USA > Maryland > Caroline County > History of Caroline County, Maryland, from its beginning > Part 23
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The plant is rapidly assuming up-to-date propor- tions. The office is equipped with a cylinder newspaper press and there is also job machinery. all of which is run by electricity.
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THE WORLD WAR.
WHY THE UNITED STATES ENTERED THE WORLD WAR.
The outbreak of the World War, in August, 1914, came as a terrible shock to the world, especially to the Umted States. From the beginning of the struggle, the sympathies of the majority of Americans were with the Triple Entente. The atrocities and outrages committed by the Germans together with the violation of Belgium's neutrality and international laws only added to this feeling.
Germany immediately began her terrible submarine warfare upon merchant vessels, which greatly affected American lives and property. She, also, proclaimed on February 4, 1915, a war zone extending around the en- tire British Isles warning all enemy merchant vessels to keep out of this area. On May 7, 1915, the Lusitania was sunk without warning. Of the 1153 souls, who per- ished, 114 were American men, women, and children. Immediately following this, the liner, Arabic, was tor- pedoed. Several persons lost their lives, among whom were two American citizens.
These two incidents brought matters to a crisis, and the United States was kept out of war only by Ger- many's solemn promise to modify her radical policy. But in March, 1916, the passenger steamer, Sussex, was sunk without warning. A few American citizens were either killed or injured. The German government, im- mediately, disclaimed all guilt, stating that this conduct was contrary to official orders, which ruse succeeded in quieting the tumult to some extent.
Another cause for trouble was the spreading of Ger man propaganda and attempts at murder and destruc. tion of property not only in the United States but all over the Americas, by German spies and secret service agents, among whom were the attaches of the German Embassy at Washington and the Anstrian ambassador. Among these intrigues was the "Zimmerman Note" which was brought to light by United States secret ser- vice men on March 1, 1917. It disclosed a plot originat- ed by Germany in which Japan and Mexico were to de- clare war on the United States and as a reward were to receive large slices of our southwestern states. From
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this disclosure it was easy enough to prove that Ger- many had been at least partly responsible for our trouble with Mexico in 1916.
On February 1, 1917, Germany threw all caution to the winds and announced that she would adopt the meth- od of unrestricted submarine warfare. After much dis- cussion and deliberation President Wilson appeared be- fore both Houses of Congress on April 2, 1917, and urg- ed that :
"Neutrality is no longer feasible or desirable, when the peace of the world is involved, and the freedom of its peoples, and when the menace to that peace and freedom lies in the existence of autocratic governments backed by organized force which is con- trolled wholly by their will, not the will of their people."
Accordingly, April 5, Congress finally declared that a state of war existed between the United States and Germany as indicated in the following resolution :
RESOLVED, That the state of war between the United States and the Imperial German Government which has been thrust upon the United States is hereby formally declared; and that the Presi- dent be, and he is hereby authorized and directed to employ the entire naval and military forces of the United States and the re- sources of the Government to carry on war against the Imperial German Government, and to bring the conflict to a successful term- ination; all of the resources of the country are hereby pledged by the Congress of the United States.
THE DRAFT AND DRAFT BOARDS.
During the extra session of Congress called by President Wilson in 1917, a bill was passed providing for the drafting of men for the army, marine corps. navy, and other lines of service. The bill became a law on May 18. The call for volunteers immediately followed the declaration of war, was admirably responded to, but even so the number of men was not sufficient for the need. For this reason the Selective Draft Law was passed.
This law provided for the establishing of Local and District or Appeal Boards to take charge of the draft. For this purpose the United States was divided into dis- triets, each state consisting of one or more districts, ac- cording to its size. Maryland was divided into three distriets of which the Eastern Shore composed the third. The members of the Appeal Board in this district were Judge W. Laird Henry, Chairman; Harry A. Roe. Sec- retary; Curtis E. Crane, Charles F. Rich, and Dr. J. MacFadden Dick, with headquarters at Denton. These
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men were appointed by the Governor and were under the control of the Adjutant General of the State, who was under the Adjutant General of the United States.
