Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 241, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 October 1917 — “Number, Please,” Girls Push the Sale of Bonds. [ARTICLE]

“Number, Please,” Girls Push the Sale of Bonds.

Huntington, Ind., October 25. Every person using the telephone here today was greeted with these words, spoken with the sweetness that only a telephone operator can put into her voice: “Buy a Liberty bond —number, please.” From 7 o’clock this morning until 6 o’clock was the order for the continuance of the practice, and before 8 o’clock nearly everybody in town had learned that Alfred L. Greenman, manager of the company, and every operator in his employ, were boosting Uncle Sam’s bond sale. It meant much more work for the operators, and the company’s kitchen came into use. Hot coffee, sandwiches and apples were served from the kitchen all day to the operators at the expense of the management. Mr. Greenman though of the plan last night when he went to his home and was reading the evening paper, telling of the bond sales. He talked it over with his wife, and Mrs. Greenman said she believed in the interest of the government and the boys at the front, the. public ought not to complain, and the operators would be glad to do their bit. The public took the new order gracefully, and the girls remained sweet all day in spite of the extra work. As far is known here, it is the first time any telephone company has tried such a scheme of advertising Liberty bonds.