Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 June 1918 — THE PRESIDENT’S WAR-SAVINGS PROCLAMATION [ARTICLE]

THE PRESIDENT’S WAR-SAVINGS PROCLAMATION

JUNE 28 DESIGNATED AS NATIONAL WAR-SAVINGS DAY. ALL CITIZENS ASKED TO PLEDGE TO SAVE AND BUY WAR-SAVINGS STAMPS ON OR BEFORE JUNE 28. This war is one of nations, not of armies, and all of our one hundred million people must be economically and industrially adjusted to war conditions if this Nation is to play its full part in the conflict. The problem before us is not primarily a financial problem, but rather a problem of increased production of war essentials and the saving of the materials and the labor necessary for the support and equipment of our Army and Nafy. Thoughtless expenditure of money for nonessentials uses up the labor of men, the products of the farm, mines and factories, and overburdens transportation, all of which must be used to the utmost and at their best for war purposes. The great results which we seek can be obtained only by the participation of every member of the Nation, young and old, in a National concerted Thrift movement. I therefore urge that our people everywhere pledge themselves as suggested by the Secretary of the Treasury to the practice of Thrift, to serve the Government to their utmost in increasing production in all fields necessary to the winning of the war, to conserve food and fuel, and useful materials of every kind, to devote their labor only to the most necessary tasks, and to buy only those things which are essential to individual health and efficiency, and that the people as evidence of their loyalty invest all that they can save in Liberty-Bonds and War-Savings Stamps. The securities issued by the Treasury Department are so many of them within the reach of everyone that the door of opportunity in this matter is wide open to all of us. To practice Thrift in peace times is a virtue, and brings great benefit to the individual at all times. With the desperate need of the civilized world today for materials and labor with which to end the war, the practice of individual Thrift is a patriotic duty and a necessity. Appeal to all who own either Liberty Bonds or WarSavings Stamps to continue to practice economy and thrift, and appeal to all who do not own Government securities to do likewise and purchase them to the extent of their means. The man who buys Government securities transfers the purchasing power of his money to the United States Government until after this war, and to that same degree does not buy in competition with the Government. I EARNESTLY APPEAL TO EVERY MAN, WOMAN AND CHILD TO PLEDGE THEMSELVES ON OR BEFORE THE TWENTY-EIGHTH OF JUNE TO SAVE CONSTANTLY AND TO BUY AS REGULARLY AS POSSIBLE THE SECURITIES OF THE GOVERNMENT AND TO DO THIS AS FAR AS POSSIBLE THROUGH MEMBERSHIP IN WAR-SAVINGS SOCIETIES. THE TWENTY EIGHTH OF JUNE ENDS THIS SPECIAL PERIOD OF ENLISTMENT IN THE GREAT VOLUNTEER ARMY OF PRODUCTION AND SAVING HERE AT HOME. MAY THERE BE NONE UNENLISTED ON THAT DAY. (Signed) WOODROW WILSON.