The district was composed of smaller divisions, each county being one division with a Local Board at the head. The members of the Local Board for Caroline County, were L. B. Towers, Chairman; Dr. H. W. B. Rowe, and Josiah Beck, with headquarters at Denton. In addition to these boards there was an advisory board appointed to give any legal advice needed. The mem- bers of this board were Harvey L. Cooper, Chairman ; T. Alan Goldsborough, Frederick R. Owens.
Under the bill all men between the ages of 21 and 31 were compelled to register at their respective voting places. The names were then sent to the Local Board of the county and each one numbered. They were then sent to Annapolis and from there to National Head- quarters at Washington. Here each number was put in a capsule and then in large containers to be drawn from. Government clerks, blindfolded, drew the numbers and the men were called in the order in which they were drawn. Every man was notified as to which was his number and when to report for examination. By this method of selecting the men. it was done impartially and they were called into service according as their unm- bers were drawn. Of course, many of them were exempt from service, and this was attended to by the Local Boards of the counties. Questionaires were sent ont to the men, which they were to fill out and return. Many of the men were exempt on account of physical disabili- ties but many claimed exemption for other reasons. The Local Board decided whether or not a man was to be exempt. Anyone not satisfied with the decision of the board could appeal to the District Board and with these boards rested the final decision except in special cases where the appeal might be taken to the President.
The Local Boards also had charge of sending the men to Camps. In our county all the men had to come to Denton first. If the Government sent out a call for forty men, about forty-eight or fifty were notified, to re- port at Denton on a certain date. The extra men were sent for as substitutes so that if any of the forty did not appear, there would be some one to send in his place. When they arrived in Denton they reported to the Local Board. This was done in order to be sure they were all
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there. This always took place the forenoon before they were to leave the next morning. In case of a large num- ber being called there was usually a public meeting at the Court House where addresses were given to the boys by local speakers.
When there were forty-eight or fifty men being sent away a captain was appointed over the whole company, and for every eight men a lieutenant. These were to see that the men arrived safely at the Camps.
The same plan was worked out in the other counties of the United States as here, and before the end of the first year half a million soldiers were training in large Camps all over the United States. These Camps, about fifty in number, each a new city, were largely under of- ficers who had been trained earlier in the year in new officers training camps. When the armistice came a year later we had 3,000,000 men under arms, of which more than 2,000,000 were in France.
WAR SESSION OF THE MARYLAND LEGISLATURE OF 1917.
On June 12, 1917, Governor Harrington called an extra session of the Legislature of Maryland for the purpose of enacting necessary war measures. At this session there was a bitter fight between a combination in the House of City Democrats and a majority of the Republicans, against the administration, the object of which was to have written into the Million Dollar War Loan bill the names of those who should control the fund, but they were defeated in their prupose. This combination also attempted to insert a repealer of the Wilson Ballot law into the Soldiers Vote Bill, with the result that the bill was killed.
Among the many important laws passed at this ses- sion the following are those that are essentially war measures :
1 Providing for Annapolis Junction Camp site.
2 Creating a Maryland Council of Defense.
3 Providing for a $1,000.000 War Loan.
1 Creating a Maryland State Guard.
Amending the militia laws.
6 Compelling idlers to work.
7 Authorizing volunteer firemen to act as county guards.
Suspending legal proceedings in favor of persons in Mili- S tary service.
9 Suspending judgments etc. against persons unable to pay on account of war to apply only to soldiers and sailors.
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10 Suspending statues of limitations in favor of persons absent on account of war.
11 Permitting absent soldiers and sailors to register for vot- ing.
The sixth measure named above was the law gener- ally known as the "Work or Fight" bill. It was rigidly enforced throughout the state and in some special sec- tions played an important part, but in our own town and county there were only a few specific cases where the enforcement of the law was necessary, for as a rule our boys and men were either willing to fight or to stick at some worthwhile job.
The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House at this session were, respectively, Peter J. Camp- bell of Baltimore City, and David G. McIntosh of Balti- more county. The Legislature adjourned "sine die" on June 27, 1917.
THE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE.
In December 1915 Congress passed the National De- fense Act which provided for a regular army of 186,000 officers and men, a federalized National Guard of over 400,000 men, a system of civilian training camps for re- serve officers, and the establishment of plants for the production of nitrates and other products used in the manufacture of munitions.
