Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-02-20
BOYS WORKING
RESERVE FOR DEBORAH
Supt. Fleming of High School Conn
missiOned as Enrolling Officer
and Will Have Charge Of
the Matter for DecOrah
School District
INITIAL STEPS TAKEN
TO PERFECT ORGANIZATION
All Boys 16 Years Old and Less
Than Fl May Enroll i'm the Re-
serve, With Consent of
Parent or Guardian.

r. K Bliss of Ames has issued a
call on behalf OF the government for :.
/ all boys between the ages of 10 and
i2l to enroll themselves for productive
| labor during the coming summer. A
commission as local enrolling officer
| has been issued to Mrs. E NJ. Flem-
ling and she will have charge of this
| department of the matter for Deco
rah and Decorah School District
| Last Saturday evening Mrs Flem-
! ing, as chairman, called together
group of DecOrah's representative
men and the matter of organization
locally was taken up. Many useful
suggestions were discussed and the
initial steps were taken to perfect the
Organization. A committee OF ten
was appointed before the meeting adj
journed to attend to further details.
This committee met Tuesday evening
and reports satisfactory progress.
Briefly the plan is as follows:
Cd Any boy who is 10 years of
age at his latest birthday and who is
less than II may enroll in the Reserve,
provided
(a) That he obtain the consent of
| his parent or guardian and if employ
ed the consent OF his employer, for
the term of the Boys intended vaca-
| ton.
| (b) That he subscribe to a general
oath of service
Alter proving himself by satisfac-
tory service at his employment over
period of SO days the boy will be
awarded the official bronze badge on
which is inscribed Honorable Ser
vice, 1919 AT the time of enrolment
the boy will be given an enrolment
button bearing the seal of the United
States, and certificate showing en-
Erollment.
This service is being recruited
primarily for the farm but any service
of productive sort will be recogniz-
ed. Whether the boy makes his own
arrangements for work during the
vacation or has them made for him
he is entitled to- membership in the
Boys Working Reserve and TO all
the benefits therefrom.
The boys will be placed in so far
as possible and the enrolment COM
rnittee will keep in touch with them
throughout the entire period of their
service and will be ready at any time
TO extend advice and aid
This is one of the finest things
boy can do for his country at this
time. The food shortage promises TO
be a serious one in the near future
not only for our allies but for our
selves and it is only through the labor
Iof those who have previously been
WHOLLY or partially nonproductive
that the strain may be relieved. 1t IS
hoped that all parents or those hav-
ing boys of the required age under
their care will urge them TO perform
this important service for their coun--
TRY. Enrolment blanks may be had
at the high school, Luther College or
Nalder's Business College.
Commenting on the Reserve in a
letter to Hon. w. B. Wilson, Sec'y
of Labor, President Wilson wrote as
follows:
Permit me to express my deep APP
Ipreciation of the work undertaken by
the United States Boys Working Re
serve of the Employment Service of
the Department of Labor. To give
Ito the young men between the ages of
sixteen and twenty-one the privilege
lof spending their spare time in pro-
ductive enterprise WITHOUT interrupt
ing their studies at school, while their
Iolder brothers are battling in the
trenches and on the seas, must great
Ily increase the means of providing
for the forces at the front and the
maintanence of those who are needed
here 1t is a high privilege, no less
than a patriotic duty, to help support
the nation by devoted and intelligent
work in this great crisis"
For the benefit of those boys who
are not used TO caring for or working
with horses, there is to be organized
a number of classes under competent
instructors who will put the boys
Through a course of training. They
will be taught all the necessary
things concerned with the manage
ment and care of horses. The names
of the instructors and the schedule of
classes will be announced shortly.
This schedule will not conflict in any
way with the regular school duties of
Ithe boys.
Think this over, boys. This great
war that is being fought is being
waged that you and the generations
to come after you may live free of
THE Kaiser and Autocracy Are you
lgoing TO contribute your bit to help
Twin the war?
Signed
Mr.. G F. Baker
i Mr.. Albert Anhnson
Prof. O. A. Tingelstad
Atty c. N. Houck
Mr.. VIM. Baker
Mr.. Frank Cratsenberg
Mr.. E. r. Haines
Mr.. John McAndrews
Prof. Chas. Valdez
Prin. A. c. Lynch. Sec'y.
Committee Of Ten.