USA > Pennsylvania > York County > York > York County and the World War: Being a war history of York and York County > Part 32
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The first meeting of the Board of Directors was held on Friday evening, March 1, 1918, at the York National Bank. The meeting was called to order by James Rudisill and Grier Hersh was elected temporary Chairman. The following members of the Board were present: P. A. Elsesser, George Marlow, Alfred H. Billet, Mrs. L. M. Hartman, Mrs. A. S. McConkey, James Rudisill, Ellis S. Lewis, Dr. J. H. Comroe, V. K. Keesey, Grier Hersh. George Whiteley, Sr., was nominated and elected
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Head of the War Council. J. C. Schmidt was elected Vice-Head of the War Council. W. R. Horner was made Treasurer and James Rudisill elected Secretary of the Board as provided by the by-laws. O. R. Read and J. W. Heinekamp were elected additional members to the Board. The following committee was appointed to suggest a plan of organization: V. K. Keesey, O. R. Read, J. W. Heinekamp. Ellis S. Lewis. James Rudisill.
On March 12th, the second meeting of the Board was held and the York Committee made a report recommending several bureaus, and the following members were elected to head the proposed sections: Campaign Manager, for the sale of Liberty Bonds, Grier Hersh: City Liberty Bond Chairman, Ellis S. Lewis, and Vice-Chairman of the County, W. D. Brougher, Wellsville. It was also decided that the County should be divided according to the plan of the Public Safety Committee of Pennsylvania. This plan provided that the County should be divided into thirteen districts,-each of the distriets to be represented by a Chairman, and these districts in turn were to be divided into units of school- house districts.
The following is a list of the districts: District No. 1, York City, North York, West York, Spring Garden, West Manchester and Springettsbury Townships. District No. 2, Hanover, West Manheim, Manheim, Heidelberg and Penn Townships. District No. 3, Dallastown, York Township and Spring- field Townships, Loganville, Seven Valleys and Yoe Boroughs. District No. 4, Red Lion, Windsor and Upper Chanceford Townships. Distriet No. 5, Peach Bottom, Fawn. and Lower Chanceford Townships, Delta, Fawn Grove and Felton Boroughs. District No. 6. Hopewell, East Hopewell, North Hopewell, Stewartstown, Winterstown, and Cross Roads. Distriet No. 7, Shewsbury Township and Codorus Township, and Glen Rock, Railroad, New Freedom, Shewsbury and Jefferson. District No. 8, North Codorus, Jackson and Paradise, Spring Grove and York New Salem. District No. 9, Dover, Washington and Warrington, Dover and Wellsville. District No. 10, Franklin, Carroll and Monaghan, Dillsburg and Franklintown. District No. 11, Lewisberry and Fairview, Lewisberry, Goldsboro, and York Haven. District No. 12, Hallam, Lower Windsor, Wrightsville, Hallam, East Prospect and Yorkana.
At this same meeting Mrs. Carey Etnier and James G. Glessner were elected additional members of the Board of Directors. The Chairman also appointed the following committee to recommend to the Board a sum of money to be collected by the War Council and the manner in which the work was to be done: J. C. Schmidt, George Marlow, P. A. Elsesser, Dr. Julius Comroe, Dr. A. T. Taylor, Mrs. L. M. Hartman and James Rudisill.
On March 26th, a meeting was held in the rooms of the Manufacturers' Association at which G. H. Whiteley, Sr., Head of the War Council presided. The report of the committee appointed to formulate a plan for raising the War Fund was read. This report provided that the sum of $350,000 be raised for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the War Council and also to provide funds to meet the allotment given to York County by the American Red Cross or any other of the general bodies en- gaged in relief or philanthropic war work. Francis Farquhar was made Campaign Manager to collect this sum.
Some doubts were felt whether or not the Second Distriet would participate in the work of the War Council. Grier Hersh, Francis Farquhar and James Rudisill were a committee to consult with the authorities of District No. 2. After a conference held in the rooms of the Elks Association in Hanover, the leading men of the Sceond District declined to participate in the organization and consequently this district was not included in the War Council of York County for any purpose.
Under the dircetion of Francis Farquhar a most vigorous campaign was waged throughout the remaining twelve districts. The York Chamber of Commerce printed a booklet which outlined the plan for raising money. This plan was designed by Mr. Farquhar and provided for a most thorough canvass of all the residents of the twelve districts. Mr. Farquhar, assisted by members of the Board of Directors, made addresses in many parts of the County to large audiences where the purposes of
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the campaign were explained. One of the features of the campaign was a dinner at the Colonial Hotel, to which leading business men of the County were invited. After an address by Mr. Farquhar, who told of the necessity to defeat Germany and of the huge task in accomplishing such a purpose, the sum of $140.000 was subscribed to the War Chest.
