USA > Illinois > Sangamon County > The honor book, Sangamon County, Illinois, 1917-1919 : official service record > Part 83
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The members of the Red Cross committees who instructed in surgical dressings were as follows:
Mrs. E. L. Aldrich, Miss Anna Armstrong, Mrs. T. E. Brittin, Mrs. Harry Berger, Mrs. Sidney S. Breese, Miss Chaffie, Miss Alice Bunn, Mrs. Louis G. Cole- man, Mrs. J. V. Alles, Miss Joan Cumming, Miss Grace Davis, Mrs. Henry Davis, Mrs. I. A. Dikis, Mrs. John Deal, Sr., Miss Helen Donaldson, Miss Detrick, Mrs. Anna Davidson, Mrs. Gaylord Davidson, Miss Jennie Deffenbaugh, Miss Georgia Edwards, Mrs. Flint, Miss Goldsmith, Mrs. J. Harry Haynes, Mrs. Pascal E. Hatch, Mrs. R. Hatcher, Mrs. E. B. Harris, Mrs. Holahan, Mrs. A. L. Ide, Mrs. Pope, Mrs. J. Frank Workman, Mrs. Philip Barton Warren, Mrs. Alonzo Hoff, Mrs. George T. Cresse, Mrs. John R. Tanner, Mrs. Henry Tupper, Mrs. Charles Ridgely, Mrs. William R. Vredenburgh, Mrs. Goughnour, Mrs. Charles H. Stout, Mrs. Ben- ton Thompson, Mrs. George B. Stadden, Mrs. Herman Cole, Mrs. Ralph N. Baker, Mrs. Edgar S. Barnes, Mrs. Thomas Sudduth, Miss Ellen Barnes, Miss Virginia Prince, Mrs. Hal Smith, Mrs. Kelly, Mrs. Olive L. Broadwell, Miss Louise Enos, Mrs. Arthur Neale, Mrs. William T. Lewis, Mrs. J. C. Johnston, Miss Anna L. Johnson, Mrs. Fred Kaufman, Miss Gottschalk, Miss Jennie Jones, Mrs: George L. Larrimore, Mrs. Andrew J. Lester, Miss Mary Lewis, Miss Florence Lowden, Mrs. Fred N. Morgan, Miss Anna Norman, Mrs. Charles L. Patton, Mrs. Pierce, Mrs. M. D. Schaff, Mrs. Granville Sherwood, Mrs. John W. Solomon, Mrs. Percy Smith, Miss Imogene Smith, Mrs. Ray Springfloat, Mrs. Harry G. Swirles, Mrs. J. L. Taylor, Mrs. I. H. Taylor, Mrs. Albert Trapp, Miss Helen Thoma, Mrs. Burke Vancil, Mrs. S. J. Workman.
RED CROSS CANTEEN SERVICE
The Red Cross Canteen Committee, under the direction of Mrs. Henry Davis, chairman, served troop trains both during the War and after the Armistice was signed. Before the Armistice, when the movement of troops was secret, the Canteen committee alone would receive information regarding the passage of troop trains through the city.
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Following the Armistice, returning troop movements made the work of the Canteen service especially heavy.
