In order to carry on War, not only men, but also vast sums
of money, were a necessity. After much discussion of ways
and means, the Government deemed it best to raise this money
by loans in the form of bonds. These were called Liberty Bonds.
The First Loan
The first loan was raised through our bands. Mr. E. H. Cole
had been appointed Sales Manager for the Government for
the sale of Certificates of Indebtedness. At a meeting of
Green County Bankers, held in Brodhead, June 8, 1917, it was
decided to sell bonds through the banks. Besides the banks there
were twelve individual subscribers to this loan, bringing the
amount sold in Brodhead up to $34,800.
The Second Loan
The Drive for the Second Liberty Loan was inaugurated by
a Loyalty Meeting at Broughton's Opera House, Sunday
Evening, Oct. 21, 1917. The hall as filled with loyal citizens
and great interest shown. The speakers were the pastors of the
city and Mr. Arthur Sholtz, of Oregon. The Community Chorus sang.
At another meeting which was held, Chief Justice Winslow
of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, made the address,
speaking for the coming Liberty Loan. Rev. David Levin of
the M. E. Church presided and the music was by a Male Quartette
and the Community Chorus.
This time a committee, consisting of about twenty of the
business men and a few ladies, canvassed the city for
subscribers. The Boy Scouts also assisted, selling a large
block of bonds. An immense bulletin board was erected in front
of the Post Office and each subscriber's name listed thereon,
causing considerable excitement and enthusiasm as the list grew
longer and longer. Brodhead's allotment was $65,000 and $75,000
was the amount purchased, making our city one of the few precincts
in the county to over-subscribe.
The Third Loan
BRODHEAD FIRST "OVER THE TOP" IN GREEN COUNTY
The Third Liberty Loan, the drive for which opened officially
April 6, 1918, on the first anniversary of our entering the
war, was planned to be raised upon a somewhat different basis.
The County Council of Defense had carefully made out a list
of every person in the county able to buy bonds, and
opposite each name was the amount of bonds that person was
supposed to buy. These ratings were painstakingly compiled from
the assessment rolls, tax rolls, mortgage records, income-tax
rolls and other sources of information to which the committee
had access. The rating sheets were sent to the chairman of each
precinct who made out individual cards for his canvassers. The
slogan was "Your Share is Fair."
On Monday evening, April 8, a rousing mass meeting was held
in Broughton's Opera House, although Brodhead
scarcely needed this appeal to patriotism. The singing was
by the students of the public schools and also a solo by Miss
Deal of Monroe. Superintendent of schools, Frederick Ek, introduced
the speaker of the evening, Mr. P. F. Neverman of Monroe, who
was chairman or president of the County Council of Defense. Mr.
Neverman made a stirring address and explained the method of
apportionment. He also promised a special Liberty Loan Honor
Flag and a visit from the famous Great Lakes Jackie Band to the
precinct first over the top.
Tuesday morning, April 9, thirty men and ten women started
the canvass and by noon Brodhead had gone "Over the
Top," the first in the county. This time our quota was
$54,000 and $80,000 was raised.
The Third Liberty Loan Honor Flag given by the U.S. Treasury
Department was received and hung in the post office
window.
The next Tuesday, April 16, the Jackie Military Band arrived
with their special train as per schedule, and gave two
delightful concerts. With the band were Judge Dan Grady of
Portage and Mr. Kennedy of Racine, who each gave a talk on the
war.
The day was an eventful one for Brodhead, the town was full
of people who received the band most enthusiastically.
Dinner was served free to the boys, at the hotel, a collection
was taken up for them and a box of goodies presented to each
one by the local Red Cross.
Much credit should be given the solicitors in this and other
loans; they gave freely and generously of their time and
service and by their quick action helped in putting the loan
over. It should be said also, that the response of Brodhead's
citizens in all the loans was splendid - over 400 subscribers
being on the list.
The Fourth Loan
The Fourth Liberty Loan was to open Sept. 28, 1918. This
was to be the largest loan so far and to be raised in the
shortest time. The plans evolved by the Green County Council
of Defense for raising the money in the Third Loan Drive had
been perfected through the summer and were also being widely
adopted throughout the state. Cards were sent to each person
able to buy bonds, giving the amount to be purchased. If any
individual felt his quota was unjustly large he had the privilege
of going to his chairman before the date set for the drive and
stating his case. Further investigation was then made and the
affair generally adjusted satisfactorily to all. But to do justice
to the Council and to the citizens in general, comparatively
little complaint was made and the stipulated amount of bonds
usually purchased. Soliciting was not done in this drive, the
people went to their appointed place, where the chairman and
his helpers were established, and made their pledges. And Brodhead's
citizens with a smile that marks the true American spirit whether
in Brodhead or at Chateau Thierry, went "Over the Top"
again, first in the county. Our allotment was $102,000 and $117,000
was subscribed.
The Victory Loan
The fifth and last loan was styled the Victory Loan, coming
as it did, after the war was won.
The Drive was opened in Brodhead by a "Victory Liberty
Loan Evening" at the Opera house, Monday evening, April
21, 1919. Music was rendered by a Male Quartette. Mr. P.
F. Neverman was the speaker and short, but interesting talks
were given by a number of "Our Soldier Boys" who had
recently returned from France and the battle front. All the boys
present were asked to sit on the platform and to the home folks,
they were a goodly sight, sitting there in their uniforms. After
the program, lunch was served to the boys and their partners
by the Red Cross, and a dance given for their benefit.
The next day, Tuesday, April 22, the committee in charge
of the loan, received subscriptions at the Engine House, and
Brodhead bought $153,050 worth of bonds.
Baby Bonds
February 3, 1918, was opening day for the War Savings Campaign
in the state of Wisconsin. The War Savings Stamp
was in reality a Baby Bond for $5.00 with the same security
back of it as the Liberty Bonds, and a yield of 4% interest,
compounded quarterly and payable in gold January 1, 1923. But
one need not invest five dollars all at once. To encourage everyone
to save, children as well as grown people, cards were issued
bearing places for sixteen stamps. These stamps, called Thrift
Stamps, were twenty-five cents each, and when the card was filled,
it could be exchanged at the banks, post-office or other authorized
agency, for a Five Dollar War Savings Stamp, by paying twelve
cents in cash, prior to Feb. 1, 1918, and one cent additional
each month thereafter.
May 11, 1918 was designated as Thrift Day, beginning a campaign
to sell still greater amounts of War Savings Stamps.
With the slogan, "A country worth fighting for is a
country worth saving for," Brodhead's citizens again came
nobly to the front. The total amount of stamps bought in Brodhead
us to the close of 1919 was $64,283. The quota was over-subscribed
by $3,000.