The same Act gave the President authority to create a wonderful organization known as the Council of Na- tional Defense. This Council was a powerful combina- tion of officials with experts in science, business and the professions. It included sub-committees on transporta- tion, munitions, engineering, supplies, raw materials, and labor, with numerous sub-committees, including one on women in industry. Under this National Council and working in connection with it were the various State Councils.
The Maryland Council of Defense did much work and a wide variety of work. In the beginning was Mary- land's pledge-
"RESOLVED: By the General Assembly of Maryland, that the State of Maryland pledges all its resources to the Government of the United States, for the successful prosecution of the war,"
1. To consider all problems relating to women and their work which might arise during the war.
which resolution was unanimously adopted by members of the General Assembly.
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Therefore the General Assembly passed an aet, cre- ating the Maryland Council of Defense, providing that fifty men should constitute said Council, and at the same time it provided legislation for $1,000,000 to be subject to the order of the Council, for its expenditure, with the approval of the Governor. Below each State Council, and in constant touch with it, were county councils of like manner.
The Caroline County Commission appointed by Governor Harrington was H. L. Cooper, Chairman; Harry A. Roe, Thos. II. Chambers, Nathaniel Horsey. and John M. Swing.
This commission had supervision over the following branches of work : Organization, finance, publie informa- tion, registration, thrift department, educational propa- ganda, industrial workers, vigilance, liberty loans and war saving stamps, maintenance of existing social agen- cies.
While the act of the General Assembly creating the Council of Defense provided that it should consist of only men, the Governor appreciating the necessity of securing the full aid of the women in this state, named a like number of women, who organized without legislative act as the "Women's Section of the Maryland Conneil of Defense."
The purposes of this Council were:
1. To consider all problems relating to women and their work which might arise during the war.
2. To co-ordinate the work and develop the resources of the Women of Maryland in order to secure the highest efficiency for War Emergency Work.
3. To furnish a direct and speedy channel between the dif- ferent departments of the Federal and State Governments and the Women of Maryland. 4. To ascertain and report the patriotic work that was done by women and women's organizations.
The Council was to be a clearing house for all or- ganizations and for the work of all individuals through- out the State. The Women's Work of the Maryland Council of Defense was the same as the men's except that they took up an additional branch of work, the So- cial and Welfare Department.
The Caroline County Commission was appointed by Governor Harrington May 3, 1917, and the work of the organization was begun at once. This commission con- sisted of: Mrs. J. Kemp Stevens, chairman; Mrs. Fred P. Roe, Mrs. Thomas R. Green, Mrs. John W. Stowell, Mrs. J. W. Payne.
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There was also appointed by the Governor a Di- vision composed of colored men and a Division com- posed of colored women, all of whom according to their opportunities did splendid work.
The entire organization did exceedingly useful work in promoting unity, arousing interest, and suppressing possible treason within the State.
LIBERTY LOANS AND WAR-SAVINGS CERTIFICATES.
In order to finance the war, the Federal Treasury Department issued United States Bonds in denomina- tions of $50, $100. $500, and $1000. bearing 4% interest. This was the First Liberty Loan, and was inaugurated in June, 1917. Harvey L. Cooper of Denton was ap- pointed chairman of the committee to sell bonds in the county. All banks became agencies, and each district sent out a committee of local agents. These bonds were exempt from all taxes except inheritance and the nor- mal federal income taxes. With the assistance of the Women's Preparedness and Survey Commission of Car- oline County a meeting was held at the Court House June 12. 1917 at which bonds to the amount of over $114,000 were sold.
As the war progressed and it became necessary to arouse the people to a conception of the amount of mon- ey needed to carry on the war, each state, county, and distriet was apportioned its share of the loan to be made. This apportionment was based on the banking resources of the community, usually $7.50 per capita unless the banking resources amounted to more than that amount. Whenever any state, county, or district had subscribed its allotment, it was entitled to display its Honor Flag, a red-bordered banner with a number of blue stripes across its white field corresponding to the serial num- ber of the loan for which it was displayed; thus a com- munity subscribing its quota to the Third Liberty Loan floated a banner bearing three stripes. It was a matter of pride and honor among Carolinians to keep their re- spective Honor Flags flying regardless of the increas- ing amounts of the loans asked.
