The Monticellonian., 1918-07-26
AN OPEN LETTER TO

II. !. SltOCG Chairman National War
 Savings Committee for
 Drew County.
 AS you know, We fell far short of ous quota in dollars, but the recent War Savings campaign was a success in the number of pledges signed. We did not fall short in our quota of peo- pie. This is an evidence of hard work on the part of cur organization, ard l want to commend the general excel I fence of the service rendered by the school district committeeman. Per sonally l consider it more important that we have reached all the people than if we had gotten more money and not reached so many people. With our splendid organization We i can now set to work with definite purpose and achieve victory within the next sixty days or before the next l Liberty Bond drive begins.
 We have the people of the State pledges a fair amount. It was a mis- take in the last campaign to apply the $20 per capita idea in all com munities. The wealthy districts should have pledged more than S20 a head and rich men should have pledged up to the limit to make up for those less able in other districts. Each dis triet should be judged by it's wealth and each family should give accord ing to it's means. The amount it is thought the head of the family should pledge should be written upon the card and these cards should show amounts from 5000, the family of five limit, down to $50, the minimum family of five quota. The idea of an average Arkansas family pledgine $5 and $10 as the sum total of the years savings and their loan to the Govern ment in helping to win the war, is absurd.
 Right here I want to say that the Government does not ask the citizen to undergo any hardships or pledge listed and the local committees know the capacity of each individual. All that remains is to see that each family the loan of money that the family actually needs. That the people should have plenty to eat and wear and reasonable comforts is as impor- tant as that the army should be fed, clothed and furnished with guns and shell5. But the people at home can practice economy and save and they can work harder and produce more, and with this surplus they can invest in war savings, thus depriving them selves of no necessities, but learning the most helpful habit of thrift.
 Money invested in War Savings Stamps is not donated to the Govern ment. It IS simply loaned out on the best security in the world and will be returned with interest whenever de- manded. Past wars have been con dueted on big bond issues foated ex- clusively among the rich. This war is being fought on Liberty Bonds and War Savings Stamps. which repre- sent the savings of the people. It is the first time the small investor has had the opportunity to fight for his country in the ranks which furnish the capital for tte progress of the war.
 The Government is not begging for nickles and dimes. If money was needed so badly as that there are plenty Of ways to get 1t. The people simply are asked to earn more and spend less The War Savings move ment was started as much for the pur pose of inducing people to save their money during the prosperous period of the war as 1t was to raise money to finance the war, and the man, woman or child who does not work harder and spend less is as much stacker as the man who will not fight.
 The War Savings Stamp is the best war security on the market. 1t can be bought in small denominations. It is not negotiable and can not be traded around. but can be redeemed at any time, at it's face value with accrued in terest. Every dollar that can be saved should be put in stamps, and 1t IS the duty of every citizen of Arkansas to estimate how much surplus he can earn and save during the balance of the year and immediately pledge 1t ali to war savings. We have something like S12,000000 yet to raise before Arkansas obtains it's quota. Please publish this letter in your local papers and follow it up with vigorous work by your school district committeeman so that every person will be seen and no person will fail to have the oppor- tunity to do his part.
 Thanking you and your splendid workers for what they already have dose and asking the continued CO., operation of this splendid organiza- tion until we have pledged every dol lar the Government has asked us to raise, l am,
 Very truly yours,
 MOORHEAD WRIGHT,
 State Director National War Savings Committee.