The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-10-23
The United States Boys Working Re-
serve,

| to seek for solution. Inc question
was asked: why not use a hitherto
| unused labor asset-boys sixteen years
! of age and over?" The question it.
self suggested the real solution, the
| United States Boys Working Reserve
was organized, and different branches
established in the States of the Amer
ican Union. Last April I was asked
! to take charge of the work as FEEDER
al State Director for South Carolina
Since then we have been busy organ
izing the different counties Of the
State. The State Council of Defense
appropriated enough money for the
employment of a secretary and head
quarters were established in! Sumter
The correspondence Of this office is
very heavy and is constantly growing.
! The letters issued recently have num-
bered from thirty to eighty-fiye a day
We find that we have to keep up in
terest by supplying intelligent tnfor-
nation and definite data.
1t was recently my privilege to at
tend conference in Washington.
Forty-four States were represented
and all of the information obtained
there clearly esta blished the fact that
| he United States Boys Working Re-.
serve is one of the most constructive
forces organized during the war. Ev
,ry delegate came away from that
meeting thoroughly enthusiastic and
| with the desire to impart this enthus-
asm to others.
Since my return we have been re
ceiving a number of letters from the
County Directors and many OF them
are asking for information and also
sor arguments to be used in inducing
the boys to join the Reserve and
points to be advanced that will make
their fathers glad for their sons tc
DIN this organization. believe that
the best way to reach these. boys and
their fathers is through the press Of
our State apd. 1 am, therefore, writing
his open letter. The press Of the
whole State has been exceedingly
generous in helping: us to promot,
| his organization and are deeply
grateful.
Everybody in the State should feel
hat it is his duty to do what he car
help his country in the hour Of 1t
lirest need I believe that boys
ire disinterestedly patriotic and, i
hey are made to see that it is their
patriotic duty to do anything they
will not hesitate to do it cheerful.y
nd effectively The government is
low calling upon all boys who are
ixteen years of age and over or who
will be sixteen before the end of this
;chool year, to join an Organization
hat will give them an opportunity tc
ender real service to their country
It a time when 1t needs the service
IF all Of her citizens, as she has new
IL needed it before or, perhaps, will
,ver need it hereafter. Our big boys
IRE fighting abroad; but they can no;
continue to fight, unless they ars
Maintained at home. Their mainten-
nee depends upon the labor supply;
ut there has been q great labor short
ge and the situation has been and
till is very. acute in this emergency
he government is calling upon the
,oys of sixteen and over and we fee;
ure that they will answer to; the call.
or them not to do so would mark
hem as s,ackers just as conspicuous
as trying to avoid the military
raft would have condem ned Their
rothers, who are now fighting upor
he fields Of France South Carolina
conspicuous for the small number
f slackers in any war activity.
The fathers Of these boys need no.
,esitate; for I can confidently assure
hem that it is not the purpose of the
reserve to interfere in any way with
The educational opportunities Of these
| Boys On the contrary, above every
,ther consideration the Reserve
places the conservation of the boy
The Reserve has no desire to transfer
my boy from his fathers farm, un.
ess the father himself expresses de.
ire for it to be done: The signing OF
! he enrolment card does not NEAR
hat the father surrenders any con
t-rol of his son. Itkimply means tha'
he father is will for the son tt
Join an organization that has for its
4 purpose the successful solution OF
abor problem that is moSe acute thar
| It has ever been in the history OF oul
/ country. 1t means that father l:
patriotic and he wishes his son te
| how his patriotism in practical and
Elective way.
The farmers need the assistance OF
these boys Just as soon as the
t,schoo1s were closed by the order O.
he State Board Of Health, the high
.chool boys Of our own town made ar
angements to help the farmers har-
:est their millet and hay crops ano
hey are now rendering very valuable
service. Permit me to say that one
If NV own sons belongs to the Re
| serve and he has not missed a day
! since the schools were closed at work
1 upon the farm. 1t has been a source
! If great benefit to him and to the 9TH
er boys in every way. l mention this
PERSONAL matter simply as the best evi-
lence of my belief in the righteous
aess of the organization that repre-
ent.
The. farmers themselves have fell
that the assistance that these boy:
to Of or