All professional people, all county officials, and all organizations were appealed to to assist in awakening the public conscience in the matter of buying bonds. Ministers spoke at local patriotic meetings everywhere,
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and held special services in the churches, thus linking the cause of liberty and democracy with that of religion. Salesmen traveling in antomobiles were instrumental in posting bills and distributing literature. Public spirited. men and women everywhere were appointed to assist in a house-to-house canvas for the sale of bonds.
In all there were five of these loans, the total amount of money thus raised in the county being $1,905,650. Each time a campaign of speaking, exhibiting war souvenirs, martial music, etc. preceded or accompanied the drive for funds. The Second Liberty Loan drive was the occa- sion for a big mass meeting at Denton in October 1917. A crowd of 3000 or more assembled on the Court House square listening to addresses by Albert G. Towers, Indge Harry S. Covington, and Sanmel S. Watts. 1 Scotch Band in national costume and performing on bagpipes furnished a pieturesque and unusual element to the occasion, while the songs of the Naval Reserve Quartet gave the touch and atmosphere of soldier life. County subscriptions to this fund amounted to over $300,000.
The Third Loan, for which the county allotment was $305,200, was launched April 6, 1918 and closed May 4, 1918. These bonds bore +14% interest and became due Sept. 15, 1928. Subscriptions were payable outright or in four installments. American and Canadian soldiers (the latter of whom were wounded men returned from the front) figured in this campaign for funds. Caro- line's subscription was $353,350.
The Fourth Loan was opened Sept. 28, 1918. The ban on using gasoline for Sunday automobile rides was lifted in order to encourage the big meeting at the conn- ty seat on "Heroes Day, " Sunday, Sept. 29. James W. Chapman, Clarence Perkins, Simon J. Block, and Rev. C. T. Wyatt were speakers on this occasion. During the campaign the government loaned patriotic films for dis- play in motion picture parlors. These shows were open to all who displayed the button showing that they had bonght bonds of the Fourth Liberty Loan. Later in the campaign they were open to all. $612,900 were raised for this loan.
The Fifth, or Victory Loan, as it was called, was made in April 1919, after the armistice had been signed. A special inducement to buy these bonds was offered in allowing 431% interest. A rousing meeting was planned
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for this final campaign. Between 5000 and 8000 people from the county attended the meeting at the county seat April 27, 1919. "Jerry's Coffin" and "Verennes Taxi," two war tanks from overseas, divided interest with an airplane from Washington, the first to come to land in Denton. A thirty-piece band of the Seventeenth Infan- try, as well as the presence of several returned soldiers from Caroline County stirred the patriotism of the crowd assisting in a glorious over-the-top subscription of $525,300.
Another means of raising money by government loans was the sale of Thrift Stamps and War-Savings Stamps. This sale was directed by the Treasury De- partment under authority of the same act of Congress which floated the Second Liberty Loan. It was designed to encourage thrift at a much-needed time for that vir- the, and to enable those to participate in war loans whose means would not permit them to buy even the smallest bond,-$50. Thrift Stamps cost twenty-five cents, could be purchased at any time and, when sixteen had been collected, could be exchanged for War Savings Stamps which bore interest compounded semi-annually at 4% and were "absolutely and unconditionally free from all national, state, and local taxes."
Every War-Savings Stamp could be registered at any postoffice, thus insuring the owner again loss. Any purchaser might sell his Stamps back to the government through any postoffice on 10 days written notice. These conditions put and kept W. S. S. within the reach of all who could have anything at all, and made them popular investments. The amount of this loan ($2,000,000,000 for the United States) was reserved for those of small means by limiting the amount purchasable at one time to $100 and by one person to $1000.
The campaign began Jan. 1, 1918 and closed Dec. 31, of the same year, by which time about $400,000 had been collected through W. S. S. sales. Harry W. Davis of Federalsburg was chairman for the county; post of- fices, banks, stores, and public school teachers were auth- orized agents or agencies. As far as possible Thrift Stamps and War Savings Stamps were sold through the schools and school children, in order to give training in the formation of thrift habits, and to give the citizens of tomorrow a chance to participate in the duty and the privilege of maintaining liberty as a world standard.
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UNITED WAR WORK.