At the March meeting of the Board of Directors, P. A. Elsesser, O. R. Read, Grier Hersh, V. K. Keesey and James Rudisill were elected as the Executive Committee of the War Council. With one exception the members of this committee have served to the present time. At the end of 1918, O. R. Read resigned and Francis Farquhar was elected in his stead.
The following bureaus were organized for the active work of the War Council:
SELLING AND SOLICITING BUREAUS
O. ROLAND READ
S. FAHS SMITII
J. W. HEINEKAMP
W. S. BOND
M. H. WESSELL
EDWARD LEBER
JAMES RUDISILL
GEORGE STALLMAN
E. H. BERGER
ERNEST POLACK
TRANSPORTATION BUREAU
J. C. EISENHART
L. D. MENOUGH
GEORGE KINDIG
WALTER E. MUSSER
PUBLICITY AND SPEAKERS BUREAU
R. E. WINCHESTER
J. M. Rodgers
F. W. ZERCHER
E. F. WEISER
GEORGE KUNSMAN
A. E. Lehman
FRATERNAL, ETC., ORGANIZATIONS BUREAU
ROBERT L. MOTTER
GEORGE J. HILDEBRAND
ALFRED H. BILLET
MAX GRUMBACHIER
C H. BEAR, JR.
SAMUEL BRUGGEMAN
BUREAU OF FINANCE
ALEX. MCLEAN JOHN E. BAKER THOMAS SHIPLEY
P. A. SMALL
WILLIAM R. HORNER
Of these bureaus the selling and soliciting was active in all of the work until the end of the war. The members assisted in organizing the Liberty Bond teams and also in selecting the captains of the teams which collected the War Chest. The Transportation Bureau also served until the end of the
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war. As Chairman, J. C. Eisenhart with a true patriotic spirit devoted much time to securing auto- mobiles for the transportation of speakers and supplies to remote corners of York county. So effective were his efforts that it was unnecessary to hire any automobiles during any of the campaigns. Indeed. the automobile service at times was more efficient than some other of the bureaus. On one occasion a meeting was to be held in Shrewsbury, but for some reason was postponed and the Liberty Loan Office at York notified.
Mr. Eisenhart secured the services of two automobiles and sent three soldiers, three musicians and one speaker to fulfill the engagement. The night was cold and blustery. Upon their arrival in Shrews- bury they were unable to find any one who knew of a meeting in that town on that particular evening.
The Liberty Chariot, a truck which was covered with a canvas frame, covered with electric lights and suitably decorated for Liberty Bond purposes was also sent to all sections of the county. This machine contained a moving picture outfit, a Delco Lighting Plant and an organ. Upon arriving at the scene of activity the musicians would begin the exercise with singing and would then show moving pictures appropriate to either Liberty Bond, Red Cross or Thrift Stamp purposes. On several oc- casions it was necessary to proceed up some hill backward owing to the overload which the Liberty Chariot carried. On several occasions after the crowd was assembled it was impossible to show the pictures, because of some defect in the mechanical equipment. Here the ingenuity of both the speakers and the musicians was taxed so as to keep the crowd in a pleasant mood and not to discourage the purchase of Liberty Bonds or the contribution of funds for war purposes.
The Bureau on Publicity and Speakers was also more or less active, but upon the sudden death of R. E. Winchester in an automobile accident, this bureau was reorganized.
The Bureau of Finance supplied the first money to cover the cost of raising a War Chest and in every way was a help and assistance in the work of the War Council. So successful was the work of raising the War Chest that the total sum of $415,525.58 was pledged. Of this sum firms and in- dividual citizens of York subscribed $25,159.08. The employees of the City subscribed $88,882.05 and the County pledged $101,484.45. At the time of this writing, early in October, 1919, $380,940.00 has heen collected.
The following leaders of the districts in the County were untiring in their efforts to make successful the raising of the War Chest:
Dallastown-I. H. ROJAHN Red Lion-H. L. HAINES Delta-E. W. KEYSER Cross Roads-WM. F. LOGAN
Glen Rock-A. P. DISE Spring Grove-W. L. GLATFELTER
Wellsville-W. D. BROUGHER Dillsburg-J. S. KAPP York Haven-C. C. EMIGH Mt. Wolf-HENRY WOLF Wrightsville-R. P. WILTON
On these men, who gave unselfishly of their time and talents. developed the work of selling Liberty Bonds and the other activities. In every instance they were highly successful and did much to establish the enviable record of York county in the World War.
