The Intelligencer November 12, 1917 (page 2)
“Campaign Launched With Wild Acclaim. After nine o’clock this morning any citizen of Belleville remaining in ignorance of the fact that Hastings County, and the Dominion of Canada had started into the three weeks drive for the Victory Loan, was either deaf and blind, or a candidate for the Bay Shore rest station. Every noise producing instrument in the city was requisitioned for use. Church bells, fire bells, dinner bells, factory whistles, automobile horns and human voices joined in with the rest of Canada in the financial battle the same as her sons who have fought and died in the battle for the world’s freedom.
The men over there have done their duty. Now those who are unable to go over are about to do theirs. Every man, woman and child who is earning a wage, or receiving an income, must buy a Victory Bond within the next three weeks. There can be no alternative. …
At 7.30 tonight the street lights will go out for three minutes to remind the citizens that it is their duty to go to the City Hall and hear the addresses on the Victory Loan by men who are familiar with the subject, and to listen to a programme of music by Belleville’s leading artists. …
Ald. W. B. Deacon, the county chairman, marshalled his forces on Saturday night at the headquarters on Campbell street for final instructions before the big drive. He let them know that Hastings County must supply One Million Dollars to the Canada Victory Loan, and ‘A Million or Bust’ will be the slogan for the workers of Hastings.
This morning saw the workers out and doing. Every man was in his place to sell the Victory Bonds, and the publicity committee was out in full force to plaster the town with the advertising matter, so that no matter where the people turn they will be confronted with a reminder of a duty done, or yet to be done.
Everyone who buys a bond will be given a button to wear. It must be worn prominently, not in a boastful way, but for the moral effect on the man who has failed to do his duty, so that before the three weeks will be up a man will be ashamed to appear in public without a button. The absence of the button will be far more conspicuous than the presence of it. …
Many merchants have kindly given their newspaper space to be used by the Publicity Committee, and it would be well to read these advertisements. … An announcement will be made from the stage at the City Hall tonight of the result of the first day’s canvass, also at Griffin’s theatres.”
The Intelligencer November 12, 1917 (page 2)
“Private John Jones Dangerously Ill. The following telegram was received yesterday by Mr. Thomas Jones of this city. Ottawa, Nov. 11, 1917. Thomas B. Jones, 75 South John Street, Belleville. Sincerely regret to inform you that (636742) Pte. John Jones, infantry, is officially reported dangerously ill at Sixth British Red Cross Hospital, Etaples, November 6th, 1917; gunshot wounds in right leg. Director of Records.
Pte. Jones is well known in this city, where he has resided all his life. He enlisted and went overseas with the 155th Battalion. Previous to enlistment he was employed at Marsh & Henthorne’s establishment. His many friends will hope for his recovery.”
The Intelligencer November 12, 1917 (page 4)
“Buy a Victory Bond by following the Gillette Banking System. Do you pay a man to shave you every day? Then you’re lucky if it doesn’t cost you more than the price of a $50.00 Victory Bond a year!
This shaving outlay might be $50.00 well spent if it saved some of your own valuable time. But on the contrary it takes three or four times as long to get shaved away from home, as to shave yourself with a Gillette Safety Razor.
If you have been using a Gillette you have been saving $1.00 per week at least. Buy an extra $50.00 Victory Bond for each year that the Gillette has saved that much for you!
If you haven’t been ‘banking’ money this way, buy both a Gillette and a Bond now, and let one pay for the other!”
First World War Belleville 