Throughont the war various benevolent and phil- anthropie organizations made numerous "drives" for funds with which to carry on their efforts to bring some- thing of the atmosphere of home to the boys in camp, in the field, and in the trenches. Acting on the suggestion of President Wilson, seven prominent organizations, the Young Men's Christian Association, the Young Women's Christian Association, the Knights of Colum- bus, the Jewish Welfare Board, the War Community Service, the American Library Commission, and the Sal- vation Army instituted a joint drive in the proceeds of which each organization shared in proportion to its membership. Mr. T. Alan Goldsborough was made chairman of the Caroline County committee to raise its quota of $12,900 of the fund for the United War Work- ers, as they were jointly called. Sub-chairmen were ap- pointed for each district, and the work carried on in the same manner as in previous campaigns. $15,434.26 was the actual amount raised.
As an auxiliary to the United War Workers, bands of Victory Boys and Victory Girls were organized in all parts of the county, pledging themselves not only to give a stated amount to the fund, but to earn it by their own efforts. Hundreds of children were busy several months in earning money with which to meet their obligations. Interesting, indeed, were the many ways in which child- ren made themselves of use to their parents and other employers.
Approximately 600 boys and 700 girls signed pledg- es varying amounts from one to five dollars. All of these Victory Boys and Victory Girls were under twenty years of age, and most of them were enrolled in the pub- lic schools. The results were most gratifying, and, in fact, little short of remarkable, the total amount pledged being over four thousand dollars, much above the coun- ty's school quota.
Following is a list of schools and their respective pledges :
Marydel
$ 40.00
Garey's
40.00
Henderson
50.00
Camp Grove
15.00
Goldsboro
215.00
Burrsville
13.00
Moore's
65.00
Liden's
5.00
Lowe's
29.00
Central
25.00
Greensboro
225.00
Caroline High
867.25
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Denton Primary
73.00
Saulsbury's
24.00
Andersontown
53.00
Cedar Grove
10.00
Harmony
14.00
Ridgely High
325.00
Preston
714.00
Ridgely Primary
72.00
Choptank
35.00
Furman's Grove
12.50
Poplar Neck
15.25
Laurel Grove
28.00
Hubbard's
15.00
Concord
3.00
Federalsburg
757.55
Smithville
2.00
Nichols
21.60
Chestnut Grove
23.00
Hillsboro
56.00
COLORED SCHOOLS.
Mt. Zion
$ 30.00
Federalsburg
58.00
Denton
65.00
Tuckahoe
13.70
Total
$4051.20
It was very pleasing indeed to the people generally to know that nearly $4000 of the amount pledged alone was actually contributed by the boys and girls and for- warded to the proper source to aid in the successful termination of the war.
REPORT OF CAROLINE COUNTY MARYLAND CHAPTER OF RED CROSS.
Prior to the spring of 1917, when we entered the World War, there had been no Red Cross organization of any kind in Caroline County, Maryland. There were a few Red Cross members, possibly six, scattered throughout the County, recruited by chapters in the neighboring cities. One Sunday School class of girls in Goldsboro had begun to make slings, bed-socks, etc. under the direc- tion of thier teacher, who was a member of one of the Delaware organizations.
Early in May, the Women's Section, Council of De- fence for Caroline County, met in Denton to organize and to apportion the work to be undertaken by the Coun- cil to the various members. To Mrs. J. W. Stowell of Federalsburg, was assigned the department of Social and Welfare work and the Medical and Nursing depart- ment. As these departments were covered by Red Cross work almost entirely it seemed best to organize that work throughout the county. Mrs. Stowell immediately got in communication with the Chairmen of the Balti- more Chapter and it was arranged to organize circles in the various towns, these circles to belong to the Balti- more Chapter. By the end of June the following circles were established with the sub-chairmen named :
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Denton -- Mrs. J. Kemp Stevens
Federalsburg __ Mrs. Harry W. Davis
Ridgely __ Mrs. John Swing Greensboro ___ Mrs. Grace Quigg Preston- Mrs. Frank Lednum Hillsboro __ Mrs. G. Lawrence Wilson
Goldsboro __ Mrs. J. Spencer Lapham Marydel-MMrs. Harry S. Dailey
The total membership was about three hundred, all working hard to earn money to buy material for the sup- plies that were required of them.
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