The Hastings Banner — Thursday, October 4, 2018 — Page 9

Sugar, slackers, soldiers and sailors in 1918 headlines

Kathy MaurerCopy Editor

War-related stories splattered the pages of the Banner in 1917 and 1918. Letters from local soldiers and sailors serving in stateside and overseas were a regular feature, as were notices of patriotic meetings, calls for donations of magazines, and edicts from state and federal government.

The Oct. 3, 1918, Banner had a mix of such news, sweetened with sugar allotment, a scolding of Sunday motorists and recommendations for families to best support their sailors and soldiers:

Slackers using cars on Sunday

Farmers indignant over actions of several in community

“Considerable indignation is being expressed by farmers in the northern part of the Irving Township over the fact that several persons who own horses and buggies are too unpatriotic to give up the privilege of using motorcars on Sundays. Threats are being made, and folks need not be surprised some day to find several cars painted yellow.

“Uncle Sam has appealed to car owners to give up the use of their cars on Sundays so that the gasoline may be conserved for use in the defensive and offensive forces of our army and navy.

“It seems pitiful to have even a few persons within the bounds of our county who are so selfish that they are unwilling to set aside their desires one day in the week while others are suffering and fighting to preserve the very principles of government which are so liberal as to allow one to be unpatriotic if he feels so disposed. Such persons should reside in a country with an autocratic government like Germany, and they would then understand why they, who are not called upon to shoulder a gun, merely to save a little gasoline, possibly for ambulances which bring back wounded men from the front line, are asked to join in this mutual volunteer agreement to save as much gasoline as they would use in a Sunday ride. They need to be taught the meaning of force.

They are wayward children, used to having their own ways, used to nothing by accomplishing their own ends.

“Come, wake up! Be modern! Leave that “tin lizzie” in the barn. Realize that we are at war, that Uncle Sam and his millions of men are looking toward that red line on the eastern horizon, that all of the cosmic forces that man cannot understand are at work, and

that all of the struggles that resulted in the independence of this country, and later in its preservation, must be fought over again by men who several years ago had no conception of what war is like.

“Come out of those little shells you are living in, and be American men and women. You aren’t unpatriotic, because you could not be patriotic in any country you lived in. This Kaiser wouldn’t have you in his realm because he will tolerate none but his supporters – he calls them patriots.

“Now, just stop and look at the Stars and Stripes and realize what they mean to you, how you have been able to live freely and happily, to accumulate funds and to prosper. You have not been called upon to make any sacrifices before; you have not learned that you will never have the respect of your neighbors – or of yourselves, in fact – unless

you amputate those measly portions of yourselves called selfishness and help respond to the appeal to save gasoline. If you want to go anywhere, walk or do just as you did several years ago without complaint: Hitch up the horse. But save the community from the pain of thinking that during these solemn but hopeful days, there are living among us those who forget one of the Great Duties of this life.”

The Barry County chapter of the American Red Cross urged families to seek assistance locally, rather than trouble their service member with home cares.

“Families of soldiers and sailors“You can ease the burden of the man in

service by writing cheerful letters and by keeping him free from home cares.

“If you feel you must have advice or assistance of any kind in the management of your affairs, or if something worries you, see the Home Service Section of the American Red Cross in your community.

The Home Service Section can, to a degree, do for you what he would do were he at home.

“Keep your man in service fit to fight by taking your troubles to the Red Cross

Barry County Chapter”

October Sugar certificates are mailed

Household allotment is same as September – two pounds per person per month

“Lansing, Sept. 30 – The last batch of sugar certificates for controlling the state’s allotment for October were mailed out of Lansing Saturday night. The household allowance remains the same as for September, two pounds per person per month.

“The ice cream and soft drinks manufacturers are favored for the month, while the bakes are hit harder than usual through the new restrictions. Clarence J. Mears, head of the sugar division, thought at first it must be a mistake, but a careful reading of the restrictions convinces him that the allotment favors the ice cream and soft

drink industries.“The bakers are granted one-third of the

total amount of sugar they used during the quarter beginning July 1, which is their light season, while the soft drink and ice cream manufacturers are likewise allotted one-third of their supply based on the same 90 days, which happens to be their flush period. This is, of course, one-third of their 50 percent cut announced some time ago.

Mr. Mears, the sugar chief, stated every request for canning sugar, made through the proper channels, was granted.

“‘Some of the requests were cut,” Mears added, “but in every case, the reduction was based on the statement filed by the grocer as to the sugar he required in his business during April, May and June. If we received a request for canning sugar out of proportion to the grocer’s straight commercial sugar trade

for that period, we cut the request to harmonize with needs prior to the canning season.

