The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-11-15
BE A SOLDIERS PAL"
Slogan Of New Movement Is Suggestive
of the Purposes it Will Serve-Pro-
ject Is Practical Government Is
Calling for Volunteers.

"It's not the going to war that IS
hard-it's leaving the folks back
home This little bit of sentiment
dropped by a Sammy as he mounted
the steps of troop train and hurried
away to war suggested the formation
Of the Soldiers Pal Association, which
is now seeking recruits in Kenosha in
order that the boys at the front may
feel easier about it all and fight more
resolutely for freedom and Stars and
Stripes. To date enlistments have been
few but the drive of the present week
will possibly bring the four hundred
."big brothers. required to care for
Kenosha s defenders both at home and
abroad.
elf you can't be a soldier be sol
der IS pal That is the slogan of the
new movement. In other cities it has
reused hundreds of patriots to a new
gratitude toward the men who are
fighting their battles and new de-
termination to see that the Sammies
are constantly informed of "the folks
back home" and assured that they are
not suffering in the absence Of father,
son, or brother. That it will eventually
do as much in Kenosha is the confident
belief Of the men who are now exploit
ing the campaign for pals among local
patriots who really appreciate the serv-
ices of the soldiers.
That the movement is practical as
well as sentimental is proved by the
fact that it is authorized by the govern
ment and approved by army officials
at the front. These authorities realize
that the morale of the American army
is largely dependent upon the mood of
individual Sammies and are conse-
quently anxious to promote any project
that will increase the contentment of
the men in camp. That the "Soldiers
Pal Association will accomplish this
end cannot be denied by anyone who
has ever been lonesome and received
just a postal card from some one ia
"the old home town.
A clearer conception Of the "big
idea' involved in the 'Fbig brother
movement may be gathered from the
following advice given by the national
committee to patriots who are willing
to do little something for the super
patriots who are doing big something
for them.
Every fellow who is to have the
honor of representing Wisconsin at the
front should have every reasonable as
surance that his home affairs will re-
ceive the best possible attention while
he is away and that every effort will
be made to have his ar position,
or a better one, open - I'm when he
comes back.
"Back Of every soldier boy there
should be here at home citizen sol
der who would be his personal friend
and "back home" fellow, his brother
his pal.
".We therefore urge every County
Council of Defense to call for volun-
teers, warm-blooded Americans who are
not called to the colors, to enlist in the
army at home. Every soldier in the
home army personally standing back of
every soldier in Uncle Sam S real army
would create a spirit working power
fully for early victory and peace. To
be effective such pal must establish
personal relations with the enlisted
man, become the acquaintance and help
ing friend of the family or relatives
left behind, and see to it that those
dependent upon the Sammy are given
prompt and efficient aid at any time
it may be needed for either life or ocm-
fort.
sLet every boy who follows the flag
feel that he leaves behind him soldier
pal with a soldier spirit-a spirit that
will remember and repay-a spirit that
will say, Elm going to take care of
you and your interests as well as you
are taking care of me-I IN going to
show you that the folks back home
have not forgotten the boys out there
but are working constantly to make
them healthier and happier in their
fight for freedom and democracy.
All of this the Soldiers Pal Assoc
citation expects to accomplish by a
little personal investigation on the part
of the g bio brOther,' and a sl1bspouept