Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-06-24
CITIZENS BEGIN
MOVEMENT T0BACk
B0YsAT THE FRONT.
DEPENDENTS WHO ARE LEFT BE-
HIND PRESENT PROBLEM FOR
THE CITY TO SOLVE.

A movement has been launched Tor
the raising of fund with which to
aid the members of Co. G take care OF
dependents they are leaving behind
them. The summons to duty has work
ed hardship upon numerous members
of the company and some of them are
compelled to leave their wives and
children poorly provided for. Still
others have mothers or sisters who
are dependent to some extent. While
not begrudging service to the nation, 1t
is but natural that these certain mem
bers Of the company are sick at heart
at the call to the colors
Eleven members of the company
other than the commissioned officers
are married and fifteen members have
families or others dependent upon
them. So the call to arms Is a calam-
ity to more than a score of people,
many of whom are children.
Foreseeing such a state of affairs,
two Ottumwans, w. r. Daum and Sem
ator c. w. Whitmore have come for
ward to start a movement that will
take care Of the dependents of those
who 60 to the front in the service Of
the country. The one calls attention
to the need and urges the people to
arise to the occasion and stand not on
ly behind those who take up arms for
the country, but to take in measure
the place of the earners by providing
some help. The other inspired by the
same patriotic spirit has suggested u
plan whereby the dependents on the
members of guard and band may he
oi1 ~ hn oh
bread winners at the front. ~s
The plan suggested by w. r. Daur1
would provide fund that will help to
make up in part for the decreased
earnings of the soldiers and music
ians, their army pay being decidedly
less than what they are able to earn in
civil life. Mr. Daum's letter including
the plan suggested for this purpose
follows:
Believing that the young men should
not be expected to make all the sacri-
fees for our country, / am willing TO
join with other citizens of Ottumwa
to provide a fund for the benefit Of the
dependent relatives of members of
Company G and of members Of the
band If sent into Mexico or called upon
to defend our flag on the border, and
for this purpose, would agree to con-
tribute SIS month for one year or
during the war"
The regular pay of private in the
army is but SIS a month which is
mere pittance compared with what
these men could earn If they remained
at home; the pay of non-commission-
ed officer is but little more.
II say only one hundred and seventy
five Of Ottumwa citizens would pledge
themselves to pay an average of SIS
income sufficient to pay an average of
SIS month for each member Of Com
pany G Qf recruited to full war
strength), and each member Of the
band. In some cases it would not be
needed and more would therefore be
available in emergencies where urg-
emily needed. However much larger
sum should be pledged and many more
than ITS should join in the plan.
One Of the banks could be made
trustee where the funds would draw
interest until required, a commission
appointed to handle the funds If any
part is left at the close of the war, let
1t then be distributed among the fam
lilies Of deceased soldiers and those in
capacitated by wounds or disease. If
these men risk their lives and health
and endure the hardships required we
should be willing to relieve them and
those dependent upon them at least in
part of privations that would be due
to their decreased earnings.