Page:The North Carolina Historical Review - Volume 1, Number 1.pdf/31

Rh for raising the State's allotment that had already been tried out successfully in Nebraska. The chairmen present, including Col. Fries of North Carolina, pledged themselves to put on the campaign outlined, and to do all in their power to sell the amount of Stamps that had been allotted to each of them. In North Carolina the months of May and June were devoted to preparation for the June drive. During May, district conferences were held in Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Fayetteville, Wilmington, New Bern, Elizabeth City, Weldon, and Asheville. A definite calendar wat fixed for the month of June with specific duties assigned for each day. The chief features of the plan of the June drive were as follows: (1) A series of district conferences to acquaint the county chairman with the plan; (2) a meeting of the local postmasters at the central accounting office of the county to provide for a supply of Stamps to meet the unusual demand that would result from the intensive drive; (3) the copying of the name and address of every individual who was able to buy one or more Stamps into a Pledge Record Book; (4) reconstructing the county organization so as to have a chairman for every township and ward, a leader for every school-house, and enough canvassers for every community; (5) designating Sunday, June 23, as North Carolina War Savings Sunday and asking Sunday-School superintendents and teachers and ministers to present War Savings to their respective audiences on that day; (6) making a house-to-house canvass for pledges during the first four days of the following week; and (7) conducting a meeting in each school-house at 6 o'clock in the afternoon of Friday, June 28, to receive reports of the canvass and to secure additional pledges enough to raise the balance of the township's or ward's allotment. President Wilson had previously designated June 28th as National War Savings day and said, "I earnestly appeal to every man, woman, and child to pledge themselves on or before the 28th of June to save constantly and to buy as regularly as possible the securities of the Government and to do this as far as possible through memebership in War Savings Societies. The 28th of June ends this special period of enlistment in the great volunteer Army of Production and Saving here at home. May there be none unenlisted on that day."

The June drive was regarded as successful, though only nine counties were reported as having subscribed their allotment—