The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-04-10
From The Daily Item, April 6.

will be, in fact is already. an assured
success in Sumter county. This WAS
determined by the result Of the ma ass
meeting in the Opera House today
when in the course of less than an
hour fully $4,000 were obtained
from those present. The response to
the call for subscriptions was imme-
diate, enthusiastic, liberal, and in SOL
emn earnest The people are begin
ming to realize that a fight for ex-
istence is upon us and that the free
dom of the world and the preservation
Of civilization, democracy and Chris
tianity depends absolutely upon the
fortitude, patriotism and courage OF
the people of the United States. They
are now feeling that everything that
we are, or hope to be, is menaced, and
that until the German terror is de-
stroyed there is neither safety nor
hope for free people whose only aim
is liberty and the peaceful pursuit of
happiness. Feeling thus they are not
boarding and hiding their money but
are placing it in the hands Of the gov-
ernment as it is called for. If the
spirit of the meeting here today is du-
plicated in all sections Of the country
from the Atlantic to the Pacific the
Third Liberty Loan will be 'oversub-
scribed in much less time than was
given to raising the two previous loans
and with much less difficulty. The spir-
1t Of the meeting was above praise,
was an inspiration and lesson in 10y
atty and generous patriotism. The
Sumter spirit of which we have al
ways been prone to boast. reached g
climax today when our people dedicat-
ed their savings to the cause Of free
dom with gladness.
The meeting was opened with the
singing of the Star Spangled Ban
ner by a chorus of school children,
followed by prayer by Rev. Jno. A.
Brunson. and then La Marseillaise was
sung. -11 el.
Mayor L. d. Jennings introduced
Maj. Walter B.. Beals, Judge Advo-
ctae, S1st Division. Camp Jackson.
who at the invitation of the commit
tee, had kindly come to Sumter to
speak at this meeting. Maj Beals
made an earnest and impressive ad-
dress, dealing with the issues involv-
ed in the world war and showed how
and why it was inevitable from tn G
day Belgium was invaded that Amer
cia must take part in the great strug-
gle. He spoke briefly and forcibly and
the impression that he made was evil
denced by the close attention paid by
the audience that filled the Opera
House to its capacity. When he made
particularly telling point he wa.
literally applauded.
At the conclusion of the address the
audience stood and sang America, ev-
crybody singing with enthusiasm.
Then came the real business Of the
meeting. Mayor Jennings took charge
| and stated that the purpose of the
meeting was to obtain subscriptions
for the Third Liberty Loan and that
although every person present under
stood why money was needed to win
the war, he would explain some OF
the reasons why every loyal Ameri-
can man, woman and child should
buy Liberty bonds. He thenp roceed-
ed to tell them, and before he finished
it was evident that no one with money
or credit and a spark of patriotism
would be without Liberty bonds at
the end OF the campaign. He then
called for subscriptions, after an
nouncing that the banks Of the city
had pledged subscriptions each to an
amount equivalent to ten per cent OF
its capital stock. Subscriptions came
so rapidly that the two secretaries
could not keep up with them. The
subscriptions ranged in amount from
| $25, 900 down to $50 A large num-
ber of five, three, two and one thou
sand dollar subscriptions were made
and it seemed as if all present who die
not take larger amounts put theii
names down for n least one bond. a
2 o'clock when the meeting closed il
was announced that the subscription:
aggregated between Three Hundred
and Thirty and Three Hundred and
Forty Thousand Dollars. This figure
was announced after a hurried tabula
ton, and when the lists are checke,
up and the total verified it is be
licved that the amount subscribed