The membership of the Canteen committee was as follows: Mrs. Henry Davis, chairman ; Mrs. J. P. Allen, Dorothy R. Barker, Mrs. Gladys Troxell Bates, Mrs. Margaret J. Becker, Mrs. Olive L. Broadwell, Mrs. Robert A. Bullard, Mrs. Mildred Bunn, Mrs. Cordelia Warren Caldwell, Mrs. S. Leigh Call, Mrs. Lydia A. Coe, Mrs. Emma Stout Connelly, Katherine Costello, Mrs. Vincent Dallman, Henrietta Day, Jennie Deffenbaugh, Mrs. Georgia L. Dickerman, Mrs. Ralph Dickerman, Mrs. Theresa Scott Dickson, Miss Frances Easley, Mrs. W. W. Ewald, Mrs. Frances K. Fisher, Mrs. Arthur Fitzgerald, Mrs. George Fixmer, Mrs. Leona Fletcher, Mrs. Susan Lawrence Gehrmann, Mrs. Ida M. Hanes, Miss Hildred Hatcher, Margaret P. Jayne, Mrs. Jessie M. Johnston, Mrs. James A. Jones, Melinda Rose Jones, Mrs. Alvin Keys, Mrs. Frances P. Keys, Mrs. Katherine Kibele, Mrs. T. F. Kinsella. Mrs. Cora Barkley Lax, Louise MacLennan, LaReine McGowan, Mrs. E. E. Mckinney, Mrs. Isabella McLain, Mrs. Joe Magzanen, Jr., Willa Moore, Mrs. Shirley Palmer Patton, Maria S. Petefish, Mrs. Paul Pickering, Mrs. Gertrude Reece, Mrs. Fred G. Saner, Miss Camilla Schaeffer, Helen Sheehan, Elberta Thalia Smith, Mrs. Hal. Smith, Hazel I. Smith, Imogene Smith, Mrs. Ruth Morgan Southwick, Mrs. E. E. Staley, Mrs. Lenora Starne, Mrs. Ray D. Stout, Mrs. E. L. Sturtevant, Ethel Summers, Mrs. Harry G. Swirles, Helen Thoma, Laura Thoma, Mrs. Robert W. Troxell, Mrs. Marjorie K. Vredenburgh, Mrs. Daisy L. Wiggins, Mrs. Edith English Woods, Mrs. J. T. Woodward.
RED CROSS KNITTERS
The knitting which was done by the women of Springfield and Sangamon county formed a large part of the work of the Red Cross so faithfully performed by its mem- bers. Every auxiliary and branch had its knitting class, and in addition to these, practically every home in the county saw this work as a part of the routine of the day. In fact, "Knit two, Purl two," was the slogan familiar to all! .
The gentle inmates of the Carrie Post Home for Old Ladies contributed a large amount of knitting to the big score. These faithful women were more than anxious to do their share, and their patient fingers seemed to pick up the threads of long for- gotten days, and they delighted in telling the younger generation just how all this knit two-ing and purl two-ing was done.
Many aged women in the county knitted large numbers of socks and wristlets and helmets and sweaters. Theirs was a part of the uncounted task in which the women of America entered heart and soul to back their boys, their sons, husbands and sweet- hearts, in the righteous fight against the enemy.
RED CROSS INSPECTORS
The women of the committee of Inspectors for the Red Cross gave most generously of their time and effort to the work of inspecting the thousands of articles made by Red Cross workers. This committee inspected everything, garments, knitted articles, Christmas boxes, made by all the Red Cross Workers of the county, with the single exception of Surgical Dressings.
The work of inspecting the Christmas boxes alone, the boxes which relatives of service people in France, Italy, Russia, Belgium and England, were permitted to send to their boys at Christmas time, was a tremendous task. Hundreds of these boxes were carefully inspected, packed, wrapped and addressed under their direction.
They worked chiefly at the Red Cross headquarters, and most untiringly gave months and months of their time, faithfully, devotedly, unstintedly. The same com- mittee, with very few changes, worked together during the entire period of the Red Cross war activities.
Mrs. Ernest Helmle was chairman of the Inspection Committee, which included the following members: Mrs. William T. Lewis, Mrs. W. C. Kikendall, Miss Mary Brown, Mrs. George W. Chatterton, Mrs. A. D. Mackie, Mrs. A. S. Mitchell, Mrs. John Springer, Mrs. C. G. Maxwell, Mrs. Lewis Scharf, Mrs. George Fish, Miss Nellie Weisz, Miss Enola Irwin, Miss Mary Compton. Miss Judith Elkin, Mrs. A. Westburg, Mrs. J. E. Scott, Miss Ellen Corbett, Mrs. John Lord, Mrs. Frank Partridge.
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CHAIRMEN RED CROSS AUXILIARIES
Top Row-(1) Mrs. J. E. Scott, (2) Mrs. Harry Dickerson, (3)
(4) (5) Mrs. Grace Partridge, (6) Miss Jennie Deffenbaugh, (7) Miss Margaret Brooks, (8) Mrs. R. F. Kinsella. Second Row-(1) (2) Mrs. Chester Bowles, (3) Mrs. Louise Graser, (4) Mrs. Louise Scharf, (5)
(6) Mrs. Isabel Hatch, (7) (8) Mrs. D. L. Renfro, (9) (10) Third Row-(1) Mrs. Erhardt Mueller, (2) Mrs. Frederick Brand, (3) ...............
