Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 April 1917 — YOU CAN ALL DO YOUR BIT [ARTICLE]

YOU CAN ALL DO YOUR BIT

The President has issued a call to the people of the United States to do their bit toward winning the War with Germany. He says that everyone does not have to join the army to do effective work for his country,' but that the farmer, the merchant, ‘the railroads, in fact, everyone can do effective work. The people" who wifi win in this war of democracy vs. autocracy will be the people who furnish the necessities for our soldiers and sailors and the people* of this nation and the allied nations of Europe. His call is for all patriotic citizens to do their full share for the country. The munition factories and ship yards need men and a man who is not physically fit to join the army or navy could do very effective work in either capacity. The farm offers another way for those who can take the place of some young man who is eligible to serve in, the army yr navy. This is a war which must be won for humanity’s sake, and every citizen must do his share. The President’s appeal is summed up in the following and by reading it you can learn where you can do your bit: To farmers—lncrease ©the production of your land and co-operate in the sale and distribution of your products. „■ To men and boys—Turn in hosts to the farms to help cultivate and harvest the vast crops imperatively needed. To middlemen —-Forego unusual profits and “organize and expedite shipments of supplies.” To railway men—See to it that there shall be no "obstruction of any kind, no inefficiency or slackened power” of the “arteries of the nation’s life.” To merchants —Take for your motto, “Small profits and quick service.” To shipbuilders—Speed construction of ships, for “the life of the war depends upon you.” ' To miners—ls you “slacken or

fail, armies and statesmen are helpless. ”(7 To mamti factoring men—“ Speed and perfect every process,” for your “service is absolutely indispensable to the nation.” • . To gardeners—By creating and cultivating gardens you can help “greatly to s<slve the problem of feeding the nations.” , >’ To housewives —Eliminate wastefulness and extravagance, j To editors and advertising agepcies—Give widespread circulation and .repetition to this appeal. It has been Isaid by some of the Chicago papers that the “slackers’’ who are being married by the hundreds over the country to keep from going to war may be fooled if it becomes necessary to enforce the draft. The county clerks have a record of all applicants for licenses, and it is suggested that the “slackers” be the first drafted among the married men, which will meet with the hearty approval of all us “old married folks.”