Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1919-02-05


Chairman W. +. Baker, of the county
committee for the United War Work
Fund drive that was held in November
last. In preparation for this campaign
the committee distributed 1000 large
posters and $4,000 leaflets and book
lets, and $500 circular letters and sew.
eral hundred personal letters were sent
out. The total expense attached to
this campaign was $252SS OF this
sum $500 was paid for stenographers
and the balance of $237.SS was for post,
age, printing and advertising. This
sum has been reimbursed by the state
organization so that the total expense
of he campaign is $500, all of the
committee and solicitor service having
been furnished gratuitously.
In addition to the appeals that were
made through the pulpits of the county
one of the features of the campaign
was the booster banquet rendered by
the brotherhood of the DEBORAH NJ. E
church. The spirit of unity that pre-.
vailed at this banquet was the. same
spirit that prevailed throughout the
whole United States during this drive
Winneshiek county's quota for the
war fund was S3s, 10000, based upos
the expectancy of last spring that one
million men would be in France by tht
first of this year. When we doubled
our expectation in man power, it re-
quired an increase of funds necessary
to conduct the overseas work. Winnie
shiel county has subscribed forty pei
cent more than her quota. On Deem
Der 10, we stood fourth in percentage
average in District No. 10. Our con
tribution to the fund is the average oil
the state. The total contributions fol-
this district on December - were $515,
06S.09 and for the state $6,474,990.67
At the conclusion of the camapigr
John r. Mott, the general director
issued a statement containing some
facts that will be read with interest
One of the outstanding features of the
was the fact that it was tn,
largest voluntary offering for an altru
istic cause that the world has evel
known and totaled $200,O0O,OO0. The
was conducted under most sun
favorable circumstances, beginning with
the necessity of recognizing the plan
of campaign, short time in which to
make arrangements for solicitations
nearness to the Fourth Liberty Loan
and the general elections, to say moth.
ing of the influenza epidemic which
swept the country. The false peace re,
port further complicated the matter
In speaking of the cooperation that
prevailed throughout the campaign, Mr.
Mott says:-
"The United War Work campaign
has furnished the most impressive ex.
ample thus far afforded of religious
unity and cooperation. When before
have the leaders and the many millions
of followers of the Protestant, Roman
Catholic and Jewish DELICIOUS bodies
of a great nation Joined forces for the
accomplishment of a common unselfish
object! In doing this no one of them
has obscured, minimized or apologized
for that which is most distinctive in
its life and work. The campaign has
been an illustration of interdenomina
tionalism rather than of undenomina
tionalism. 1t might have been regard.
ed as wonderful had these bodies come
together on platform of putting aside
their different differences and all that
is most characteristic of them; but il
has been far more wonderful that they
have been able to come together and
work together and speak together just
as they are, each being true to its
own best self. The campaign has gen.
Grated in many a community an at
mosphere of truer understanding-an
atmosphere in which, as has been
pointed out, men come to loathe to
differ and to determine to understand
1t is a great thing for any people when
without weakening or sacrificing any
vital principle, they make up their
minds or resolve that they will seek
to understand those from whom they
may conscientiously differ.
"The campaign has been a great ex.
perience for all of the seven co.operat.
ing organizations. 1t has afforded each
a boundless opportunity to serve the
others through placing at their disposal
its experience, its organization and its
working force. No organization, just
as no individual, was ever made one
whit weaker by seeking unselfishly ia
help others. The campaign has given