men were needed to enlist in the armed services; and everyone else was to support them and their dependents!4 A wave of drives to achieve these goals followed, often tak- ing on the fervor of an athletic contest to see who could be most patriotic. Community groups competed in the collec- tion of clothes and money. School children collected pen— nies for the war. The government dispatched agricultural advisers to the farms to urge on the “soldiers of the soil” to increase production. Production and sale of liquor were banned, and the clergy extolled the virtue of abstinence. The newspapers dutifully kept records of what each community was doing, and published names and quantities. Table 7:1 contains a list of fund—raising campaigns held in the five

communities during the war.

Table 7:1, Fund-raising Campaigns, 1914-18 ‘5 Belgium Relief Fund. 1914-15 Patriotic Relief Fund 1914—18 Field Kitchen Drive 1915 Trafalgar Fund 1915 War Bonds Sales 1915-18 Soldiers Disablement Fund 1916 Soldiers Comfort Fund 1916 British and Canadian Red Cross Appeals 1917-18

Knights of Columbus Drive 1918

One of the most enthusiastic supporters of the war was Father John J. MacDonald, pastor at St. Malachy’s. In 1916 he was named chairman of the lagging Patriotic Fund. In 1915 that fund had collected $12,552.00; by 1917 that in— creased to $49,545.00; its success was attributed to the “executive skill and energy of Rev. J.J. MacDonald of Kinkorai’1 6 The following letter by Father MacDonald con- veys the aggressive, competitive spirit used in all the cam— paigns connected with the war.

Patriotic Fund Appeal17

“Pat rlotlc Headquarters. Royal Bank Building Charlottetown. P. E. 1. Doc.- lot. ‘916.

Dear Sin—Wee Edward Island has fallen behind other provinces bo‘ifi~ ruiting men for the war and in contributions to the Patriotic Fund, established for the support and relief of the dependents of the bra‘ve men who have e the front. We cannot believe that the patriotic pe p (if this province will rest content to re- main in that delinquent position, especially as they con- stitute a prosperous agricultural community in receipt of war prices for the farm products which under a beni Providence they have been able to produce so abundant ' this year.

A movement has now begun under which a renewed appeal will be made both for recruits for the military and naval services, and for contributions to the Patriotic Fund. The appeal is made to every man of military age and fitness to enlist, and to every citizen to give in pro- portion to his ability to the Patriotic 'Fund, the claims of which: will be formally presented to everyone.

In support of the statement that our province has fallen far short of its duty in its contributions to the Pa- triotic Fund, the following facts are stated in a letter from Sir Herbert Ames to Mr. H. W. Binning, the Treasu- rer of the Fund in this province under (late of November 9.

The average contribution for the whole Dominion

ithis year will be $1.60 for every man, woman and child, in order to raise a total of $12,000,000.

British Columbia has sent 10 per cent. of its white population, while P. E. Island has only contributed about 21/2 per cent. of its population to the military service of the Empire.

Ontario county councils raised by taxation for the support of the Patriotic Fund from $50,000 to $75,000