USA > Indiana > Howard County > History of Howard county in the World War > Part 40
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One morning soon after the Fourth Liberty Loan campaign had ended, a number of names of alleged "slackers" appeared on a large yellow bulletin board located on the southeast corner of the court house yard. Naturally this caused considerable comment, and the senti- ment was divided as to the wisdom of this method of procedure. There were rumors of damage suits, but the whole incident was quietly dropped when the board was removed from the public square.
WOMEN'S ORGANIZATIONS
The women of Howard County gave of their time and strength just as freely as did the men. They not only assisted in drives but carried on the relief work, which was a never-ending task. In the home, in the church and in the shop the women worked faithfully. They supported French orphans, collected food for the Belgians and clothing for the Armenians. It was remarkable how quickly the women revised the family budget to meet the ever-increasing cost of living, and adjusted themselves to war-time food regulations.
Some of the women's organizations were inactive during the war and their members devoted their time to Red Cross work. However, some of them worked independently and accomplished great good, and no war history of the county would be complete without a report of their activities.
CLARA BARTON SUNDAY-SCHOOL CLASS
The Clara Barton Sunday-School Class gave to the Red Cross their annual dues of $49.00, and in addition to this gave $66.25. They com- pleted 722 articles for the Red Cross Shop.
DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
The General James Cox chapter of the D. A. R. contributed to the Y. M. C. A., $10; Y. W. C. A., $10; Red Cross, $15; French orphan fund, $85; restoration of the French village of Tilloloy, $40; Jewish Relief,
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GROUP OF KOKOMO WAR WORKERS.
First row, beginning at the left-Mrs. Frank Rossitter, Font- Minute Speaker; Mrs. II. W. Vrooman, Red Cross; Mrs, Elizabeth Jackson, Red Cross; Mrs. Roger Higgins, Red Cross; Mrs. W. E. Sollenberger, Library War Work; Mrs. C. HI, Havens, Chairman of the Washington Auxiliary.
Second row-Mrs. W. J. MeElwain, Red Cross; Mrs. M. P. Stibbens, Chairman Social Welfare Work: Mrs, Harry Knouff. Red Cross; Miss Clara E. Berry, Vocational Cooking School: Mrs. A. B. Armstrong, Red Cross: Mrs. W. F. Templin, Red Cross.
Third row -- Mrs. G. T. Rathel, Chairman Catholic Auxiliary; Mes. J. E. Fredrick, First Chairman Cutting Department: Mrs. G. D. Jay, Director Civilian Relief; Mrs. Bessie Cox, Red Cross: Mrs. Josephine Sailors, Red Cross; Mrs. Gretchen Gerhart. Red Cross.
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$10; patriotic education, $22; soldiers' mothers, $12; 150 books, and 100 quarts of fruit, and twenty-eight scrap books. Copies of the Constitution of the United States were given to the public schools and public build- ings. Five members of the chapter supported French orphans. The members made 1,561 garments, part of which were sent to Belgian chil- dren. The chapter was a Red Cross auxiliary. In the loan campaigns, $200 were invested in bonds, and the coupons re-invested in war savings stamps.
GLOBE RANGE WOMEN
The women employes of the Globe Range Company conceived the idea of knitting a flag which they would place on sale, the proceeds of the sale to be given to the Red Cross. The employes of the factory con- tributed the money to buy the yarn, and the following women made the flag: Josephine Brown, Blanche Parker, Ethel Kreig, Sallie Dimmitt, Lulu Frazier and Nellie Wickersham. It took nearly a month to complete the flag; then it was placed on exhibit in the window of the Thalman & Levi store and tickets were sold. On the evening of June 18, 1918, after a Red Cross parade, headed by the Citizens' Band and the militia, a program was given on the lawn of the Globe Park. Conrad Wolf was in charge of the ceremonies. The amount received from this sale was $982. Considering the amount of the investment, this was said to be the largest gift to the Howard County Chapter of the Red Cross. It was a fine lesson in patriotism, for it showed what could be done by women who were employed.
