The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-10-18

The city of Kenosha has shown its
faith IN the nation. Breaking away
ahead of all the other cities Of the
United States the members of the Com
mon Council on Monday night threw
proposed public improvements into the
"wait till later" class, they laid aside
the payment of old bond issues until
the war is over and took the money they
had and added to it generous credit in
order to buy a hundred thousand dol
lars worth of the bond issue of the
Liberty Loan bonds. There was not a
dissenting voice from the floor Of the
council. It was a remarkably patriotic
occasion for Kenosha and as the mayor
declared the motion to purchase the
bonds and back up the nation carried
it was greeted with loud applause from
the crowd in the lobby.
Kenosha has the distinction and the
patriotic honor Of being the first city
in the nation to buy Liberty Loan
bonds from the public funds. Some men
in Kenosha may decline to buy Liberty
Loan bonds, but the action of the coun-
Gil shows tAat Kenosha as a city stands
solidly behind the government in her
hour of need. 1t is proud record for
Kenosha and one that will undoubted
ly be followed by sister cities all
over the nation.
The cause of the nation was present
ed to the council by z. G.. Simmons,
member of the state executive commit
tee in charge of the bond sale.
F'Our country is engaged in ter
rife war;" said Mr.. Simmons in adj
dressing the council. " How long it is
going to take to wind it up no one
knows. IF we go at it with all our
might and main it is certain that it is
not going to take nearly so long. 1t is
certain that we can save infinitely in
lives and treasure if we help
''We must back those Kenosha boys
we have sent to the firing line with the
last dollar we have. We must do it
as matter of patriotic duty and as q
matter of civic pride"
''The city will be coming into con-
siderable funds as result of the col
lection Of the largest income tax in its
history this year and some of this
money must be put behind our country.
If the fathers of this city will endorse
by liberal subscription this Liberty
Loan bond it is going to give other
people in the city confidence in it. The
subscription of a hundred thousand
dollars is a small one in comparison
with the vast property that this Com
mon Council represents. !"
''There is no use of putting up the
flag in the council chamber" contin-
ned Mr.. Simmons, ''unless you are
willing to put the dollars of the city up
behind the boys who are off to fight for
that flag. The city must put its stamp
of approval on this tight to raise
dollars to take care of the men who
are fighting for u.s."
"History is being made every second
now and your action tonight is going
to be one of the most interesting parts
of the war history of Kenosha.''
"We must back this nation-its our
country--to the very limit and to do
this we must have, not only private
funds, but the corporate funds of this
and other cities. Here is our opportuni-
ty as a corporate community to do the
big thing and the patriotic thing"
There was no hesitancy on the part
of the council. The mayor called upon
Alderman Shearer, the chairman Of the
finance committee and he was all ready
with plan. "We will just lay over
the payment of the refunding bonds
this year; then we will take the thirty
FIVE thousand dollars in the breakwater
fund and with the aid of possibly an
other mill tax we will be able to make
the full subscription was the report
Of the finance committee.
Alderman Sullivan had the honor of
making the motion to put the city back
of the nation and enthusiastic seconds
came ,om all over the council chamber,
including couple from out in the lob
by. It was roll call and the follow
ing aldermen-an present at the meet
ing--voted aye: Aldermen Sullivan,
Rob erts, Barr, Shearer, Bounsall,
Schroeder, Rockwell, Stein, Boylan,
Loef, Fischer, Joachim, Wachs, Meyer,
and Holderness. BY the same vote the
mayor and the city clerk were instruct
ed to sign the formal application
for the bonds in the name of the
city of Kenosha
The city win be able to pay for the
bonds without any increase in the tax