Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1918-06-12
An Open Letter to the People
of South Carolina.
Member of Committee.

of South Carolina.
In April the country was called
upon to purchase Liberty Bonds to
the amount of three billions of dol
lars 1t responded by purchasing four
billion dollars worth In May it was
called upon to contribute 100000,
600 to the Red Cross 1t responded
by contributing over $150,0O0,O0O
And the best part Of those two re-
sponses was not merely the amount
of money raised, but the patriotic
enthusiasm manifested. 1t was plain
that the American nation is deter
mined to prosecute this war to a
successful conclusion at any cost.
The hardest task is before US in
June. The Government is depending
upon the sale of two billion dollars
worth of War Savings Stamps dur
ing this year, and of this amount
expects South Carolina to purchase
over S3O,O0O,0O0 worth of these
stamps-a greater investment than
we were called upon to make in the
last two Liberty Loans combined The
government has designated the month
of June as the period for. securing
definite pledges for these purchases
during the balance of the year, with
a fair proportion of actual purchases
during that month.
We have been associating the Wal
Savings Stamp with children to such
an extent that we have lost sight
of the other purpose involved in this
government-namely, to provide a
form of investment suitable to the
great mass of people who do not find
it convenient to visit banks to pay
installments, but who can see either
the postman every day or else an
agent for the sale of W S. s., and
can secure from him a War Savings
Stamp, which pays practically the
same interest as a Liberty Bond.
AS he continues to paste his $500
stamps-which cost him but slight
ly over S4.OO-on his certificate, he
has an actual government bond of
the value of all the War Savings
Stamps there are on it. One stamp
would be a $500 bond, for instance,
and 20 stamps would be a $500 bond.
If you deposit in a savings bank
paying 4 per cent interest quarterly,
SALT in the month of June, 1918,
will increase to $3.50 on January
l., 1923. A War Savings Stamp
bought in June for SALT will be cash
ed for $500 in the same time. The
value of a War Savings Stamp does
not huctuate as the case with a bond,
because the government guarantees
that a War Savings Stamp increases
one cent a month in value. 1t can be
redeemed any time before maturity.
From June ID to June 2S we are
calling for pledges from the mass
of people of our state to the amount
of $40, OOO, 900, these pledges to be
redeemed during the balance of the
year as may best be suited to the
subscribers. South Carolina stands
at the foot of the list of states in
it's per capita purchases of War Saw
ings Stamps. From now until June
%, when the intensive campaign will
end. let us see to it that we do our
part and take a more appropriate
place in the roll of states-and then
we IAN look forward to a rest from
campaigns until November.
Let us not forget that the Govern
ment is relying on the country's pur-
chase of two billion dollars worth
of w. S. S. during this year as an
important part of it's revenue to pay
for what the boys need on the other
side. That thought should stir US all
to instant action. Our soldiers don't
erumble or ask for rest. If we sup
ply them with all that American gen
ius and energy can produce, victory
will be fastened and many lives say
ed. How can we expect to rest, how
IAN we endure the thought of resting
when there is something for us to do,
as long as our boys r in the trench
es enduring the torments of hell, and
giving even their lives that we may
live here in safety and prosperity!
R. C. Rhett.
State Director War Savings,
Cbor1eston g e..