The Intelligencer April 26, 1916 (page 1)
“One View of an Open Letter to the City Council. To the Editor, Dear Sir: The public are indebted to ‘Citizen’ for again calling attention to the enormous cost to our townsmen, as well as to the rest of the nation, of the prolonged effort which has become necessary to protect our families and our freedom, our lives and property, and our standard of civilization, from the Prussian deluge of rapine, murder and destruction. …
It is the duty of every one to do all in his or her power to help our forces make sure of victory. Many believe that the only real danger to the Allied armies now, is the tendency of so many to leave all fighting and paying for ‘the other fellow’ to do. We are not free from that tendency in Belleville, though many of our citizens are nobly doing what they can, and by their efforts the city had made a good showing when compared with some other places of similar size and conditions. …
Of Belleville’s 12,000 population, less than 1,000 subscribed anything at all. There are 2,500 householders and nearly as many boarders who earn their living here, all of whom could spare at least one cent per day for the Patriotic Fund as long as the war lasts. A number of them did contribute generously many times that figure. Had every one contributed with reasonable liberality, according to their means, last year Belleville would have raised $80,000 instead of $35,000. …
If a general economy and thriftiness can be brought about, the taxation will be very easily met. … Yours faithfully, ‘R. Tannahill,’ Treasurer Belleville Branch. Canadian Patriotic Fund.”
First World War Belleville 