The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1917-10-25
THE pLEpaE cARD cAMPAIeN


On next Monday, October 20, a
house to house canvass of tbs county
to obtain signatures to the food
pledge campaign will begin. The
canvass will be finished during the
week.
Every household in the county, ev-
cry member Of that household from
sixteen years and up, will be asked
10 siPn simple card which pledges
support to our common country in
its efforts to conserve food so that
there will be no waste and there will
be an abundance to feed our gallant
soldiers and sailors and our allies.
1t costs nothing to sign this card
It is simply a volunteer pledge that
he siener will do what he or She can
in order to conserve food, food that
our soldiers and our allies must have
if this nation is to win the great
contest in which it is now involved.
To refuse to SIGN this card, simple
pledge Of loyalty to one Of the most
vital Of the government departments,
is to fail to cline up' with the coun
try in its war with a foreign foe.
something that it is not believed
many Americans will care to do.
Canvassers have been appointed in
each county to visit all of the homes
and secure signatures to these cards,
but if for any reason a home is miss
ed and the members Who desire to
enlist in this important service for
the Government can make their in
tentions known and secure cards.
Reports Of the number who have
signed the cards will be wired daily
to the state headquarters at Nash
vile and in turn sent to the head
quarters at Washington.
This movement has received the en-
dorsement of President Wilson Gov
ernor Rye, every department of the
State Government. the State Council
Of National Defense. all of the in
dustrial commercial and fraternal
organizations of the state, the rehg-
ious bodies, without REGARD 10 denom-
nations and in fact practically every
civic organization IN Tennessee.
The importance of the Food Pledge
Card Campaign as one of the vital
measures of national defense, is so
well understood and so highly appre-
ciated that the National Food Adj
ministration at Washington would re-
gard the failure to secure the allotted
number of signatures to the cards as
little less than calamity.
Georgia. Florida and a number of
other states Of the Union have chal-
longed the entire country to show a
larger percentage of signers to pop
ulation This challenge has been ac-
cepted by Tennessee, through H. A.
Morgan, the Food Administrator in
Tennessee, and in order to make good
his ehallerCe every county must ex-
coed its allotment.
There has been some misunder-
standing about the campaign due to
reports circulated in manv instances
bv those who are not loyal to the ma
ton. One Of these reports is that
the movement has been promoted by
"hioh salaried fellows anxious to
make q bluff of earning their pay.
Nothiro could be further fror' The
facts. Mr. Hoover. the National GOD
administrator, receives only One Dol
lar vear from the National Trees
ury. Every member Of The State or
Panization, every member Of the va
rious county organizations anl every
canvasser is not only servinr without
pay but is raying his or he IN ex-
penses. Sureiy under these circum-
stances the people can resUond and
respond cheerfully and willingly. It
is urged that the women sign prompt
iy when the cards ale nr4ja.,t u to
them so thar the voluntary workers
who are serving without compen-
sation, may not be required to give
any more time TO the task chan is
necessary. Anyone interfering with
the pledge card propaganda, or who
seeks. to obstruct it or who makes
false statements with respect to it. is |
guilty of violation Of the I 7deral |
law. This has been celled |
to the attention Of all State and Fed
erel officers by Rutledge Smith,
Chairman of the State Council Of
Defense and Representative Of The
Federal Gevernmnt in Tennessee.
il. FINNEY,
Chairman Publicity Committee.
MOVIE EXHIBITORS PATRIOTIC /