(6) Mrs. P. B. Warren, (7) Mrs. I. S. Fuller, (8) Mrs. Nellie Apblett.
(4) Mrs. Will Vredenburgh, (5) Mrs. John C. Lanphier,
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INSTRUCTORS, SURGICAL DRESSINGS, SANGAMON COUNTY RED CROSS
Bottom Row, left to right-Mrs. Sidney Breese, Mrs. William Lewis, Mrs. Samuel Stout, Mrs. F. N. Morgan, Mrs. Philip B. Warren, Mrs. William Vreden- hurgh, Mrs. Henry Davis, Mrs. Charles L. Patton, Mrs. J. L. Taylor, Mrs. Richard Kinsella.
Top Row-Mrs. A. J. Lester, Mrs. J. C. Johnston, Miss Joan Cumming, Mrs. W. F. Workman, Mrs. John Deal, Sr., Miss Anna Armstrong, Mrs. Louis Myers, Mrs. M. D. Schaff.
Second Row from top-Mrs. Thomas Sudduth, Mrs. Burke Vancil, Miss Virginia Prince, Miss Mary Lewis, Mrs. Granville Sherwood, Mrs. Albert Trapp, Mrs. I. H. Taylor, Miss Helen Donaldson, Miss Jennie Deffenbaugh, Mrs. J. Harry Haynes, Mrs. Herman Cole, Mrs. Hal Smith.
Third Row-Mrs. E. L. Aldrich, Mrs. Stuart Broadwell, Mrs. T. M. Brittin, Mrs. George Stadden, Mrs. John Solomon, Miss Ellen Barnes, Miss Imogene Smith, Miss Hildred Hatcher, Mrs. Charles Stout.
Fourth Row-Mrs. Percy Smith, Mrs. H. G. Swirles, Mrs. J. V. Alles, Mrs. George Cresse, Mrs. E. B. Harris, Mrs. E. Thompson, Miss Georgia Edwards, Mrs. George Larrimore, Mrs. Arthur Neale, Miss Louisa Enos, Mrs. Harry Berger.
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A REPRESENTATIVE GROUP OF RED CROSS KNITTERS (Members of Edwards Place Auxiliary)
Top Row, left to right-Mrs. Cortland B. Stuart, Mrs. R. Freeman Butts, Mrs. Chester W. Bowles, Mrs. Otto G. Miller, Mrs. A. S. Mitchell, Mrs. J. W. Armbruster.
Bottom Row, left to right-Mrs. W. C. Kikendall, Mrs. Fielding M. Legg, Mrs. Burton M. Reid, Mrs. John H. Springer, Mrs. Robert L. Conn.
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OFFICERS, AMERICAN RED CROSS CANTEEN COMMITTEE
Top Row, left to right-Mrs. Harry G. Swirles, Lieut .; Mrs. Charles Kibele, Lieut .; Mrs. W. W. Ewald, Lieut .; Mrs. Cora Barkley Lax, Lieut .; Mrs. Lydia A. Coe, Captain.
Middle Row-Mrs. James A. Jones, Lieut .; Mrs. T. F. Kinsella, Lieut .; Mrs. Reynolds Vredenburgh, Lieut .; Miss Margaret Jayne, Lieut .; Mrs. Lenora Starne, Lieut.
Bottom Row-Mrs. Ilal Smith, Captain; Mrs. Oscar Becker, Captain; Mrs. Vincent Dallman, Assistant Commandant; Mrs. Henry Davis, Commandant; Miss Hazel I. Smith, Captain; Miss Jennie Deffenbaugh, Captain; Mrs. J. P. Allen, Captain.
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RED CROSS INSPECTORS
Top Row, left to right-Mrs. John Springer, Mrs. W. C. Kikendall, Mrs. Nellie Weisz, Miss Euola Irwin, Miss Ellen Corbett, Mrs. Alma Scharf, Mrs. John Lord.
