Surnames: Smith

----Source: DORCHESTER HERALD (Dorchester, Clark Co., Wis.) 7 June 1918

Clark County’s Quota is $600,000

Amount to be Pledged for Purchase of Thrift or War Savings Stamps on or Before Twenty-eighth of June

Clark County has another task laid out for her, but one which should not prove very difficult, in light of her past performances in the government loan campaigns. The United States government is asking the people of the nation to pledge themselves to buy $20 worth of Thrift and War Savings Stamps before the close of the year 1918. This means every man, woman and child is expected to own $20 worth of stamps and on that basis Clark county must pledge to buy over $600,000 worth. No doubt instances will develop where some persons will be unable to pledge their full quota and it will therefore be necessary for others to take more than their quota.

On June 28th the government is ordering that every man, woman and child assemble at the school house in their district and there make their pledges to buy War Savings Stamps. It must be understood that immediate payment of the pledges is not expected or required. The pledges are merely to be signed on that day and payment for the various amounts can be made at any time before January 1, 1919. In other words, redeem the pledges from day to day by buying Thrift stamps and then exchanging them for War Saving Stamps.

Persons who have already bought Thrift Stamps or War Savings Stamps will be given credit for their purchases on their pledges. For instance, a man with a family of five will be expected to pledge himself to buy $100 worth of stamps during the year, but if he has already bought $50 worth, he will be expected to buy but $50 additional. The sum and substance of the campaign us that by January 1st, Clark county is expected to have bought over $600,000 worth of stamps. The signing of the pledges is to be made June 28th, and every person in the county is urged not to forget to attend the meeting at their school district on that day. There will be no excuse for failure to attend and persons who do not put in their appearance on that day will be asked by the government the reason for their non-attendance. June 28th is the day and $20 per person is the pledge.

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----Source: DORCHESTER HERALD (Dorchester, Clark Co., Wis.) 28 June 1918

CLARK COUNTY’S QUOTA TOTALS $663,180

Representing an Average of $20 for Each Man, Woman and Child in County

W. L. Smith, chairman of the Clark County War Savings committee announces that Clark county’s quota in the approaching drive for the sale of War Savings stamps is $663,180, which means an average subscription of $20 for each man, woman and child in the county.

In connection with this Mr. Smith says:

"Some confusion has arisen regarding this as it is generally supposed that an individual must subscribe $20 for each member of his family. This would work an injustice as some people with large means have small families while others of small means have large families. It is intended and expected that each person shall subscribe for War Savings Stamps according to his ability. If every person in Clark county will do his duty in this matter it will not impose an injustice on any individual."

* Transcriber note: After checking several inflation calculators online, it seems that $20 in 1918 would be equal to between $275 and $325 today (2008).