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Story
February 9, 1934
The Producers News
Plentywood, Sheridan County, Montana
What is this article about?
During World War I, U.S. postmasters were paid $5 per recruit for enlisting young men in the army and navy. Mr. Midby, postmaster at Midby, refused due to his anti-war beliefs and was left alone, possibly leading to his office's closure. Farmers were pressured into buying liberty bonds despite voluntary sales rules.
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Youth Recruited by Post Masters
They Received $5 a Head for Recruiting Men for Destruction
By a Farm Woman Correspondent
ARCHER, Mont.—Some people don't know that during the last war the postmasters were recruiting officers for the army and the navy. This meant that the government had a complete chain of offices all over the country to take in young boys to slay and to be slain. The postmasters received $5 a head for each boy they recruited. Mr. Midby, who used to be the postmaster when there was an office at Midby, was telling some of us the other day how the government kept sending him letters during the war, urging him to recruit young boys. At first Mr. Midby just ignored the letters. When the letters became more insistent, he wrote to the government that he did not believe in war and could not conscientiously recruit young men for destruction. Then the government left him alone. Maybe that was why it was decided later on to discontinue the postoffice at Midby. Many farmers remember how they were practically forced to buy liberty bonds to support the war. This was done in spite of the fact that the rules and regulations governing the sales of these bonds said that every sale must be voluntary. Of course the government knew how people were hi-jacked into buying them but it didn't care.
They Received $5 a Head for Recruiting Men for Destruction
By a Farm Woman Correspondent
ARCHER, Mont.—Some people don't know that during the last war the postmasters were recruiting officers for the army and the navy. This meant that the government had a complete chain of offices all over the country to take in young boys to slay and to be slain. The postmasters received $5 a head for each boy they recruited. Mr. Midby, who used to be the postmaster when there was an office at Midby, was telling some of us the other day how the government kept sending him letters during the war, urging him to recruit young boys. At first Mr. Midby just ignored the letters. When the letters became more insistent, he wrote to the government that he did not believe in war and could not conscientiously recruit young men for destruction. Then the government left him alone. Maybe that was why it was decided later on to discontinue the postoffice at Midby. Many farmers remember how they were practically forced to buy liberty bonds to support the war. This was done in spite of the fact that the rules and regulations governing the sales of these bonds said that every sale must be voluntary. Of course the government knew how people were hi-jacked into buying them but it didn't care.
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
Biography
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Deception
What keywords are associated?
Wwi Recruitment
Postmaster Refusal
Liberty Bonds
Conscientious Objection
Government Pressure
What entities or persons were involved?
Mr. Midby
Where did it happen?
Archer, Mont.
Story Details
Key Persons
Mr. Midby
Location
Archer, Mont.
Event Date
During The Last War
Story Details
Postmasters recruited young men for WWI, receiving $5 each; Mr. Midby refused on conscientious grounds and his post office was discontinued; farmers were coerced into buying liberty bonds despite voluntary rules.