Bottom Row, left to right-Miss Mary Compton, Mrs. Grace Fish Partridge; Mrs. A. D. Mackie, Mrs. Ernst Helmle, Mrs. A. Westburg, Mrs. I. E. Scott, Miss Mary Brown, Miss Judith Elkin.
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ACTIVE MEMBERS AMERICAN RED CROSS CANTEEN COMMITTEE.
Top Row, left to right-Mrs. Oscar Becker, Miss Henrietta Day, Miss Maria Petefish, Mrs. S. Leigh Call, Mrs. W. W. Ewald, Mrs. George Fixmer, Mrs. E. E. Staley, Miss Jennie Deffenbaugh.
Second Row-Miss Hildred Hatcher, Miss Cordelia Caldwell, Mrs. Hal Smith, Mrs. Joe Magsamen, Jr., Mrs. Charles Kibele, Miss Hazel I. Smith, Mrs. Frank S. Dickson, Mrs. E. L. Sturtevant, Mrs. Gertrude Reece.
Third Row-Mrs. J. P. Allen, Mrs. R. F. Kinsella, Mrs. J. J. Costello, Mrs. James A. Jones, Miss Ethel Summers, Miss Margaret Jayne, Miss Dorothy Barker, Mrs. Lenora Starne, Miss Imogene Smith, Mrs. Marjorie K. Vredenburgh, Miss Camilla Schaeffer.
Bottom Row-Mrs. Olive L. Broadwell, Mrs. Fred G. Saner, Mrs. Harry G. Swirles, Mrs. Jesse Payton, Mrs. Vincent Dallman, Mrs. Henry Davis (Command- ant), Mrs. Cora Barkley Lax, Mrs. S. J. (Ida M.) Hanes, Mrs. Charles H. Stout, Miss Elberta Thalia Smith, Mrs. Gladys Troxell Bates.
LIBERTY LOAN
The Liberty Loan organization in Sangamon county remained practically un- changed from the time the First Liberty Loan was floated in May, 1917, until the Victory Loan of May, 1919, went successfully "over the top".
The First and Second Liberty Loan quotas were exceeded in Sangamon county. By the time of the Third Liberty Loan, in May, 1918, the organization was perfected, and the manner in which all five of the big Loans were subscribed in the county was an inspiration.
The quota for the Third Loan for Sangamon county was $2,579,800. Actual investments in Government Bonds were made to the amount of $3,716,100, an over- subscription which had few equals in the United States.
The Fourth Liberty Loan quota for the county was $5,+24,276. The subscriptions in the county amounted to $6,268,800. This Loan was floated in October, 1918.
The quota assigned to Sangamon county for the Fifth, or Victory Loan, in May, 1919, was originally $3,377,500. This quota was voluntarily raised to $4,099,750 by the Federal Reserve and other outside banks. The amount subscribed in Sangamon county was $4,258,950.
The result by Loans is given as follows :
Quota.
Number Subscribers.
Subscribed.
First Liberty Loan.
.$1,640,000
1,800
$1,802,800
Second Liberty Loan
. $2,638,800
8,000
$4,471,700
Third Liberty Loan
$2,579,280
19,125
$3,631,100
Fourth Liberty Loan
$5,424,276
20,282
$6,213,100
Victory Loan
$4,099,750
$4,258,950
James A. Easley was chairman of the Sangamon County Liberty Loan Committee, Latham T. Souther, Vice Chairman; J. Frank Macpherson, Secretary; and Walter A. Townsend, Publicity Director. The committee also included Logan Hay.
The Township Chairmen of the Sangamon County Liberty Loan Committee were as follows: B. L. Barber, Fancy Creek ; J. F. Prather, Williamsville; George Purvines, Cartwright (Pleasant Plains) ; Frank Rhodes, Salisbury; Harry Happer, Gardner; Fred Dickerson, Clear Lake; J. W. Richardson, Buffalo Hart; L. E. Bird, Mechanicsburg; Harry Pickrell, Lanesville; John Sheller, Illiopolis; Lee Maxcy, Island Grove; C. B. Warren, New Berlin ; M. W. Summers, Curran ; L. P. Shepherd, Woodside; Clarence Twist, Rochester; R. F. North, Cooper ; George Parks, Maxwell ; Fred Horn, Loami; G. Pereboom, Chatham; John P. Stout, Ball; Edwin Chard, Cotton Hill; Frank Shearburn, Talkington ; A. O. Merriam, Auburn ; P. M. Welles, Divernon; O. R. Conrad, Pawnee.