KOKOMO DEPARTMENT CLUB
The Kokomo Department Club gave for the support of a French orphan, $36.50; soldiers' library fund, $5; French Christmas fund. $5; French children's fund, $7.04; war children's relief fund membership, fifty cents; Liberty Loan advertising in Dispatch, $5; United War Work pledge, $25; soldiers' scrap books, $2; War Victory fund for hostess houses pledge, $25. The club invested $500 in Liberty bonds and $24.96 in war savings stamps.
KOKOMO EQUAL SUFFRAGE AND LITERARY CLUB
Instead of serving refreshments at the meetings, as had been the custom for years, the Suffrage Club voted that the hostesses should pay fifty cents each, and give the amount each month to any war relief work the committee wished. From time to time patriotic talks were heard along lines that most needed attention.
P. E. O. SOCIETY
The P. E. O. sisterhood was the first organization of women to buy a bond in the Second Liberty Loan campaign. This was the first loan
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in which the women were organized. The bond was later given to the national P. E. O. educational fund. At each meeting the members did Red Cross sewing.
PSI IOTA XI SORORITY
The members of Psi Iota Xi raised money to make and fill 200 com- fort kits and fifty layettes. They gave for French orphan support $73, to the Red Cross $300. They had charge of the library drive in the down- town district. Each member spent one afternoon a week at the Red Cross shop. One hundred scrap books were made, and innumerable sweaters, helmets and wristlets. They assisted in all the campaigns and purchased one Liberty bond.
ROUND TABLE
The members of the Round Table gave $5 to the War Library fund and $10 to the War Victory Commission for hostess houses in France.
SYMPOSIUM
The Symposium gave to the French orphan fund, $73; French War Orphan Relief Association, $50; comfort kits for soldiers, $6.25; box for soldiers, $7.90; Y. W. C. A. war work, $5; library war fund, $5; national anti-tuberculosis association for war work, $5; Red Cross, $5; War Vic- tory Commission for hostess houses in France, $25.
TRI KAPPA SORORITY
The Tri Kappas spent one evening each week at the Red Cross shop making surgical dressings. The members knitted a large supply of sweat- ers, socks, helmets, and made many comfort kits, children's garments for Belgian refugees, and layettes. They assisted in all of the drives. The sorority contributed nearly $500 to war relief work; gave money to the Indiana ambulance for the western front. Three members are now in government work at Washington: Mary Jane Brandon, and Beatrix and Irene Bayer.
WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION
The W. C. T. U. sent to the military hospital at West Baden, Ind., 400 books, fifty handkerchiefs, one barrel of jelly and fruit, a wool afghan and music records valued at $50. They paid $10 on a field kitchen, $36.50 for the support of a French orphan, $2 for the young crusader's father- less fund, $1 to the blind soldiers' book fund. One union in the county made eight dozen bandages. The county organization purchased one Lib- erty bond and each of the Kokomo unions bought one bond. One union made a large number of comfort kits. The Jubilee Fund for Reconstruc-
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Howard County in the World War
tion Work called for the largest subscription, but it proved to be the easiest to raise. The assessment for Howard County was $1,140. The women raised $1,203.59. The boys and girls gave to this fund $80 which they raised in their Loyal Temperance Legion tag day work. The mem- bers of the W. C. T. U. worked in all lines of war activities.
WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS
The W. R. C. was the first organization to have its own Red Cross auxiliary. They knitted 156 articles and made 648 garments. They gave $130 to various war relief funds, and purchased $100 worth of war sav- ings stamps. These women had worked for the "Boys in Blue" who marched away in '61. They were quick to see the need of organized effort, and the fingers which had moved so deftly in another war were just as quick to respond to the needs of their sons and grandsons who went to the front in 1917-18.
GREENTOWN CLUBS
The women of Greentown did a great deal of work in their Red Cross organizations and clubs. The Research Club gave $27 as the proceeds from one entertainment. They sent a large number of books to the War Library. The Home Economics Club sent a quantity of canned goods, as did also the W. C. T. U. on several different occasions.
