food problem met with a quick and willing response throughout the whole country. Women had been wait- ing to find out just how they might best serve in the country's great crisis. In order to save time for them individually, a home demonstra- tion agent, trained in domestic economy was sent into every county in Iowa to give demonstrations, lectures, and help to those women who cared for or needed assistance so that the new problems which were constantly arising might be met more easily. In Scott county 150 demonstrations and lectures in three months' time, reaching over 10,000 women, were given. Methods of conserving wheat, meat, fats, and sugar were discussed, resulting in a much increased saving in these supplies. The making of practical dietaries and wartime menus and a continued drive on the saving of foods necessary for exportation (by increasing the use of substitute foods) was a special wartime feature of the work.
Pledges were sent out to all of the Davenport women's clubs urging the elimination of the fourth meal, and to this appeal sixty organiza- tions, embracing over 1,000 women, responded, pledging themselves to abstain from the serving or partaking of refreshments at any social function for the duration of the war.
During the early spring the increased production of food through war gardens was urged, and canning clubs were formed where groups of girls (10-17 years old) worked diligently throughout the summer. Two such groups meeting weekly canned 1,500 quarts of products for their own family consumption and demonstrated to their own people the superiority of cold pack canning over other methods. Fifty-five canning demonstrations, reaching every town in the county, and every ward in Davenport were held, where nearly 3,000 women were given instructions in the preservation of fruits, vegetables, and meats. The dehydrator, installed at the Friendly House by the city School Board and managed by the Home Demonstration Agent, turned out about 800 pounds of dried fruits and vegetables, samples of which won the blue ribbon at the State Horticultural Show and were finally sent into Washington, D. C., as an example of dehydrated products of especial merit.
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"Stop! Don't eat that extra slice of bread, eat another potato in- stead" was the slogan used in April and May when the market was flooded with potatoes, and wheat was scarce. A county-wide campaign for the use of potatoes in place of wheat was carried on by means of exhibits, lectures, dialogues, and plays, demonstrations, and press notices. The grocers co-operated in this campaign, lowering the price and advertising the sale of potatoes.
Club work among the girls of the county was carried on throughout the entire year-canning clubs during the summer months, and food
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and garment clubs during the winter months. Twenty young women were enrolled in classes to study nutrition and economy of foods. In Bettendorf a sewing club of girls from 10 to 15 years of age met weekly. Two sewing clubs at Princeton composed of fourth to eighth grade girls met one morning weekly for instruction in sewing.
Thrift in the home was stressed especially during the war period because of the increased need not only of supplies, but of money. Labor saving devices were exhibited and explained; plans for more efficient kitchens were drawn and household accounting was urged. Specialists were brought in to discuss the use of the budget and household account- ing in every home. As a result 250 families began to keep some sort of an account of their expenditures and sent in statements of this char- acter: "I bought two War Saving Stamps last month with the money I saved from my allowance. It surely pays to know where the money goes.”
During the period when woolen materials were so scarce and so sorely needed by the men in uniform a campaign was carried on for the conservation of wool throughout the county. We asked for an increased use of old woolen material and the return to mills (for remanufacture) of woolen scraps too poor to use in any other way. The rural school teachers assisted in this campaign and succeeded in turning back hundreds of pounds of woolen material into the channel where it might be salvaged and used again. Some of the woolen material turned in was in the form of garments much too good to be thrown away and many of these were turned over to Davenport families who were in need of them. At the same time that the rural teachers made an effort to gather up woolen scraps, they also asked the children to save pits and stones for the making of gas masks, and about twenty barrels of these were collected.
Assistance was given the Overseer of the Poor, the Industrial Relief, and the Home Service Red Cross in doing individual home work, show- ing families how to make their earnings go a little farther, how to market, what foods were best suited to the needs of children, how to make over garments, etc. During the influenza epidemic help was given in homes where every member of the family was sick. Simple foods were cooked, rooms were aired, and the family made comfortable. Instructions were given in making wheatless breads, in canning or drying, in cutting over clothing, in the keeping of household accounts, in marketing, in food study, in the use of the sewing machine attach- ments, in sugar, meat, and fat saving, in the use of the pressure cooker, in rearranging kitchen equipment, in care of the sick, food for the child, etc.
Demonstrations and lectures were given at the various county insti- tutes, and outside help was located for judging culinary and fancy work displays.
