The Lakeland Evening Telegram

WAR SAVINGS DRIVE FOR $180,000 WAS OPENED WITH A VIM HERE TODAY.

The second drive for the War Savings campaign opened in Lakeland today and will continue until the end of the week.

Practically every member of the old working committee is lined up for active service and, in addition, a number of other prominent men in the community. All of these men, most of all burdened with business, more or less hampered by war conditions, are responding patriotically to the call of the State director to make up the balance of the quota needed to carry this community over the top.

Of the $180,000 which is expected of Lakeland, purchases and pledges have been made to date to the extent of $115,000, leaving about $65,000 yet to be secured in additional purchases and pledges. Less than one-third of our families are known as purchasers or subscribers for War Savings Stamps. There are, of course, numerous instances where purchases have been made without the names of the buyers being known. In the previous campaign, however, the soliciting committee endeavored to find out in each case when securing pledges a statement of the value of stamps already owned by the person approached for additional pledges, and in most instances this information was secured.

Now the solicitor will ask the same question in soliciting additional pledges in order to wipe out Lakeland's deficit. It may not be possible at this time for our people generally to make large purchases, but with the balance of this and three remaining months to count on, there is an opportunity for every one to do quite a good deal.

The plans of the committee involve a practical census of each family who will be asked to meet their own quota and help those whose limited means will not allow of their doing so-that quota being $20 for each man, woman and child in the community. One Florida county has met this requirement in full already, also several towns. Lakeland can do it and will if every citizen will but realize what this War Savings campaign is and that he is to be the beneficiary: that it is not a tax nor a contribution, but a personal saving with which in the days to come he is going to have something with which to meet less prosperous conditions than those now enjoyed.

It is hoped there will be a ready and loyal response to the appeal of the committee: that there will be no slackers. The list of those who purchased or pledged in the June campaign is now on file in the United States Treasury, and the State Director advises that in this campaign there must also be a list of all those (if any) who refuse or decline to purchase or pledge and who the committee feel can reasonably do so. This list will also be sent in to the Treasury Department.

Prominent cases will be investigated and record made for future reference when such persons may be under consideration for exemption under the work or fight law.

The State director, while expressing a desire to avoid harshness, makes his position very plain by stating that having been placed in charge of this division of the "army at home" he is not going to be less considerate of the whining slacker who endeavors to shirk his duty than will the general in charge of the division of the "army in the trenches."

If any of these should try to make their job easier by letting their comrades do the fighting they would be dealt with vigorously, to say nothing of the scorn and contumely they would merit; and not with any more tender consideration should the "army at home" be treated, without whose loyal and self-sacrificing efforts "the army in the trenches" be supported.

The State director makes these frank statements at this time so that the people may know of the changed condition of things and realize, as before they failed to do, that America is at war with Germany, and that it is every American's fight.

It is planned on Thursday, "Registration day," to have strong committees at each polling places for the purpose of securing pledges from those not having bought or pledged already. If pledges were made in the last campaign the committee will have the information at hand, but in order that they may make proper certification of purchases not made under such pledges, all such owners of stamps should have their certificates attested by the committee, and this request will apply also to any other solicitations not made on Registration Day.

A strong committee of young ladies who will conduct an educational campaign all over town, selling both Thrift and War Savings Stamps and not letting even the poorest family escape without at least a Thrift Stamp as an obligation, Mrs. George Wright will have in charge.

The members of the committee will be very considerate in dealing with those who "would" gladly buy or pledge if they "could," and will be as patient as possible with those who "could if they would." The first need fear no embarrassment whatever, but it is barely possible that men who unpatriotically try to get some other fellows to carry a load they themselves are easily able to share, may become embarrassed by the "persistence" of fellows who are first of all doing their best voluntarily and then spend their valuable time in an effort to "impress" those less patriotic.

In this connection it may be said that there are a number of places where these War Savings Stamps may be purchased without waiting for a solicitor. What a tremendous amount of valuable time might have been saved and how good we all might have felt had we all given to the United States postoffice, to the banks, to the other authorized agencies.

The campaign will be conducted from the office of the Chamber of Commerce and purchases and pledges may be made there of the local chairman at any time.

In order to accommodate the large committee who are to meet tonight, the meeting will be held at the Elks Club at eight o'clock sharp.

A. J. HOLWORTHY,

Chairman Lakeland War Savings Committee.