“‘As I said, some requests were cut down, based on the grocer’s own affidavit. I really do not know of an instance where our arbitrary action resulted in crippling the canning operations of a single locality. You know the general tendency is to make a request large enough, and we pared it down to harmonize with the emergency. Michigan folks did very well, I should say,” Mears concluded.

Americans a century ago had become accustomed to sugar rations, Meatless Mondays, Gasless Sundays and even Wheatless Wednesdays – all in an effort to direct those items to the war effort and the troops. The True Northerner, a newspaper printed in Paw Paw, had a far more sobering notice in its Oct. 4, 1918, edition regarding children:

To the Women of Paw Paw:You who have responded as well to the

government’s request for Gasless Sundays, please take notice that Weighing, Measuring and Registering your babies is also a government request, and you are again showing your loyalty by responding to the measure.

The children are rightly called our Last Line of Defense. Help save 100,000 babies. War always strikes the weakest link in a chain, and with a country at war, the children will suffer. We are going to profit by the experience of our Allies in this case. Help Van Buren County to take its place near the head of the counties in Michigan. Help bring this plan to a successful culmination. The ladies on the local Child Welfare Board will make a house-to-house canvass this week to see that the work may be carried out. We look to the mothers of Paw Paw to assist with their willingness. …

Mrs. F.A Racette,Chairman

Sources: Hastings Banner, ChroniclingAmerica.loc.gov.

From Time to Time

Prairieville Township Clerk Job OpeningEffective January 1, 2019

Qualifications Required:Resident of Prairieville Township, 18 years old and a registered voter.

Major Job Duties (include but not limited to):Elections, cemetery, general ledger, accounts payable, payroll, providing reports for all township boards, updating the web site and record keeper for the township.

Skills:Computer skills, accounting, ability to work with others, personable, organized, multi-tasker and lifelong learner.

For more information contact the township at (269) 623-2664.

Send a letter of interest with a resume to the Prairieville Township Board through tdevries@prairievilletwp-mi.org or fax (269) 623-3467 by

October 27, 2018 at 4 p.m.

104600

104195NOTICE OF ADOPTION FOR

ORDINANCE #A-2-2018

AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE BARRY COUNTY ZONING ORDINANCE OF 2008

TO CHANGE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE – ARTICLE 11, SECTION 1102.

BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN HEREBY ORDAINS:

Article 11

RR - Rural Residential

Section 1102 - Rural Residential -

Special Land Uses

(All changes are in BOLD type)

A. Add: “Adult Foster Care Facility”, subject to Section 2307

BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN

Date: September 25, 2018

Ben Geiger, ChairpersonBarry County Board of Commissioners

Pamela A. Palmer, Barry County ClerkPublished Date: October 04, 2018

The above named ordinance becomes effective October 12, 2018. Copy of this ordinance is available for purchase or inspection in the Barry County Planning Office at 220 West State Street, Hastings, Michigan 49058 between the hours 8:00 a.m. - 5 p.m. (closed between 12-1 p.m.), Monday through Friday. Please call (269) 945-1290 for further information.

Seeking PianistA mid-sized local church in the Hastings area is seeking a part-time pianist. Ability to play the organ is a plus. The position entails Sunday morning responsibilities of playing hymns and accompanying a choir, along with one weeknight choir rehearsal.

Please call...269-908-0528 for more information

This notice from the local Red Cross chapter directed families to seek help here, rather than to trouble service mem-bers.

Support for America permeated life here a century ago. This ad reads, “We will win this war – Nothing else really mat-ters until we do!” followed by the compa-ny’s tagline, “The Flavor Lasts” (ChroniclingAmerica.loc.gov)

TWO BROTHERS AND A TENTFor All Your Tent Rental Needs

Tables and chairs available.Call: Dan McKinney 269-838-7057or Tom McKinney 269-838-3842

William N. Leslein, Nashville and Mary D. Hershberger, Nashville

Gary David Post Jr., Middleville and Chelsea Marie Balch, Middleville

Morgan Lee Howard, Michigan City, IN and Zachary Aaron Bergsma, Michigan City, IN

Cody Ryver Betush, Hastings and Amanada Rose Bevel, Hastings

Bradley James Buiter, Dorr and Alexzandra Eileen Gonron, Freeport

Rene Alonzo, South Bend, IN and Madeline Marie Vandechappelle, Wayland

Jakob David Allen Elliott, Hastings and Damaris Ruth Buege, Hastings

Kip Anthony Jones, Lake Odessa and Amy Marie Guile, Lake Odessa

Darrel Matthew White Jr., Middleville and Stacey Marie Jones, Wyoming

Dennis Allen-Ken Malyneik, Hastings and Sunshine Renee Endsley, Hastings

Hannah Ricki Williams, Plainwell and Austin Matthew Hill, Pontiac

Raymond Eugene Palmer, Bellevue and Misty Sue Draper, Bellevue