Letters were sent out to all the rural teachers giving suggestions for a hot noon lunch, and urging that every effort be made to secure the co-operation necessary to provide equipment for the preparation of the hot dish. Sandwich suggestions and suitable lunch combinations were given out to each teacher and to many mothers who were interested.
War Mothers of America
BY MRS. A. F. HASSELMAN, Historian
Realizing that on the morale of the folks at home depended much of our success in winning the war, and that one of the greatest props to a war mother's courage was in talking over with kindred spirits the events that happened to "my boy," a handful of Davenport war mothers planned the Mothers of Soldiers Club.
With the help of Miss Alice French, the organization was formed July 30, 1918, at the Y. W. C. A. Home, where the meetings have since been held. Mrs. J. F. Benson was chosen President, and Mrs. Gertrude Warren, Secretary-Treasurer.
As an organization, the work consisted largely of placing added supports under the courage of the members, by the messages and letters from the boys read in answer to roll call at the semi-monthly meetings, where many smiles and a few tears were mingled. The members as individuals have been identified with every active war work in the community.
The organization made an excellent growth, and later affiliated with the national body of the War Mothers of America, which has over a million members now enrolled, and to which are also eligible the wives, sisters, and daughters of men in active service of the United States during the war. The local organization is now known as Davenport Chapter War Mothers of America. The officers are:
President-Mrs. J. F. Benson.
Secretary-Mrs. Gertrude Warren.
Treasurer-Mrs. C. A. McGill.
Historian-Mrs. A. F. Hasselman.
After the armistice was signed and the boys were beginning to come home, a welcome home sign was placed at the Rock Island station, and when the 34th Division, a part of which were our own Batteries B and D, of the 126th Field Artillery, were coming into Newport News, a radio message of love and welcome was flashed to them from the War Mothers Club. Later a welcome home party was given at the Y. M. C. A. for all returned soldiers, and plans are in the making for much larger things in the future. The real work of the War Mothers of America is only just beginning, and the keynote of the organization will be "Service for Those who Served."
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The Parent-Teacher Clubs
BY MRS. L. C. Voss, Chairman War Service Committee
It has been said: "The children of the United States are the nation's greatest asset." This being true there is no question as to on whom the momentous task of shaping and preparing this asset should fall. No organization was ever formed which could in any way reach out in all directions to a fuller extent than the Parent-Teacher Clubs.
When the slogan: "Food Will Win the War" became the nation's cry, no hearts were more deeply touched or hands more ready to respond than those of the parents of the rising generation. Consequently all over the city, under the auspices of a competent committee, the school gardens appeared. Every public and parochial school in the city had its garden. Approximately seven hundred children lent their time and efforts to make them a success.
The cups, medals, and cash prizes were enthusiastically competed for by the young patriots who have proved themselves every inch American. Theirs was a wonderful showing in the Fourth of July parade. Two hundred and fifty little city farmers followed the large float, which was wonderfully decorated with the fruits of their own labor. Each school presented their particular slogan, which proved that theirs was one great mind with but a single thought, that of "helping win the war."
When word first reached the Parent-Teachers of the wonderful fur- lough homes they at once responded. Twenty-five French orphans have been provided for by the fifteen different Parent-Teacher clubs.
Red Cross work is a mothers' work, and although nearly every member of the organization was the mother of her home, she found time and money to devote to Red Cross sewing. Eleven Red Cross sewing rooms were established throughout the city by different branches of the organization. A large number of sewing machines, tables, and other necessities were donated these rooms, but a great many were purchased by the clubs. Each found themselves under a burden of expense in some way or another, which they met in various ways. They made 22,575 bandages of different kinds, 205 comfort kits, 20,000 shot bags were made. Thousands of yards of tape were hemmed. Upward of 30,000 garments finished, such as bed shirts, over the tops, various kinds of underwear, bed blankets, pinafores, and numerous other articles were made. The knitting needles of the clubs clicked at all times, at home and everywhere, finishing over 2,000 woolen garments.
At the Red Cross Fair, the Parent-Teacher clubs promoted several attractions, and were able to turn over $786.71 to the Red Cross.
Although Scott county women were not allowed to vote a number were present at the polls on election day. Each voter was asked by them to invest in Thrift or War Savings Stamps. This was no small task. A few men could not or would not understand why women were
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allowed to be around the polls. One woman was even told that it was unlawful for her to sell anything within a certain radius of the polling place. She was accused of being an imposter, and it was with difficulty she proved her right. At the various polls the voters bought $194.84 worth of stamps.
