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Written by Earl S. Brown, 1919 Transcription by Ruth A. Hoggatt
Immediately after the war was declared the Treasury Department at Washington worked out a plan to finance the war by selling bonds to citizens. The bonds were called "Liberty Loan Bonds" and were sold in denominations of from $50 up. The first loan went on sale six weeks after the war was declared, Switzerland county's quota being $193,806. E. T. Coleman, of Vevay, was made chairman of the Loan Drive in Switzerland county, but did not receive notice of his appointment until after the drive had started, so that it was impossible for him to appoint an organization of workers to assist in selling the bonds. However, each of the county's five banks subscribed liberally and employees of the banks did all in their power to persuade depositors to invest in the bonds. At the conclusion of the drive Switzerland county citizens had subscribed for $131,400 worth of Liberty Bonds. Reading the figures now one would think that the county did not do her duty. However, when one realizes that the drive was started before it was possible to effect a county organization the amount was more than pleasing and far exceeded the total amount sold in many counties much larger than Switzerland. The second issue of bonds was known as "The Second Liberty Loan on 1917." This issue was for $3,000,000,000 and was floated in the fall of 1917. The bonds paid 4 per cent interest and Switzerland county's quota was $114,000. E.T. Coleman was again made chairman of the drive and this time he was notified in time to appoint assistants in all parts of the county. Mr. Coleman held Liberty Loan meetings at churches and school houses throughout the county and these meetings were addressed by ministers and lawyers. In Vevay boy scouts were enlisted in the drive and made a house to house canvass selling bonds. Their work brought splendid results and several of the boys were given government medals for their efforts in making the drive a success. Following are the names of the boy scouts and the amount of bonds each sold:
The county purchased $148,350 worth of bonds going $34,350 over the top. There were 326 subscribers. In March, 1918, all plans were made for the Third Liberty Loan, Secretary McAdoo choosing the 6th of April, the first anniversary of the declaration of a state of war, to open the campaign. Frank Riley, of Vevay, was named county chairman of the drive. The county's quota was fixed at $100,050, and plans were immediately made to double the quota. It was pointed out that one $50 bond would buy trench knives for a rifle company, or 23 hand grenades, or 14 rifle grenades, or 37 cases of surgical instruments for enlisted men's belts. A slogan was started in the county, "Let's take a few extra shots at the Kaiser by doubling our quota." On April 6th, the day the Loan Drive started, a big patriotic meeting was held in Vevay. In the afternoon a parade was held, the line of march being along Market and Main streets and ending at the High School Auditorium. Mothers of boys in the service led the procession. They were followed by veterans of the Civil War, Boy Scouts, Sunday Schools, Sammy Pen Club, Camp Fire Girls and the Boys' Working Reserve. At the Auditorium, Attorney Curtis Marshal, of Madison, delivered an address that enthused his hearers. In ten days after the drive started Switzerland county had subscribed for three-fourths of her quota. Two weeks after the opening of the drive the county had gone over the top with a total subscription of $120,900. At the end of the third week of the drive the county had exceeded her quota by $77,950, the bonds being purchased by 468 different persons. When the drive came to an end on Saturday night, May 4th, the quota had been more than doubled, total sales amounting to $228,350. This amount was taken by 610 subscribers. The Boy Scouts again did splendid work in selling bonds, their efforts resulting as follows:
The Fourth Liberty Loan, known as "The Fighting Loan," was started on September 28, 1918, and the county's quota was placed at $202,000. Frank Riley was again made chairman of the drive. The same corps of assistants that put the Third Loan so far over the top was appointed, but in spite of their untiring efforts on October 10th, when but eight days remained, the county was $130,000 behind, less than $70,000 worth of bond having been sold. When this fact became known a special appeal was made to all Switzerland county men who had been granted deferred classification in the draft. It was pointed out to them that the government had been fit to permit them to remain at home and follow their usual vocations. It was shown that each of these men was making a splendid salary when, if he had been drafted into service, he would have been receiving a wage of only $30 per month. They were also cited to the fact that all soldiers were even buying bonds out of their $30 salary. Each man in the county who had been given deferred classification, was urged to buy to the limit of his ability, and the appeal brought splendid results. During the last week of the drive, in an effort to spur on citizens to buy to their limit, meetings were held at a few places in the county, speeches being made by Rev. W. W. Brown, Wallace J. Cotton, Judge F. M. Griffith, Rev. W. T. Dart, and Rev. Minx. Because of an epidemic of influenza, it was not possible to have much of a "speaking campaign," and renewed personal efforts were made by individual workers. The final day of the Loan Drive found Switzerland county over the top with a total subscription of $220,150, which had been taken by 984 subscribers. With the signing of the armistice on November 11, 1918, notice was issued by the Treasury Department that one more loan would be necessary before all United States soldiers could be returned to their homes. This loan was called "The Victory Loan," and Switzerland county's quota was fixed at $132,950. Harry Stow, of East Enterprise, was made county chairman. This loan paid 4 3/4 per cent interest. In less than two hours after the drive started the Switzerland county banks had subscribed for the county's quota. Workers, however, knowing that this would be the last issue of Liberty Bonds, were not content with merely reaching their quota, and they worked harder than ever before to sell bonds. On May 10th, when the drive ended, Switzerland county's quota had been almost doubled. The total subscription amounted to $229,050, there being 330 subscribers. In order to float five loans in Switzerland county a great amount of publicity was necessary. The three Vevay newspapers, The Vevay Reveille, The Switzerland Democrat and The Vevay Enterprise, donated their space for the first two loans. All advertising and reading matter pertaining to the loans was handled free of charge. When the third loan was planned government officials agreed that the newspapers all over the United States had given their share and more in floating the loans, and appeals were then made to business men to pay for the advertising on all future loans. Charles E. Pangburn, of Vevay, was appointed by the government to handle the publicity end of the remaining loans and he was instructed to solicit all business men in his county for funds to pay for advertising in the local papers. Very few persons objected to the plan, and the following Switzerland county business and professional men subscribed to the advertising fund:
Switzerland County INGenWeb
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