Arrangements were made with the depository for interest on daily balances and the amount of this interest covered all of the executive expenses, so that there was no cost in administering this huge sum. At a meeting of the Executive Committee held on April 13th. in the rooms of the Engineer-
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ing Society of York, it was recommended. E S. Hengst be appointed Executive Secretary of the War Couneil. Mr. Hengst has held this position throughout the entire war and served with ability and faithfulness. At this same meeting it was recommended that the first appropriation be made from the War Chest. The sum of $3,000 was appropriated to the York National War Savings Committee for expenses in selling War Stamps and Thrift Stamps. A similar amount was given to the Public Safety and Food Administration of the County and another appropriation of $1,500, was given to the Liberty Loan Organization. These recommendations were approved by the Board of Directors.
In every instance the allotments of York county to such objects as the American Red Cross and those organizations which comprised the United War Work campaigns were over-subscribed. This financial support enabled the American Red Cross of York county not only to send large amounts of surgical dressings and all kinds of hospital garments for the use of the army, but during the "Flu" epidemie a special appropriation of $25,000 was made to the York County Chapter of the American Red Cross to assist in the fight against that epidemie. The entire cost of the Emergency Hospital, which was located in the York County Fair Grounds, was paid from this fund and when the disease subsided indigent patients were cared for in tents at the York Hospital. When the distress in the Near East became so acute $30,000 was given to this cause. The work of the fourth Liberty Bond Campaign during this epidemic was also given valuable aid by an appropriation of sufficient funds to permit of such advertising in all of the county papers as to make the response to this huge loan to be in excess of the amount asked of the county. During this campaign all house-to-house canvasses were dispensed with in order to fight the spread of the disease. Following is a list of the appropriations from the War Council to the present time.
Expenses of Third Liberty Loan Drive
$1,500.00
Expenses of Fourth Liberty Loan Drive
2,500.00
Expenses of War Saving Stamps Campaign
3,780.70
Expenses of Fifth Liberty Loan Drive
2,500.00
Rental Orpheum Theatre
52.00
Salaries.
1.281.33
Cash Register, Fixtures, Card Indexes, Etc.
1,832.39
Printing and Stationery
1,219.68
Miscellaneous Expense. Postage, Ete
50.00
Advertising .
299.10
Woman's Council of National Defense
680.00
United War Work Campaign
75,000.00
Soldiers' Club
3,500.00
American Commission Relief in Near East
5.000.00
Committee reception of returning soldiers
400.00
War Camp Community Service .
2,000.00
Boy Scouts of America .
4,000.00
Jewish Relief and Welfare 10,000.00
Public Safety Committee.
2,750.00
War Fund American Red Cross
125,000.00
York County Chapter American Red Cross
25.000.00
American Syrian Relief.
5,000.00
$274,348.20
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The Boy Scout movement in York county was also greatly assisted by the appropriation of $1,000 to the National Council of that organization. The work done by the boys during the various campaigns throughout the county was most helpful. These boys not only performed excellent service for their country, but were in turn given an understanding of the duties and obligations of American Citizenship.
The by-laws of the War Council provided that an annual meeting should be held of the Council itself during the month of January in each year until the end of the War. At the annual meeting of 1919, the same Board of Directors was re-elected and the Board also re-elected the officers who served during the year 1918.
JAMES RUDISILL
THE SCOUTS OF YORK COUNTY DURING THE WAR
RAY F. ZANER, Scout Executive.
S HORTLY after the United States entered the war, the scouts in York City en-masse marched to the City Hall and there pledged to the Chief Executive their services, such as they were prepared to render. Scouts do not receive the training of soldiers, nor are they trained for military service. but being trained to be alert, ready to help where possible they take advantage of every opportunity "To Do A Good Turn".
It was not very long until the first call came, and so the scouts of York County made their debut in assisting with the circulating of Patriotic Pledges through the shops and mills, on streets and in stores.
