Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 200, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 September 1918 — SUNDAY WAS GASOLINELESS [ARTICLE]

SUNDAY WAS GASOLINELESS

FUEL ADMINISTRATOR’S ORD. ERS WERE OBSERVED - BY MANY. Most of the citizens of this city obeyed the request of the fuel administrator and did nbt use their automobiles Sunday. Those who did use their cars are being severely criticized. In a few places it is reported that arrests were made. The garages and service stations were all closed Sunday and no gas was on sale except in cases of emergency. A streamer which was placed across Washington street at the Van Rensselaer street crossing read, “Gasless Sunday. You are a Slacker.” There are a few of our citizens who, by their acts yesterday, put a strain upon their patriotism, and by disobeying the request to save gasoline Sunday have placedthemselves in the class with the slackers and the pro-German. These people will undoubtedly be the cause of the request being made into a positive order against the use of automobiles on Sunday. The church people seemed to think that the order did not apply to them, and many of them went to church in their cars as usual. Business men went out to their farms and high city officials were seen in their cars on the street. A county employe, accompanied by a government employe, took the former’s car and went fishing. All of these offenses were noted and the offenders are being roundly criticized. There was a reason for issuing a request to save gasoline, and the failure to obey this request is shameful. There was a funeral in the city Sunday and that, of course, called for the use of a number of cars. Three men left here for war service, and they were accompanied to the depot by relatives and friends, many of whom lived quite a distance in the country. Those offending in this matter on the next Gasolineless day may not only expect the very severe criticism of the public, but their names will be made public. There is nothing as important as winning the war, and a request to help in that matter must not pass unheeded.