WOMAN'S LIBERTY LOAN
The Woman's Liberty Loan Committee, working hand in hand with the men's organization of the Sangamon County Liberty Loan Committee, did much to make the five Loan Drives of the county successful.
The Woman's organization of the Victory Drive, May, 1919, was practically the same organization which existed through the preceding four Loans.
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LIBERTY LOAN WORKERS
JAMES A. EASLEY Chairman Sangamon County Liberty Loan Committee
LATHAM T. SOUTHER Vice-Chairman Liberty Loan Committee
WALTER A. TOWNSEND Publicity Chairman, Liberty Loan Committee
MRS. HOWARD T. WILLSON State Chairman, Illinois Woman's Liberty Loan
MRS. A. O. MERRIAM County Chairman, Woman's Liberty Loan
MRS. PHILEMON STOUT City Chairman Woman's Liberty Loan Committee
MISS GENEVA M. BANE Chairman Foreign Languages Di- vision, Woman's Liberty Loan Committee
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Mrs. Howard T. Willson of Virden and Springfield was State Chairman of the Woman's Liberty Loan Illinois organization through all the Loan drives. Miss Rena George of Springfield was State Vice-Chairman of the Woman's Liberty Loan Com- mittee during the Victory Loan, having served as District Chairman for the district of which Sangamon county was a part during previous Loans. Miss Nellie Browne Duff was chairman of the State Publicity Committee during the Victory Loan. Mrs. Luther Frame of Springfield served in that capacity during the Third and Fourth Liberty Loan drives.
The Sangamon County Woman's Liberty Loan organization for the Victory Loan was practically the same organization which carried on the work in previous Loans. The organization was as follows:
Executive Committee: Mrs. Logan Hay, chairman; Mrs. Stuart Brown, Mrs. George Keys, Miss Rena George, Mrs. Philemon Stout, Mrs. Reynolds Vredenburgh, Mrs. Vincent Dallman, Miss Johanna Engelmann, Mrs. Latham T. Souther, Miss Geneva M. Bane, Mrs. A. O. Merriam.
County chairman, Mrs. A. O. Merriam ; Mrs. Reynolds Vredenburgh, chairman county publicity ; Mrs. C. T. Branson, chairman county speakers' bureau; Mrs. Philemon Stout, chairman Springfield committee; Mrs. John Jess, vice-chairman Springfield committee; Miss Lucy Bates and Miss Frances Easley, office assistants ; Miss Geneva M. Bane, chairman foreign language division; Mrs. George Thomas Palmer, chairman city publicity committee.
Township chairmen: Mrs. Jacob Lard, Ball; Miss Eletha G. Smith, Chatham ; Miss Bessie Chard, Cotton Hill; Miss Mary S. Weir, Cartwright; Miss Mary McRoberts, Curran; Miss Helen B. Colean, Pawnee; Mrs. David L. Haire, Divernon; Mrs. Olive B. Wheeland, Clear Lake; Mrs. J. W. Sullivan, New Berlin ; Mrs. J. B. Lanham, Auburn; Mrs. N. Hussey, Jr., Williams; Mrs. Ralph Twist, Rochester; Miss Hattie I. Glass, Talkington; Mrs. Olive Galloway, Illiopolis; Mrs. J. F. Greenwood, Loami; Mrs. Charles Maxcy, Island Grove ; Mrs. J. J. McDevitt, Maxwell.
WAR SAVINGS STAMPS
The sale of Thrift and War Savings Stamps, or "Baby Bonds," was conducted in Sangamon county under the auspices of the postal authorities. The city and rural mail carriers were the largest salesmen for the "Baby Bonds".
Mr. William H. Conkling, chairman of the War Savings Stamps Committee in Sangamon county, reported that $1,250,000 was invested in Thrift and War Savings Stamps during the year of December, 1917, when the W. S. S. campaign was launched, and December, 1918.
