The War Department Drafted the Newspaper Editor

It is said that the most dangerous foe is the man who smiles at you while he fights. If that be so, then we want to send the American boys over the top with a smile on their faces. We want to keep their spirits up, their thoughts clean and their bodies healthy. We want to furnish them with clean, wholesome amusements while they are in camp. To do this we are going to get back of the national 'smileage' campaign, which will start next Monday, Jan. 28, and end February 2.

The following letter to the editor of the Courier-Reporter from the headquarters of the Military Entertainment Council in this state explains briefly what the campaign is:

'You have been chosen by the War Department as their representative to help the soldiers. On you alone depends what your city and county will do to purchase Smileage books for the men in army cantonments in this country and those over seas. It is the greatest compliment that has ever been paid the Fourth Estate to be chosen to do this great work.

'Smileage books! Do you know what they are? They are coupon books of five and one dollar denominations, consisting of five-cent coupons, to be placed on sale during the week of January 28 to February 2.

'The Smileage book is issued by the War Department, endorsed by President Wilson, and as its unique title indicates, is the solution of the problem of how the friends at home may send an unceasing round of pleasure to our boys in the camps, and at no distant date, to those in France.

'Its immediate purpose is to furnish admission to the splendid program of comedy, drama, vaudeville, light opera and brilliant lectures which has been arranged for presentation in the Liberty theatres and Chautauqua tents of the 64 camps and cantonments of the National Guard and National Army. The ultimate purpose of those at the head of the Military Entertainment Council is to first extend these splendid entertainments to every branch of the service of both army and navy at home and abroad. The use of the Smileage books has been extended so they may be used as scrip for the purchase of tobacco and many other comforts which are necessary to the happiness and contentment of those who are sacrificing their 'all' for us.

'The War Department expects you to sell more than 10 per cent of your population; thus if the population of your district is 5,000, it will have a quota of 500 Smileage books.

'What better antidote for an evil thought or desire than an evening of good, clean, wholesome fun such as these Smileage books afford? The highest class entertainments, which ordinarily cost us two to four dollars, are provided for the soldiers for from ten to twenty-five cents.

'Get the idea? What you are to do as proprietor of the leading newspaper of your section is to be responsible for and take charge of the sale of the Smileage books in your town and show the War Department that your newspaper is the proper medium for placing such a proposition before the people and putting it across, and no force is half so potent in a community.

'See that your community is thoroughly organized for this drive, the week of January 28 to February 2, which is to be a simultaneous drive over the entire United States.'

The Senior Ten boys of the high school have volunteered to take charge of the sale here in town, and books will be placed on sale at the Finley store and at the Hover postoffice.