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WWI
Four-Minute Men
McLean County, Illinois
(Transcribed by: Teri Moncelle Colglazier)

One of the volunteer organizations which worked at home to promote the spirit of victory was that of the Four-Minute Men. The McLean county body of this name was similar to those of other places, but none were more enthusiastic and able than that of McLean county. The committee of public information at Washington on October 15, 1917, appointed C. B. Hughes, a well known attorney, as chairman of the Four-Minute men of McLean county. The organization was active in Red Cross drives, Y. W. C. A., Liberty Loan and United war work campaigns, also on special occasions, and on special subjects. The objects of speaking was to enlighten by statement of facts and duties of citizens and arouse to action. Nearly all the moving picture houses in the different towns of the county permitted Four Minute men to address their audiences at many performances. In Bloomington, the following theaters were thus used: Majestic, Irvin, Castle, Chatterton and the Scenic. Meetings were held on special occasions in many towns, and in many country school houses and churches the Four Minute men were privileged to address the people. Medals for making more than 10 speeches during Liberty Loan Campaigns were given to James C. Riley, Edmund O'Connell and C. B. Hughes. C. B. Hughes spoke 142 different times in county during war on war subjects. The following were speakers enrolled for the purposes of four minute speeches: C. B. Hughes John Alexander E. C. Baldwin Martin Brennan A. K. Byrns E. E. Donnelly Will F. Costigan Earl DePew Frank Gillespie Bert A. Franklin Homer Hall Frank Hanson Richard F. Dunn Jesse E. Hoffman E. B. Hawk James C. Riley R. M. O'Connell John B. Lennon Walter Will Rolla Jones J. H. Hudson Sigmund Livingston James A. Light Huber Light M. M. Morrissey B. C. Moore Edmund O'Connell K. W. Oglevee Hal M. Stone John M. Sullivan D. O. Thompson W. W. Whitmore W. R. Bach Fred W. Wollrab D. D. Donahue L. H. Martin [McLean County, Illinois, in the World War, 1917-1918; by Edward E. Pierson & Jacob Louis Hasbrouck c 1921]

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