RUSSIAVILLE WOMEN
The Russiaville Red Cross organization had more than sixty mem- bers. They gave over $800, and in addition made over 800 garments, 250 pairs of socks, and many sweaters, helmets, scarfs and wristlets. The women of the Tourist Club gave to the Red Cross $10; the Thimble Club $5, and they sewed at every meeting; the Elite Club $4; the Needle Club $5, and they made dozens of sheets and hospital garments for French orphans. The women in the several churches raised money and made garments as follows: Methodist, $50 and 163 garments; Baptist, $15 and 150 garments; Friends, $10 and forty-three garments; Christian, $20 and twenty-four garments. The Junior Red Cross made eighty garments and knitted many articles. The women of Russiaville prepared more than 6,000 surgical dressings, and sent to soldiers' libraries over 100 books. The Eastern Star purchased one Liberty bond.
NEW LONDON
The ladies of the New London auxiliary completed more than four- teen hundred garments for the soldiers, including socks, sweaters, hel- mets, etc. Girls' capes, underwear and shirts were made for the refugees of France and Belgium. A number of the ladies came to Kokomo to work
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Howard County in the World War
in the Red Cross shop, where they made over eight hundred gauze band- ages for hospital purposes. The Friends church gave fifty dollars per month during the war for reconstruction work in France.
Other units in the county were just as active and just as patriotic, but no definite report was available for publication.
CHURCHES
It is interesting to note how quickly the churches of Howard County assumed their share of the war work. The ministers accepted the chal- lenge and preached a pure and undefiled patriotism from every pulpit in the county. Churches became the community centers where patriotic meetings were held and organizations formed for war work. Creeds were forgotten, all denominations worshipped together, and Protestant, Cath- olic and Hebrew spoke from the same platform. In the Jewish relief drive a Catholic was county chairman. The war called for universal service. Church rooms were fitted up for the Red Cross shop, where the women and girls assembled to knit and sew for the soldiers. Sunday-schools gave entertainments and the proceeds were donated to the Red Cross or some other relief organization.
A beautiful custom of displaying service flags in the churches, homes and places of business was observed throughout the war. The flag had a border of red and the stars were on a field of white. A silver star represented the living and a gold one the dead. These flags were dedi- cated to the men who had gone into the service, and were kept hanging in some appropriate place until the close of the war or the return of the men.
Perhaps the first church in the county to so honor her young men was St. Andrews Episcopal. Many of her sons had joined the army long before America entered the war, and they stood ready to avenge the death of their British cousins as soon as the opportunity should come. This little parish gave her entire strength of young men. The rector, Rev. John F. Plummer, kept constantly in touch with each of the thirty- nine boys by correspondence during the war.
The Disciples Church sent its pastor. Rev. David H. Shields, to do religious work in the army cantonments. His work was received so well by the soldiers that he was asked to go overseas as a chaplain. Although this work appealed to him very much, he felt that his church at home was his special field.
Rev. Otis A. Smith, pastor of the Presbyterian Church, inaugurated a series of special patriotic services, which were held on Sunday eve- nings. A number of the leading citizens of the city took part in these services and spoke on various phases of war work.
The Christian Scientists gave liberally to war relief work.
St. Patrick's Church had one of the largest service flags in the county.
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Howard County in the World War
Rev. Robert J. Pratt took part in all war activities and the women gave a great amount of time to relief work.
A gold star was placed on the service flag of the Harrison Street Christian Church, in memory of James DeArmond Golloday, the first Howard County soldier killed in the war.
Grace Methodist Church had the largest auditorium in the city, and here were held many of the patriotic meetings, where members from all churches in the city participated. Its pastor, Rev. W. B. Freeland, was active in all war work.
The Main Street Methodist Church was the scene of many stirring meetings. Its service flag contained almost a hundred silver stars and one gold one. The pastor, Rev. E. E. Trippeer, volunteered to go over- seas as a chaplain, but younger men were chosen for these positions.
The Friends Church stands for world-wide peace, yet its members are left free to follow the dictates of their own conscience. As a result many of her young men volunteered. The pastor, Rev. Lewis E. Stout, reported that a large sum of money was contributed to the Friends' reconstruction work in France.
The Congregational Church was without a pastor during a part of the war, but its members were very active in supporting the government in all its war activities. Rev. David Bent, the pastor during the latter part of the war, took an active part in all patriotic movements.
The Baptist, the United Brethren and all other churches in the county with their pastors rallied loyally to the support of their government in its time of peril.
