Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1920-05-19
An Appeal to Young Men in
Interest of Tank Company.
Edgefeld, S. c.,
May 18th, 1920.

Edgefeld, S. c.,
May 18th, 1920.
Editor Edgefeld Advertiser:
My we be given enough space in
your news columns to make an ap-
peal to the young men of Edgefeld
county?
Some weeks ago when the War De
partment announced that South Car
olina would be, one of the three
states in the South to have tank
company of the National Guards, a
few Edgefeld men desiring to pro-
mote the welfare Of the county, en-
tered into negotiations with the Ad-
jutant General of South Carolina
looking towards securing the COM
pany for Edgefeld county. Several
meetings were called and the young
men evidenced great interest in the
company and as many as ninety-slX
gave their names as prospective
members. These men desired to join
the headquarters and first platoon to
be located in the town of Edgefeld.
To distribute the military protection
over the county, it was planned to
place the second and third platoons,
consisting of thirty-two men each,
in two different sections Of the coun-
ty, possibly at Johnston and in the
Collier neighborhood.
At one of the meetings more than
sixty-five men cast their secret bal
lots and selected the officers for the
company, which officers, since their
election, have been bending every eff
fort towards completing the organi-
cation of the company. Now to the
utter dismay of the officers and those
men who have joined, quite a num-
Der have failed to sign their enlist
ment blanks or to take the necessary
physical examination. AS the situa-
tion now stands we have recruited
more men than are necessary for the
headquarters or first platoon but not
quite enough men for both of the
units, and it is necessary to have
both units organized before the gov
.ernment will issue the tanks and
other equipment. To date we have re-
crnited and the medical examiner
has passed forty-nine men and there
are seven men who have enlisted but
have not been examined by the ply
:sician, (these are ex-service men and
can pass the examination) so now we
have fifty-six men awaiting the mus
ter m by the Adjutant General.
There are between ten and fifteen
men whom we can depend on to join
so we only lack few men of having
the neseccary seventy-seven to get
the headquarters and first platoon
Will the red-blooded young men OF
Edgefeld county-fail to respond to
this call and allow some other place
in the state to rob US of the COM
pany? We cannot believe that they
will when they see this appeal; it IS
not personal appeal, it is for the
county of Edgefeld.
The officers of the company in
their recruiting campaign have not
met any direct opposition. Every
body says the company will be a
great thing for the county and they
wish us good luck. The Chamber OF
Commerce is backing US solidly and
older citizens have manifested their
interest by attending the meetings
in the Court House. We have not
seen a young man who is not in IA
vor of having the company, but many
of them who promised to join haye
simply put off joining to later oate
or are still thinking it over" Our
greatest fear is that while these men
are still considering the matter some
of the other places which are work
ing for the company, will grab it. We
urge these men who are still unde-
cided to make up their minds and
join up.
There is no reason why great
number of young married men
should not come in and do their part
for their town and county and coun-
try. The policy of the government
has always been to discharge married
men when any small emergency
arisesAas was done when the Nation
al Guard was called to the border. Il
we should have a war of the magni-
tude of the late war the married mer
might be held but in that event, al