The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1919-03-01
lHESt TWO MEN
DID NOT HEDGE
Out Contract to Limit,
Oisdaining Oft5rs to Escape

THE var is over; I'm not going to
buy any more Liberty Bonds"
This is a remark you may have
heard. Many persons are making 1t
thoughtlessly every day. Maybe you
have said it yourself. If you have,
surely it is because you forgot that
contract you made with those partners
of yours, James Yaeger and l. Berry,
less than two years ago.
What? You never had those men
as partners? First, refresh your men,
DRY a bit in regard to Yaeger. Let's
see, it was in April, 1917, that you
made that agreement with him. The
terms were very favorable to you.
Yaeger was TO go in training, brave
submarines, bullets, shells and gas for
an unlimited period, for $50 a month,
to protect you and your family. You
were to remain in comparative COM
fort, only guaranteeing that Yaeger's
salary and all expenses incident to his
p%erilous mission should be paid
promptly. At that, you were not ask
ed to give this money outright-only
to lend it at a good rate of interest.
Now, your other partner, Berry.
Perhaps you have forgotten him, too.
He was a lieutenant in the Fifth Ma
chine Gun Battalion. His agreement
with you vas the same as Yaeger's-
he was to give his service, even to the
death if required, while you were to
do your part in footing the bills.
How did these two partners of
yours carry out their part of the con-
tract? The Wal Departments records
are eloquent on this point.
Jaeger was near Verdun on October
u, 1918, performing his duties in your
behalf. With a few companions he
was cut off in an exposed position
under heavy gun and artillery fire.
While standing off the foe with his
automatic rifle, he fell severely
wounded. Several hours later the
stretcher bearers found him. "Take
Smith first" he begged, pointing to
his companion. They did, and re-
turned as quickly as they could.
Yaeger, your partner, was dead. He
had been released from his part in
the contract. But, by the eternal law
of Right and Decency, his death did
not release you!
You have yet to-but wait, let us
see what became of your other part
ner, Lieutenant Berry.
The first week in October, the rec
ords tell us, he was in action lei
Montblanc, France, faithfully pursu-
ing his contract to keep you and
your family safe, no matter at what
cost to himself. His commander fell
dead. Berry went to the front line
and carried on"
Shortly afterwards a bullet hit him
in the head. The surgeon ordered
him to the hospital. An evacuation
tag was placed On his uniform, which
meant that he was Out of the fight
responsibility to you, his partner.
What did he do? Tore off the tag, de-
stroyed it, and dashed into the front
line For t~wenty-four hours he COM
manded the defense, guided his men
back to safety-and died.
Yaeger scorned the chance Of re-
lief that the stretcher bearers offered
him.
Berry disdained an Evacuation tag"
You are the partner of these men.
They kept faith with you to the bitter
End. Their spirits cry to you from
the Great Beyond to fulfill your prom
Use TO them. Their millions of COM
rades-also your partners-whose
lives were saved, ask you: do you
seek an easy way out of the battle?
Do you covet an evacuation tag?
What is your word worth?"
In April you will be asked to carry
out the final part of your stipulation
by subscribing to the Victory Liberty
Loan.
OF course, you will meet your OBJ
legation!