Then came the organized efforts to raise funds for the Red Cross, Y. M. C. A., Knights of Columbus, War Chest. and the various Liberty Loans. In all these the scouts took a very active part. During the several drives, the scouts busied themselves in tacking up posters on the telephone and telegraph poles of the county, placing placards and circulars throughout the stores, banks, shops and mills. During the First Liberty Loan the scouts co-operated with the various committees and teams in the sale of bonds. The Drum and Bugle Corps were used a number of times to furnish martial music as a stimulus to both workers and citizens. In the remaining Loan Campaigns the scouts acted as gleaners after the reapers and solicited for bonds for a period of from three to six days after all other workers were through. It is particularly encouraging to know that the scouts on this plan sold over a million dollars worth of bouds in York county during four Loans. Then let it also be said to the credit of the seouts, that practically all of the posters and printed matter used in the various loans and campaigns were dis- tributed and posted by them. This was in itself a tremendous task and one in which the boys entered with their whole hearts, realizing that a successfully advertised Loan would mean much toward its success.
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The Boy Scouts of the Nation through the National organization offered their services to the government in acting as dispatch and message bearers. As a result of this, thousands upon thousands of circulars and pamphlets were distributed in York county, explaining various phases of the war, and much of it designed to counteract the German propoganda so freely circulated.
Then came the call for black walnut for gun stocks. A direct appeal from the President of the United States started the scout movement on the trail of black walnut and in a short time thousands of feet had been reported from this county alone. When the reports were all in from over the nation, there was enough walnut provided and more.
When it was discovered that peach and other fruit pits could be used in the proper making of gas masks, a call was issued to the scouts to assist in the collection and saving of this material. Boxes and barrels were provided, circulars and placards were distributed and posted in conspicuous places with the result that soon there were a plenty of the material.
In the matter of the War Saving Stamps the scouts were especially active. Not only did they put up the posters and distribute literature, but they helped in the selling of them. Over seventy-five thousand dollars worth of stamps were sold by the scouts throughout the county.
During the Liberty Loan Campaigns scouts served as orderlies at the several headquarters and rendered valuable aid in this capacity.
There were a number of patriotic parades where scouts assisted the police in handling the crowds and caring for the traffic.
The influenza epidemic during the war furnished the opportunity for the scouts to really demon- strate their worth to the community and to put into real practice some of the many things which they had been taught. In the erection of the Hospital on the Fair Grounds. the scouts assisted the carpenters, erected the tents, placed equipment, and acted as guards until relieved by the militia. After the hospital was opened, scouts served as assistants on the ambulances, orderlies in the hospital, handled the telephones and moved patients, etc. So much was the work appreciated that it brought forth an official letter of thanks to each scout who in any way had helped. These scouts served without compensation and it was estimated had saved the city a couple thousand dollars.
The war is over but our work is not. There will ever be a growing need of helping mold the coming manhood of our Nation and the Boy Scout Movement is doing all it can through its organization to enroll the boys of America and to train them in the principles of unselfish service, that they may grow physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.
ACTIVITIES OF THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
I MMEDIATELY after war was declared, on the 6th of April. 1917. John R. Mott was requested to organize the National War Work Council of the Young Men's Christian Association to do Y. M. C. A. work for the soldiers on their way to camps, in camps, on their way overseas, and later in the fields of Europe.
A conference was held in June. 1917. at the Bellevue-Stratford in Philadelphia, at which several members of the Board of Directors of the local Association were present. The needs of the work were presented and a local campaign was inaugurated which netted over $7,000.00 for the National War Work Council. The further need for funds and workers became imperative and in November, 1917, the forces were organized in the county, and a fund of $46,000.00 was raised. The Association also assisted in the promotion of the War Chest Drive in 1918.
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From September, 1917, the local Y. M. C. A. building was kept open every day in the week so any soldiers coming in could be accommodated with full privileges of the Association at any time, and this poliey is being continued. During 1918, when large groups of soldiers were in the city over week ends. the Frysinger property, which was purchased in April, was used for dormitories The Ladies' Auxiliary secured a large number of cots and at times as many as one hundred and fifteen were accommodated in the building over a Saturday night. On Sunday morning the Ladies' Auxiliary provided breakfast for those who stayed in the building and others who happened to come in time for breakfast. One hundred and fifty was the largest number served at one time. In this way a total of fifteen hundred were accommodated with night lodging and eighteen hundred with meals.
Messrs. Edward Leber, E. H. R. Polack and E. A. Barnitz were appointed a committee to arrange entertainment for soldiers in local homes over week ends, and at times as many as three hundred soldiers were provided for in this way. The Board of Directors, the Co-operative Committee and the member- ship in general rendered willing serviee.