During cash week, November 24-30, 1918, the Parent-Teachers erected at the Columbia Theatre a very attractive booth, a large bird cage, which held the white dove of peace, and expressed their slogan: "Buy War Saving Stamps and Feed the Peace Dove." Cash sales for the week were $337.60.
The central organization of Parent-Teacher clubs, with its great child welfare motive, stands ever ready to help Uncle Sam in whatever way possible.
State and District Activities that Centered Here
Scott county not only "put over" its own war activities with tremendous success but contributed much to the direction of state and district campaigns.
The work of the Greater Iowa Association, of great value in the Liberty Loan and other campaigns, was directed from its state head- quarters here, with general offices in the Putnam building. Colonel George Watson French was its president and Woodworth Clum, secre- tary. Colonel French was also a member and Vice-Chairman of the State Council of National Defense. He spent most of his time during the war period in traveling over the state and to Washington, D. C., when necessary, in the interest of the Iowa work, and Secretary Clum was equally busy and effective. To their efforts were due largely the manner in which Iowa went "over the top" for every loan after the first two.
Mrs. J. W. Watzek was president of the Iowa Federated Women's Clubs and a prominent leader of the women's war work in the state.
George M. Bechtel was District Chairman for twenty-five counties for the second Liberty Loan, and Chairman of Group 8, Cedar, Clinton, Jackson, Jones, Muscatine, and Scott counties, for the third, fourth, and fifth loans, and for sales to bonds of treasury certificates of indebted- ness. He was Chairman of the Military Training Camps Association of this congressional district, passing on applications of candidates for the various training camps.
Ray Nyemaster was District Organizer for Group 8 for the Liberty Loans and District Chairman of the United War Work Drive.
Secretary Cohagan, of the Davenport Y. M. C. A., was District Sec- retary of the campaign for increasing the "Y" funds and personnel in war work.
J. Reed Lane was District Chairman for the first drive for a Y. M. C. A. war work fund.
A. F. Dawson was District Chairman for the first Red Cross mem- bership campaign and for the Smileage Book campaign.
Homes Registration Service
BY E. P. ADLER, Chairman
The Davenport Bureau of the Homes Registration Service was a branch of the United States Housing Corporation, which was one of the activities of the Department of Labor.
A traveling representative of the corporation came to Davenport in July, 1918, and organized the Davenport branch of the Homes Registra- tion Service, with the following members of the committee: E. P. Adler, Chairman; Lieut. J. Reed Lane, Dr. George M. Middleton, J. L. Hecht, R. L. Cornick, George Huntoon, J. W. Bollinger, Joseph Brus, Louis Bein, Eugene Walsh, W. O. Calvert, Maurice A. Hemsing.
Under instructions from Otto M. Eidlitz, the Davenport Bureau was to "arrange for listing, conserving, and where necessary improve ex- isting homes. To foster the renting of all houses, flats, and rooms of Davenport through the Homes Registration Service. Also to use every effort to prevent profiteering in rents, and above all, the eviction of in- dustrial workers engaged on government work. To take care of the welfare of war workers by inducing property owners to make their property sanitary and homelike. To bend every effort to secure for each war worker the kind of home he desires."
The first instructions to the committee were to secure data and make a card index system of all vacant houses and rooms in the city of Dav- enport. This was done through the aid of the letter carriers of Daven- port, who made a complete house-to-house canvass, and, on cards pro- vided, reported vacant rooms or houses, with complete data about them. Two hundred dollars was paid the letter carriers for this work, the fund being provided by the Scott County Council of Defense. It is interest- ing to note that in this canvass only about twenty vacant buildings were reported in the entire city, the majority of these being old store rooms, not suitable for residence.
Through the courtesy of the Scott County Council of Defense in supplying necessary funds, the committee began work on August 5, 1918, in an office in the Putnam Building, the entire expense being borne by the Council of Defense.
In a report made to Dr. James Ford, of Washington, Manager of the Homes Registration Division, on December 18, 1918, the chairman wrote as follows:
"Since this office was opened on August 5, 1918, we have heard a total of 112 cases, divided up roughly as follows: Raise in rent not allowed, 36; raise in rent allowed, 10; house wanted by owner, 19; houses sold, 7; complaints of heat, children, failure to pay rent, etc., 40. Total, 112. "From our records which we gathered in this office of rooms, rooms and board, furnished and unfurnished rooms for rent, this canvass being made by the mail carriers, we distributed these to applicants as follows: Light housekeeping rooms, 124; sleeping rooms, 24; room and board, 29. Total applications filled, 177."
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