Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-08-27
PATRIOTIC ORDER
SONS OF AMERICA
IN STATE SESSION
Camp Opened at Harrington, This
Morning, With Full Rep
reScntation.
REPORTS BY TWO OFFICERS
pccsai Dispateh TO Every Evening

Special Dispatch TO Every Evening
Harrington, Aug. 27-Thc fourteenth
annual session of the State Camp of Della
ware. r. o. S. of A., met here today in
the local P. o. 9. of A. Hall in the Reese
Building, State President Il. Y Williams
presiding
REPORT OF STATE PRESIDENT.
State President Williams presented his
report, which said:
MANY of our good brothers at this
time are somewhere In France, many IN
the training camps, and the members that
are left behind are subscribing to Liberty
Bonds, buying War Savings Stamps and
are keeping the camp fires burning for the
good brothers till they shall return and
kaIserlsm is no more.
Brothers. | sincerely hope and trust
that during the year something has been
accomplished for the good of the State and
subordinate camps. Would advise the
next executive committee, II possible, to
place some active brother in Kent and
Sussex counties for organization work, as
! sincerely believe some good could be
accomplished there for the upbuldinG OF
the order While few Of the camps in the
State are not very active, l believe that
with = little help they could be made
active and up 10 date. | regret very much
the loss of Camp No of Milford While
they had | | good loyal members left, they
decided 70 merge with Camp No so at
Harrington"
REPORT OF STATE SECRETARY.
The report of State Secretary Thomas
F. Dunn of Dover said
IL regret very much to report inactivity
among the camps throughout the Juris-
diction, and especially the camps outside
of our only city The world war Is partly
to blame for thus Every one has new
patriotic duties to perform and many are
overburdened with increased work and
the shortage of men owing 10 the going of
our young men into service to battle for
democracy, right and Justice Throughout
the world We find it difficult to get mem
bers to attend regular meetings, and IT r
almost out of the question to secure a full
degree team to perform limitations. Con
sequently there N hesItAncy about 60
curing candidates and = total failure to
make the Patriotic impression on the nd
oitional members secured. Furthermo n,
little or no benefit is gotten from the
amount Of cash expended for hall rent by
fully two-thIrds of our camps. II has
occurred to me that the moving picture,
that has become 80 useful and popular,
embarrassment IN many small camp
room. Why not film the initiatory work.
that will be rcvsed soon, and show it on
the screen az often as desired. Perhaps
our quarters throughout the land would
he as popular and crowded rs the movie
plAncs' thAt We find At every corner In
our c1f.sse towns and crps>-rosd Villages
IN the land / hope this suggestion will he
conSsdnrcd and recommended that the
national camp be requested to seriously
consider It.
In spite of the many new duties and
hinder,ng attractions, we are steadily
nearing the high-water mark set some
time ago, 800 members Surely WE will
be able to reach it before the end of the
present year of the next camp year. Only
l2S more members needed to reach it.
Let us make heroic effort to land them.
The full extent of our labors and
benefits for the past year are fully set
forth In the following Statistical report:
Present number of camps, u; number
of members, June 80, 1917, 2,3OS; in
itiated during the year, $50; admitted by
card, Is; reinstated. IL; transferred, 5;
resigned, .; died, Is; dropped, l65; ex-
pelled /; present number Of members,
1872; a net increase of "a.
Finances Of Camps-Total receipts for
the year, $2l ,o9l A.; total expenditures
$40 1859; paid for benefits, SIS, 123. AZ,
cash in treasures, IS. .367 81; amount in
vested, S, 1928 2l; value of camp property,
$4,ls5.20; total value Of camps. SIS
IA e6; per capita tax paid, $3.50
State Camp Finanoes-Total receipts
for the year, $4,000; total expenditures,
Ss3o.47; cash balance in hand, S26s .25:
invested in Liberty Bonds, $500.