The Ladies' Auxiliary deserves special eredit, since the matter of providing and taking care of cots and bedclothing, serving luncheons, and entertaining the soldiers, fell mostly to their lot and was handled efficiently hy them. They were ably assisted by Committees from the Young Women's Christian Association, Girls' Club and ladies from different churches.
Two hundred and nine members were in the service. Four of this number died, as follows:
Private Walter L. Fitzgerald, 48th Aero Squadron, died of spinal meningitis in France January 9, 1919.
Private Latimer Sayers, Battery A, Second Trench Mortars, died of pneumonia, February 11, 1918, at Fortress Monroe, Va.
Private Sherman W. Leifer, Company A, 6th Engineers, killed in action, July 15, 1918. Sergeant Harry E. Strayer, Headquarters Company 112th Infantry, died of pneumonia, in France, October 18, 1918.
The officers of the Association during this period were:
P. A. ELSESSER, President. GEO. H. WHITELEY, Vice-President. E. W. GARDNER, Secretary. EDWARD LEBER, Treasurer H. A. BAILEY, General Secretary.
The officers of the Ladies' Auxiliary:
MRS. GEORGE L. STALLMAN, President. MRS. GEORGE E. NEFF, Vice-President. MRS. VIRGINIA JOHNSON, Vice-President. MISS ALICE NEFF, Recording Secretary. MISS FLORA IMMEL, Corresponding Secretary. MRS. E. A. RICE, Treasurer.
H. A. BAILEY, General Secretary.
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THE WORK OF YORK THEATERS DURING THE WAR PERIOD
T is to be said of the owners and managers of York's theaters and moving picture houses that they were not found laeking in doing their bit to assist the government in the prosecution of the war. When their support and efforts were needed they always responded loyally. They proved a helpful factor in all local work and drives in the interest of the war. Along with the newspapers they were the chief means of publicity in the various Red Cross, War Savings, War Chest and five Liberty Loan drives. Their theaters and sereens were always at the disposal of the York County Council of National Defense. Four Minute Men were given the privilege of addressing audiences at all shows. Special slides and reels furnished by the government were exhibited and often featured. Through the potent medium of the theaters and picture shows mueh advertising was given the Food Administration and its plans for conserving food, while the success of various recruiting drives of the army, navy and marine corps was in part due to the help of York's theatrical and amusement managers, who had their own organization for war activities. This organization was affiliated with the Council of National Defense and was always on the job. For their sineere patriotism and creditable work, the managers received a special letter signed by President Wilson and were awarded roll of honor certificates. The theaters thus honored were:
The York Opera House, N. Appell, Manager. The Orpheum Theater, N. Appell, Manager. The Hippodrome Theater, Kline Henderson, Manager. The Jackson Theater, F. E. Barry, Manager The Scenic Theater, J. Hill Snyder, Manager. The Wizard Theater, O. C. Deekman, Manager.
SPEAKING ACTIVITIES OF THE FOUR MINUTE MEN
A T the outset, the patriotie speaking in York County was conducted under two different organiza- tions but under one head. In motion picture theatres and other places of amusement the speakers were Four Minute Men, while all other speaking was conducted by the Speaker's Bureau of the York County Committee of Publie Safety.
The Four Minute Men were a branch of the Committee on Public Information created by executive order of the President, while the Committee of Public Safety was a branch of the Council of National Defense created by Act of Congress. Originally, in order to conform to the Revolutionary precedent, the State and Local Units of the Council of National Defense in Pennsylvania were designated as State and County Committees of Public Safety, hut later, in order to eonform in part with the practice of other States, the designation was changed to Council of National Defense and Committee of Public Safety.
The organization of the Four Minute Men and of the Speakers' Bureau in York County was iden- tical, the same person serving as Chairman of Four Minute Men and of the Speakers' Bureau. At the outset, Mr. Grier Hersh undertook both Chairmanships in addition to his other war activities, but prior to the Second Liberty Loan campaign he retired in favor of Robert C. Bair, Esq., who acted until April, 1918, when George Hay Kain, Esq., was appointed Chairman of the York County Division
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of Four Minute Men and of the York County Speakers' Bureau. Those organizations took part in the Third Liberty Loan campaign. Afterward all speaking activities were placed in charge of the Four Minute Men as such, under which organization the Fourth Loan was carried through. The speaking during this campaign was much hampered by reason of the influenza quarantine. On Christmas Eve, 1918, the Four Minute Men ceased to exist and the members received certificates of honorable discharge.
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