The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-10-23
Overseas Acre Fund


In circular issued to farmers by q
commission composed of Hon. Myron
]. HerricA, former Ambassador to
France, chairman; Francis C. Stokes,
of Moorestown, chairman Of the execu-
tive committee; Alva Agee, secretary
OF Agriculture OF New Jersey, and 9TH
er prominent men, fund to be known
as the Overseas Acre Fund has beer
started.
The circular states that ''the purpose
back OF this fund is to offer q direct
opportunity to the farmers OF America
70 extend the strong right arm of help
70 the farmers of France. 1t is essen
TALLY o farmers movement. This fund
asks no money. Instead it asks that
each Of us give the crops from just one
acre OF our own land. IL is very gen.
orally recognized that large part of
our present prosperity is due directly to
the war. Our crops have been album
dant and the market price high. Is it
mot our duty, as we'll as our desire, to
share at least small part of our pros
perity to relieve the suffering Of farm
ers Of France? After three years of
war our big opportunity has come at
last, and now we can prove our loyalty
to the great cause by the most whole
hearted cooperation from every man,
woman and child. The government
alone cannot win this war. 1t is the
people Of the United States who must
shoulder the burden, and each indi-
vidually do his part"
The plan an outlined in the circular
In: Everyone subscribing to the fund
signs q contribution blank pledging
this produce Of an acre of ground. This
may be grain. beans, potatoes or the
equivalent Of q psrishabls crop in cash.
All contributions may be delivered to
dealers and elevator men, who will
give you separate check drawn to the
order Of the Overseas Acre Fund. In
computing the amount Of your dona-
ton, you will, of course, compute the
acre average for the crop In question.
The fact that the crop may already be
harvested sometime before your pledge
blank has been signed. need not in any
way affect your subscribing to the
fund. The money thus raised win be
given the Red Cross through our CO.
operating organization, the War Relief
Clearance House for France and her
allies. The fund has received outside
subscriptions to cover entirely all ad-
ministrative expenses. Your contri-
buttons. therefore. viii 60 entirely for
relief work-full one hundred per cent.
1.-THE farmers Of France are In far
worse condition than perhaps you
know. They have literally lost every
thing except their souls. During the
last German retreat the entire country
side was devastated. No living thing
remained; no birds, no animals, no
trees. no crops, nothing. Wells were
poisoned. their former homes and
buildings demolished, their families
broken mp, in many cases never to be
brought together again. Help is
needed and needed quickly. Our
funds will be used to buy food, cloth.
ing. farming implements, fertilizers,
seed. lime, stock, etc. Every gift will
be marked Given with gratitude and
goodwill from the farmers of Amer
lea. -"
The form of pledge to be signed by
each contributing farmer is as follows:
'sAs an American farmer who CRATE
fully recognizes the magnificent sacri-
foes Of the farmers Of France and de-
string to share our abundant crops, for
the alienation of suffering and to help
In the great work of reconstruction, i
hereby subscribe my name to the
Overseas Acre Fund and will make an
order on the purchaser of my crop of
-, requesting that he draw a separ-
ate check to the order of the Overseas
Acre Fund for the value of the average
acre yield, as calculate it in bushels.
This, in turn, | will forward to Ma
tional Headquarters of the Fund, 219
Market street, Philadelphia.