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SANGAMON COUNTY FOOD ADMINISTRATION
Logan H. Coleman, County Food Administrator, standing Elmer R. Cogswell. City Food Administrator, left J. Fleetwood Connelly, Assistant County Administrator, right
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SANGAMON COUNTY FOOD ADMINISTRATION
The Sangamon County Food Administration was organized in November, 1917. The appointment of Logan Coleman as Sangamon County Food Administrator was confirmed December 17, 1917, by the United States Food Administration.
J. Fleetwood Connelly served on the committee, assisting Mr. Coleman in the work of the Food Administration, and in August, 1918, was appointed Assistant County Food Administrator. A short time later the appointment of Elmer R. Cogswell as City Food Administrator for Springfield was made.
The complete committee for Sangamon county included the following township committeemen : George R. Brown, Divernon; W. F. Merriman, Williamsville; F. L. McQuitty, Curran; Frank Whitney, Chatham; Frank Sweet, Fancy Creek ; Clarence Twist, Rochester; C. W. Hunter, Cotton Hill; Robert Knox, Illiopolis ; John H. Ross, Buffalo Hart; Louis Shepherd, Woodside; Harry Happe, Gardner ; W. C. Schaffer, Cartwright; G. P. Harris, Auburn; Lewis Bird, Mechanicsburg; Gertrude Mccullough, Clear Lake; Earl Coulter, New Berlin; T. C. Shepher, Pawnee.
The first thing which confronted the Food Administration after organization in Sangamon county was the flour shortage. Under Mr. Coleman's direction, a flour ration was instituted in the county, and the use of substitutes put into effect, so that wheat flour might be saved for the men in service and the Allies.
During April and May of 1918, a campaign was put on by the County Food Administration to urge people who had flour in storage to return it to their dealers, and accept flour substitutes for it.
Then came the sugar shortage, and sugar rationing in homes, hotels and res- taurants was put into effect. The use of sugar certificates was adopted, and sugar for home or public use could only be obtained on certificates from the Food Administration.
The Food Administration then undertook a general campaign to urge conserva- tion of food stuffs, for the adoption of substitutes and the use of things which could not be shipped to the service men overseas and the Allies, and the release of food materials which would be shipped. The response was generous.
This work continued throughout the year 1918 until the signing of the Armistice terminated hostilities, and after that until the Food Administration was disorganized and the members discharged, in January, 1919.
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SANGAMON COUNTY FUEL ADMINISTRATION
HARRY A. CONVERSE Chairman Sangamon County Fuel Administration
MISS JEANETTE 1. KNOBLOCH Secretary
The Sangamon County Fuel Ad- ministration was organized in No- vember, 1917, with Harry A. Con- verse, chairman; Miss Jeanette I. Knobloch, secretary; Charles W. H. Schuck and Thomas P. Luby, consti- tuting the county committee.
This committee had jurisdiction over the whole of Sangamon county. The purpose was to so regulate the use of fuel in Sangamon county, con- sistent with the program of the United States Fuel Administration, that the industries of the county might be as unhampered as possible while the maximum of fuel was fur- nished for the needful War Agencies.
The principal duty of the Fuel Ad- ministration was to take care of the wants of the local community, to ad- just the price of coal at the mine, the cost of hauling and delivering, and the ultimate price of coal to the con- sumer. This necessitated constant touch with coal operators, retail deal- ers, and team owners.
In addition to looking after the coal supply, the Fuel Administration was required to supervise the enforcement of "Lightless Nights," which were Monday and Tuesday nights of each week, and "Heatless Days," the closing down of industry and the shutting down of heat to the minimum each Monday during January, Februray and March of 1918, and the supervision of the Garfield Closing Order, which required the shutting down of industry for five days in January, 1918.
The County Fuel Administration was also required, by reason of the large coal supply in Sanga- mon county, to assist generally with coal production and supply in the state. For the purpose of con- trolling the output and consumption of coal in Sangamon county, all dealers were registered and no dealers were permt.ted to buy coal from operators other than those registered and icensed with the Fuel Administration.
In the fall of 1918 it became necessary for the Fuel Administratoin to supervise the use of gaso- line, and for a period of about two months "Gaso'ineless Sundays" were in effect in Sangamon county.
