The Bossier banner., 1918-11-14
An Urgent Appeal to the People.

MIR. A. Curtis, prominent Ward One planter
md Chairman for Bossier Parish of the Libert!
Loan Committee and of the War Work Cam
paign Committee, has received the following
telegram from the campaign committee head
quarters at Washington which was. by specia
request, relayed to him from the campaign head
quarters at New Orleans The dispatch wa:
dated the 9th. and Mr.. Curtis called Monda!
and kindly favored the Banner with copy O
it, that we might publish it In furthering th'
War Work Campaign now in progress:
On behalf of the United War Work Cam
paign, Committeeman Mott requests that
relay the following:
"Our united conclusion is that no matter
how near or how distant permanent peace
may be- the long period of rehabilitation
and the period which will precede demOhili-
Zation will present greater need than ever
fer the service Of the seven cooperating or
ganizations, and. therefore, that the re-
quested OversuhscriptiOn Of 30 per cent is
most necessary. Our advisers of the Ameri-
can Army and Navy concur in this judg
ment. Also l have conferred on the subject
with the War Department and with Presi-
dent Wilson, and they strongly emphasize
the need and Importance Of this work for
the period to follow the cessation of hos
tilities. \ letter from President Wilson, ex-
pressing his satisfaction that our plans
have heen enlarged SO as to enable us to
render this great patriotic service will ar-
pear in the press within the next two or
three days.
The months following the. victorious
ending of the war will be accompanied by
special dangers. We need not be solicitous
for our soldiers and sailors when they are
drilling and fighting and confronting the
great adventure Of life and death, but
rather when this great excitement is with
drawn and discipline is relaxed, and hours
of leisure multiplied and temptations are
increased. The seven organizations will
then be more needed than ever to prevent a
period Of decentralization.
1t took over two years to complete de-
mobilization after the Franco-P Prussian
War, fifteen months after the. Turco-Rus-
sian War. sixteen months after the Spanish
American War. ten months after the South
African War and thirteen months after the
Russc-Japanese War. All with whom we
have consulted agree that it will require
more than one year to demobilize American
forces. For this period Of gravest danger
our organizations are planning to enlarge
greatly our physical and social program by
presenting such helpful counter-attraction
as to keep the men from wrong association
and practices. We are also extending the
great educational program involving the
use of thousands Of teachers and spending
millions of dollars on text books and books
of reference. 4 remarkable religious pro-
gram will he conducted including the use
of many leading preachers and teachers Of
America.
To occupy all Of the time Of our men In
these useful ways will cost much more than
to help them during fragments Of their time.
We therefore call upon the entire American
people to subscribe generously i'll grateful
recognition of the marvellous service ten
dered by our men, and with the firm pur-
pose to make the period of demobilization
not period of physical, mental and moral
deterioration, or weakening, but rather, Il
period of character building. Of growth i'll
useful knowledge and working efficiency
and of preparation for assuming larger res
possibilities as citizens upon their return
home.
Please Immediately give this message to
the press. w. A. SCOTT."