The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1917-10-04
FIRST
DRAFT QUOTA ASKS =
TH0SE'BACK HOME
FOR 0RC0:0PERATI0N

A movement has been started, and
it is a good one. for cooperation be-
tween the people of Beltrami county
with reference to it's first draft
quota, which was called to the colors
and stationed at Camp Dodge. The
boys are now a part Of the 352d in
fantry, National Army.
The infantry regiment of which
the Beltrami county boys are a part
is made up of Northern Minnesota
and Eastern North Dakota county
boys. When they were called out
the cantonment at Camp Dodge was
unfinished and several angles Of the
supply department were not per-
fected, the government being "rush-
ed to death" in getting ready for the
herculean task WHICH confronted it.
While the men have been we'll
taken care of there are many of the
little things" lacking and a move-
ment has been started in the coun-
ties from whence went the members
Of the regiment to take care of their
boys and the companies as a unit.
Already this is being done by some
of the counties interested and a let
ter has been received from Camp
Dodge asking if Beltrami county
could do the same.
And Beltrami county can and will.
Points In Illustration. y.
AS a point in illustration, each Of
the companies have company clerks
who have considerable paper work
to do. The government provides no
typewriters and it is up to the COM
pany men to rent one. There are
other matters also, such as maga-
zines, newspapers, monographs,
checkers, boxing gloves, baseball and
football outfits and similar things
which afford clean manly recreation.
The food is wholesome but the
government does not provide any
delicacies such as cake, jam, butter,
etc. In old established regiments
such things are bought from the
company fund.
A company builds up such a fund
from the operation Of q barber shop,
from its share of the pront Of the
regimental exchange (canteen) or re-
celptS OF the reglmental band and
other sources. The 352d regiment,
however, has just been organized.
Not only does it lack the equipment
accumulated by the older ones but
aisO at present IL is without the
sources OF income from when it may
be provided. Later the funds will
get money through the regular chan
neIs but to get them started, the
regiment members can only call on
the people back home. The care and
use OF these funds are provided for
by army regulations and the COM
pany commanders are responsible for
them. Ihey are audited monthly by
the company council, quarterly and
by officers or higher COM
mand and inspectors.
Beltrami is Asked.
The regiment, through its COM
pany officers, is asking that one man
IN each Of the counties from which
the. regiment was drafted, receive do
nations from residents of the county.
Thomas Z. Erwin Of Bemidji has
been asked to act as local treasurer
for Beltrami county. Mr.. Erwin has
kindly consented to act in that Ca
paclty and has promised to devote
time to the work, aside
from his business activities. Checks
should be made payable to Local
treasurer, Company Funds Commit
tee, 352d infantry" and sent TO the
local treasurer, Mr.. Erwin, VINO has
the cooperation and endorsement Of
the committee that arranged for the
sendoff Of the first draft quota and
will act in the same capacity for the
rest of the draft They are, G. w.
president of the CONNER
cial club; Mayor Vandersluis, r. J.
president of the Red Cross;
A. G. Wedge, president Of the Patri-
otic League; A. e. Rako, chairman
Of the board Of county commission
ers, and DR.. G. M. Palmer, head Of
the Beltrami county public safety
There will be IS officers and g.
6O4 men in the regiment when filled,
divided into Is companies. All re-
ceipts will be apportioned among the
according to the enlisted
strength of each.
The fund to be collected for the
Beltrami county boys share will be
small, only sufficient to provide them
with barber shop, canteen, ETC.,
which are always self-supportilg
when established and enables the
company to provide comforts while
doing hard service.