The Sangamon County Fuel Administration closed work in February, 1919, and reported that during the period of its existence the citizens of Sangamon county very generally co-operated cheerfully in carrying out the rules and regulations, however pressing and inconvenient they were, which the Fuel Administration imposed.
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SPRINGFIELD LOYAL LEAGUE
The Springfield Loyal League, State Council of Defense, was organized in the Spring of 1918, and incorporated under state laws July 23, 1918. The organization was originally the Auxiliary to Unit No. 1, Council of Defense, which was organized in October, 1917, for the purpose of aiding in the equipment of Unit No. 1, the Home Guard organization of the Council of Defense.
The purpose of the Loyal League, which continued its activities and existence after the Armistice, was to assist the National and State Governments in enforcing the Federal and State laws, to inculcate patriotism, to promote the public good, and to aid to the best of its ability in bringing the World War to a righteous conclusion.
The Loyal League had a secret Espionage committee. It also did a great deal of charity work, in addition to helping all patriotic undertakings during the War.
Two big patriotic celebrations were held in Sangamon county under the auspices of the Loyal League, one the Fourth of July celebration in 1918, and the other the Victory Thanksgiving held at the State Arsenal in November, 1919, after the Armistice.
At the time of the signing of the Armistice, work was under way to establish a Loyal League organization in every township in Sangamon county. And emanating from the Springfield organization the Loyal League movement had started to be state-wide in its scope.
The officers of the Springfield Loyal League, State Council of Defense, during the World War were as follows:
Dr. C. A. Frazee, president ; E. L. Chapin, vice president ; William H. Conkling, secretary-treasurer ; H. E. Barker, sergeant-at-arms; Rev. Euclid B. Rogers, chaplain.
Directors: Dr. C. A. Frazee, Harry M. Snape, John H. McCreery, Oscar Ansell, Charles W. Byers, E. L. Chapin, William H. Conkling, Louis M. Myers, H. S. Bekemeyer, H. B. Davidson, James H. Matheny, Col. Henry Davis, W. A. Couthway, Rev. Euclid B. Rogers.
The membership of the Loyal League number seven hundred.
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FOUR MINUTE MEN
SIDNEY S. BREESE Chairman Four Minute Men
When the "Four Minute Men," a specialized publicity service of the government, was organized in Sangamon county, Sidney S. Breese of Springfield was made chairman of the organization. He was also appointed a member of the Executive Board of the Illinois "Four Minute Men" organization.
The purpose of the "Four Minute Men" was to assist the various departments of the government in the work of National defense during the World War, by the pro- vision of national organization of volunteer speakers to present to moving picture theatre audiences four minute direct messages on subjects of vital national importance. This organization proved a national "mouthpiece," under centralized direction at Washington, working with the patriotic assistance of the motion picture industry. Talks were made by the "Four Minute Men" in Sangamon county in behalf of all the War Drives, such as Red Cross, Liberty Loan, United War Work, and other drives for funds to carry on war activities, and to present to the people of the county any subject of importance to them as part of the nation which needed consideration and assistance.
The organization of "Four Minute Men" in Sangamon county comprised the following speakers: Sidney S. Breese, chairman; I. M. Allen, Charles D. Bair, John A. Barber, Edgar S. Barnes, Adolph Bernard, Eugene E. Bone, Stuart Brown, Roger E. Chapin, Henry L. Child, Louis G. Coleman, Thomas J. Condon, James A. Easley, Michael Eckstein, James M. Graham, Arthur L. Hereford, Edward F. Irwin, Robert C. Lanphier, Hugh S. Magill, James H. Matheny, I. E. Foster (c), John W. Solomon, George M. Morgan, Elmer A. Perry, Thomas W. Quinlan, Albert H. Rankin, W. Edgar Sampson, Harvey M. Solenberger, Latham T. Souther, George B. Stadden, Albert D. Stevens, George G. Strathern, J. B. Weaver, Lewis N. Wiggins, Harlington Wood, M. U. Woodruff, Roy M. Seeley, Grover C. Rockwood, George Woodson, Rev. Clyde B. Blakeslee, Charles S. Gibbs (c), Alvin C. Margrave, William Dodd Chenery, William L. Patton.
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