LODGES
So far as known, all the lodges of the county were just as patriotic and loyal as any of the other organizations. Much of their relief work was done so quietly that the public learned but very little about it. How- ever, this much is known, that they contributed liberally to all the dif- ferent war activities and used funds, which were intended for building purposes in many cases, to purchase Liberty bonds. Service flags were displayed in all their halls.
The Elks Lodge of Kokomo stood responsible for the success of the Salvation Army drive, and raised more than the county's quota.
BOY SCOUTS
The Boy Scouts organization was very active in the sale of bonds, thrift stamps and raising money for the relief organizations. It was shown in a report prepared by the general council, that one out of every twenty-three bonds was sold by a boy scout.
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Howard County in the World War
SCHOOLS
The public schools of the county, although working under difficulties, due to the shortage of teachers, tried to keep the schools to a high stand- ard of efficiency and at the same time participate in all the war activities. School children solicited members for the Red Cross, sold Liberty bonds and thrift stamps. They collected nutshells which were used in the manufacture of gas masks. Classes adopted French orphans and the Junior Red Cross made garments for the destitute children of the war- stricken countries.
Teachers served on working committees, gave liberally of their funds and assisted the county conscription board with the questionnaires. They bought bonds and thrift stamps and in the classroom taught the meaning of true Americanism.
When the government asked the schools to prepare men in teleg- raphy, the Kokomo High School immediately assumed the obligation and organized a class in buzzer work. The classes were held in the evening and no one was admitted except drafted men. The instruments were supplied by the government, and W. E. Chandler, manager of the local Western Union telegraph office, donated his services as an instructor. Thirty-eight men were enrolled. Since these men were constantly being taken into the service, only nine completed the course. Six others, having attained the standard set by the war department when they entered the service, were accepted in the radio department of the army.
AMERICAN LEGION
The idea of the American Legion had its inception with the A. E. F., soon after the signing of the armistice. It was generally understood by the soldier that some kind of an organization would be formed among the veterans of the World War, but no one knew just what the nature of it would be. It seemed almost impossible to unite soldiers, coming from all parts of the United States, into one organization. However, through twenty months of warfare, the spirit of comradeship had grown so strong among the men that the ties which bound them together were more lasting than mere acquaintanceship and broader than the creeds of churches. The men seemed to have been lifted from the valley of selfishness to the heights of freedom, where they caught the true Amer- ican spirit and became conscious of new responsibilities of citizenship. It was only through organization that they could hope to see their ideals realized. The organization began to take definite shape when officers from many departments of the army were called to meet in Paris, February 15, 1919, to prepare plans for the army during the necessary stay in foreign lands under peace conditions. There were enough rep- resentatives present at this meeting to act at least as a temporary com- mittee, and Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt was chosen temporary chair- man. A subcommittee was appointed to obtain names of individuals of the A. E. F., who were leaders in their units, to be called to attend a meeting, which was to be held in Paris, March 15, 1919. A second com- mittee was appointed to select leaders among troops at home, and they were to meet at St. Louis, Mo., on the eighth of the following May. It was assumed that out of these two meetings a tentative constitution would be drafted, an appropriate name would be selected, and provisions would be made for proper representation to a meeting which would be held November 11, 1919, when the delegates would have proper authority to formulate and adopt a constitution. The Paris meeting was held as planned, and "American Legion" was chosen as a name for the organi- zation, which was afterwards adopted by the national body. Also a tentative constitution was drafted. The meeting at St. Louis confirmed the action of the Paris meeting, and Minneapolis was selected as the meeting place in November. At the November meeting, Indianapolis, Ind., was chosen permanent headquarters for the Legion and a consti- tution was adopted. Some of the most important features of the con- stitution are as follows:
PREAMBLE
For God and country, we associate ourselves together for the following purposes: To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America; to maintain law and order; to foster and perpetuate a 100 per cent Americanism; to preserve the memories and incidents of our association in the great war; to inculcate a sense of
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Howard County in the World War
individual obligation to the community, State and nation: to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses; to make right the master of might; to promote peace and good-will on earth; to safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy; to consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.
