The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1918-09-12
What are The Four minute Men.

To the Readers of The Republican,
For the benefit of those of you who
do not understand the purpose, plan and
meaning of the Four Minute Men of
the Committee on Public Information,
hereby take the opportunity through
the worthy columns of this paper to
give some little explanation on the SUBJ
ject.
The Four Minute Men, nation wide
organization of volunteer speakers, was
organized June 18th, 1917. for the pur-
pose of assisting the various Depart
ments of the Government in the work
of national defense during the continu-
ance of the war, by presenting mes.
ages and subjects of vital national i'm
portance to motion-picture theatre
audiences. to church congregations and
to all other gatherings whenever the
occasion arises.
The Four Minute Men are division
of the Committee on Public Informa-
ton, with authority vested in them by
President Wilson, who requested that
the work of the organization be extend
ed as rapidly as possible throughout the
country.
The topics spoken upon by Four
Minute Men are matters of national
Importance connected with the war
plans of the Government. They are
assigned to the speakers, by the Direc-
tor in Washington, for a given period
of time, usually from one to four
weeks. The topic to be used at any
given time is determined by considera-
tion of what is uppermost at the time,
and represents an agreement between
the Director of the Four Minute Men
and the various Government authorities
who may be concerned.
At the beginning of each new topic a
Bulletin of Instructions and Material is
issued, and sent to each speaker,
through, his County Chairman, from
which each speaker obtains the neces-
SdI uIdlClldl lOI Ills SpccCIleSs
A Four Minute Speaker appears be-
fore the public as an authorized repre-
sentative of the Government.
The attitude of the speaker toward
his audience should be that he is privieg-
ed, as one of the community, to pre-
sent message OF national importance
upon which the Government deems it
wise that the public should be inform
ed. By their direct contact in Wash
ington with all branches of the Govern
ment the Four Minute Men are in a DO
sition to obtain correct information on
war plans and policies which the public
is entitled to know. The speakers vol
unteer to render a national service by
conveying this information to the public.
All -Four Minute Men are presumed
to be group of capable. public spirit
ed speakers, large enough to insure
that each message will be thoroughly
delivered throughout their community.
They should value their honor even
more highly in being the special repre-
sentatives of the Government, of which
they are citizens.
| hope now that the several com
munities OF Garrett county will have a
bigger and better understanding of this
important branch of Government ser
vice, and that they will welcome the
-Four Minute Men into every gathering
in this county. We have been fortunate
in securing Mr.. W. A. Jones as our
first enrolment in the Labor Section for
Garrett county, who will present the
-Four Minute Men subjects regularly be-
fore the United Mine Workers of
America at Kitzmiller.
JAMES f. HAMILL,
Chairman pro tempore.