Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-10-31
.0TTUMWANS To
HELP MESS FUND
OF CUARDSMEN
Movement Started Here to
Provide Eatables for the
Soldier Lads in Camp
COMMITTEES BEGIN
TO COLLECT MONEY

Y SOV1N11 L CAO DINAA>
TO COLLECT MONEY
Ottumwans will help to supply a
better mess for the soldier lads of Co.
G now in camp at Brownsville.
This was determined at a meeting
Of representatives of several local or
CARNATIONS held in the Commercial
club Friday night. The meeting was
held in response to the proclamation
of the. mayor who with the other city
ofncials few days ago gave life to the
movement to help the mess fund of
the guardsmen.
Judging from the spirit shown at
4 the meeting Friday night the fund will
be raised and quickly Every one OF
the men and women present were full
I or zeal for the cause and today com.
mittees are canvassing the city for
money to be sent to the company OF
Ottumwa guardsmen at Brownsville to
show the lads that the home folks
have not forgotten them.
The thought expressed by number
Of those who spoke during the meet
ing was that the boys in khaki are max
ing a sacrifice through patriotic mot
ives and stand ready to face anything
for the sake of the land the blessings of
which those at home enjoy. The lads
who now sleep on cots, but for time
used the mother earth for bed and
that amid the ants. centipedes, toads,
and lizards on the border of the coun-
try, while those at home have their
warm beds and three square meals
each day, were deemed worthy of a
greater consideration than they were
receiving.
II was made plain that on the bare
pittance the army man receives per
mits not of some necessities and of no
Injuries, and that while wholesome
food is supplied at mess, many Of the
things that were common at home are
unobtainable or If so only at a cost
that a wage of thirty-one cents per day
will not permit Of.
Boys Do Not Complain.
Although the members of the COM
pany have made no complaint, the
COAulllOuS LAdl SAlSl nave pCCh iHOuC
known by those who have visited the
camp and through correspondence
many Of these things have leaked out.
The fact that many of the other COM
munities that have companies in the
camp have sent money and good cheer
in some form to their boys at the Dor
der. has made the apparent inatten-
tion of Ottumwans felt by the home |
lads and the movement begun by the
city ohicials few days ago has met
hearty response thus far.
It Is now up to the people of the |
city to show a patriotism like that of |
the guardsmen and when the commit !
tees call for help for the mess fund,
It is hoped that they will receive gen.
erous support 1t is also urged that
In order to get this help to the SOL
diers, with as little delay as possible,
that anyone desiring to help the move.
ment, will send or bring their donation
to the Commercial club where Secre-
tary Weidenfeller who is also secre-
tary Of the fund. will gladly give cred
It for the amount received. It is
hoped that those who cannot bring or
send their donation to the Commercial
club, will have it ready when the COM
mittee calls on them or give it to any
of the committee they chance
to see.
Stellar Is Chairman.
The meeting Friday night was
opened by City Clerk Frank Lynch and
Edwar Stellar was elected permanent
chairman of he movement with ]. N.
Weidenfeller secretary The follow
Ing bodies were represented:
The city by Mayor Carter and Mr..
Lynch: First Cavary band by Mr.. Stel-
lar: D. A. r. by Mrs. F. B. Thrall;
Spanish American War veterans by T.
A. Stoessell: Retail Merchants asso-
citation by r. ]. Shanahan: CONNER
cial club by j. N. Weidenieller, Jake
Abegg, George Springer w. c. Miller.
r. G. Hollingsworth, H. Moschel and
Frank Strohauer.
The committees expect to be aug
mented by others from the various Or
CARNATIONS represented at the meet
ing and the work of soliciting has al
ready begun. The city will be dis
fricted and the business section will
Grst, be canvassed with the outlying
districts coming later.
The ministers and the school board
will be seen and an effort made
through the churches and schools to
reach many. Children in the schools
will be given chance to help and pen.
MES or anv other amount will be &C.
cepted. The three commissioned Off.
GERS Of the company are giving SIS
each month out of their salary to help
provide things for the company mess
that the army does not supply.