ARTICLE II Nature
Sec. 2. The American Legion shall be absolutely nonpolitical and shall not be used for the dissemination of partisan principles or for the promotion of the candidacy of any person seeking public office or preferment. No candidate for or incumbent of a salaried elective public office shall hold any office in the American Legion or in any department or post thereof.
Sec. 3. Each member shall perform his full duty as a citizen according to his own conscience and understanding.
ARTICLE IV Eligibility
Sec. 1. Any person shall be eligible for membership in the American Legion who was regularly enlisted, drafted, inducted or commissioned, and who served on active duty in the army, navy or marine corps of the United States at some time during the period between April 6, 1917, and Nov. 11, 1918, both dates inclusive, or who, being a citizen of the United States, at the time of his entry therein, served on active duty in the navy, military or air forces of any of the governments associated with the United States during the Great War; provided, that no person shall be entitled to member- ship (a) who, being in the army, navy or marine corps of the United States during said period, refuses on conscientious, political or other grounds to subject himself to military discipline or unqualified service, or (b) who, being in such service, was sep- arated therefrom under circumstances amounting to dishonorable discharge and has not subsequently been officially restored to an honorable status.
ARTICLE XIII Auxiliaries
Sec. 1. The American Legion recognizes an auxiliary organization to be known as the "Women's Auxiliary of the American Legion."
Sec. 2. Membership in the auxiliary shall be limited to the mothers, wives, daughters and sisters of the members of the American Legion, and to the mothers, wives, daughters and sisters of all men and women who were in the military or naval service of the United States between April 6, 1917, and Nov. 11, 1918, and died in line of duty or after honorable discharge and prior to Nov. 11, 1920.
The local post of the American Legion, which was organized May 30, 1919, chose for its name "James DeArmond Golladay," in honor of the first Howard County soldier killed in the Great War. The first officers elected were: Major W. H. Unversaw, president; Major George D. Marshall, vice-president; Paul Gattis, secretary, and James Holman, treasurer.
The American Legion has been founded on sound principles, justice and freedom; its ideals are those of a true democracy, and its test for membership is pure Americanism. Such an organization should, and no doubt will, in future years, play an important part in solving the per- plexing problems which concern the industrial, social and political life of the American people.
THE SILENT WORKERS
It is to be regretted that the names. of all those who contributed something to the success of the American arms cannot be recorded.
A list of this kind would be long and one that would be full of sur- prises to the average citizen. Many who gave freely to all the war activities would not permit their names to be made public. This was not due to a false sense of modesty, but it is the prerogative given to all American citizens to give in the manner they see fit. Many poor working- women, who had saved a few dollars for a rainy day, gave it all for the comfort of the soldier boys. They gave the widow's mite-who could have given more?
Mothers gave their sons and bore their sorrow in silence. Wives kept a silent vigil over their little homes until the husbands returned from the front. Such contributions to the country were greater than serving on any committee, or the gift of money, no matter how great the amount might be. Yet it was necessary to have funds, and the wealthy gave generously out of their abundance. They gave from a sense of duty and not for any hope of reward or honor that might be bestowed upon them. Men and women toiled in the shops making ammunition for the army, farmers labored heroically to produce enough food for the people, and all patriotic citizens labored together unselfishly that the arch enemy of civilization might be overthrown. They may not receive public rec- ognition, but their reward will be found in the satisfaction of knowing that they did their full duty. The names of these silent workers will never be known, but their deeds will live on so long as our free insti- tutions endure. All honor is due to those who gave freely, who worked silently but efficiently, who sacrificed but did not complain, who were loyal but did not boast-to these, the silent workers, we bow our heads in gratitude, for without their support the war could not have been won.
ARMISTICE DAY
It was generally conceded by military critics, early in 1918, that the war would last at least for another year and perhaps even longer. The outlook for an early termination grew more doubtful as the German army, in the face of the most stubborn resistance of the Allies, steadily ad- vanced. In May it looked as if all the channel ports and Paris would fall into the hands of the enemy. At this time the Americans had been in France for almost a year, yet very little had been heard about them. General John J. Pershing, commander-in-chief of the American Expe- ditionary Forces, had been quietly but effectively getting his men into shape, and at the crucial moment struck with such terrific force that the
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