The New York Times/1918/11/11/Nation-Wide Call to Aid War Work
NATION-WIDE CALL TO AID WAR WORK
John R. Mott Makes Appeal to 'Every Last Friend' as Campaign Week Starts.
CARDINAL GIBBONS'S WORD
Messages Stir Carnegie Hall Meeting That Hails Salvation Army's "Doughnut Girls."
Dr. John R. Mott, Director General of the United War Work Campaign, which begins today and will last until Nov. 18, announced yesterday that in every State of the Union, and in foreign countries where Americans live, the machinery is ready for the solicitation not only of the $170,500,000 asked for the seven war work agencies, but also for an over-subscription of 50 per cent. Calling attention to the greatness of teh task, Dr. Mott warned against undue optimism.
"The only hope of accomplishing the desired end is for every member of the nation-wide organization to keep right on his toes during the next eight days, and for every last friend of the United War Work agencies, Protestant, Catholic, Jew, to back it to the utmost limit," he said.
The Chairman's statement was echoed last night at Carnegie Hall, where spokesmen of the Protestant, Catholic and Jewish faiths, both clergy and laymen, meeting under the auspices of the Salvation Army, urged on members of all religious denominations to subscribe liberally to the fund. The speakers were the Right Rev. Peter J. Muldoon, Chairman of the National Catholic War Council; the Rev. Dr. Joseph Silverman, rabbi of Tample Emanu-El; the Rev. Dr. Karl Relland, rector of St. George's Episcopal Church; Miss Evangeline Booth, Commander in Chief of the Salvation Army in this country, and George Gordon Battle. The Chairman was former Ambassador Myron T. Herrick.
The Carnegie Hall audience was enthusiastic and responsive, applauding wildly when a group of Salvation Army workers who had just returned from France were introduced. Among these were Adjutant Helen Purvelance, "the original doughnut girl," and the McAlister sisters, who made 3,000 doughnuts and 100 gallons of coffee a day for the soldiers.
Appeal by Cardinal Gibbons.
An appeal by Cardinal Gibbons, President of the National Catholic War Council, for generous contributions on the part of all citizens to the fund, was made public yesterday.
"It would be a great mistake to think that the end of teh war will diminish the need of the work of these seven organizations that have done so much for the comfort and welfare of our soldiers and sailors," the Cardinal said.
"The peace treaty will not be concluded for several months at least after the fighting has ceased; all that time our force of 2,000,000 soldiers will remain there on duty. After the signing of the peace treaty it will take many months for the repatriation of our troops, even if they are then free to return; ardently as we desire to see all our brave boys home once more. We must resign ourselves to the prospects that large numbers, if not hundreds of thousands, must remain abroad much longer as an army of occupation.
"Besides, nearly all of Europe east of the Franco-Belgian frontier will see stormy days. Disorder and revolution are sure to break out in many places. Who can foresee what services our troops may yet be called on to render for the re-establishment of order and cilization in Europe? We must see this thing through to the end, until the foundation of peace and justice is securely laid.
"It is very evident that in this period of waiting and during the time of occupation the services of these seven welfare organizations will be more needed than ever. It will be a time of great danger to our soldiers, of danger more fatal than shot and shell. It is our duty to do our utmost to protect our beloved boys from these moral perils. To slacken our efforts now, to lessen our generosity, would be great ingratitude to the men who have encountered such hardships and dangers for our sake and are bringing to a happy end the greatest war in history.
"They have earned the best and the most that we can give them," concluded the Cardinal's statement, "and the American who will not give all he can and help all he can is unworthy of our noble army and navy and the holy cause for which they fought."
Business Men Here is Help.
Every business establishment in Greater New York will be canvassed this week. The Industrial Captains have adopted "an amendment to the tax laws," an act "to provide revenues for the welfare of the boys in camp and on the battle line." The voluntary law calls for a subscription or voluntary tax of not less than one-quarter of 1 per cent. on the outstanding capital stock of each corporation doing business in the city; a voluntary tax of not less than 2 1/2 per cent. of its net profits during the week on every firm doing business in the city, and a voluntary and self-imposed tax by each and every employe of the firms and corporations specified of one full day's pay. The last provision does not include higher salaried officers and firm members, of whom greater donations will be expected. The amounts due are to be paid in four equal installments, beginning on Dec. 1, 1918, and on the first of each of the three following months.
Appreciation of the work done by the Y.M.C.A. women connected with the Navy Hut at the French base of the naval forces in France was voiced in a cablegram received from Vice Admiral H. B. Wilson and made public yesterday at the United War Work Campaign headquarters.
The Allied Theatrical, Motion Picture, Music and Entertainment Team inaugurated its part of the drive last night at the Hippodrome, where a monster program arranged by E. F. Albee was presented. The list of performers included almost every headliner in New York. Among the attractions for the week arranged by this section are a concert and boxing carnival on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden, a football game between Princeton and Camp Upton on Saturday afternoon; every afternoon this week from 2:30 to 11 P.M. war relic expositions at the 1st Field Artillery, Sixty-eighth Street and Broadway and the 23d Regiment Armory, Bedford and Atlantic Avenues, Brooklyn; tomorrow night a gala concert at the Metropolitan Opera House by John McCormack, Maggie Teyte, and Jacques Thibaud; Saturday night a Victory ball at the Hotel Astor, and Sunday night the Friars Frolic at the Metropolitan Opera House.
Jacob H. Schiff Speaks.
"Now that the war is ending happily for everybody, the Jewish Welfare Board, the Y.M.C.A., the K. of C., and the other war work organizations will for many months need our support more than ever," said Jacob H. Schiff, speaking yesterday at the dedication exercises of a canteen in Seward Park. The meeting was under the auspices of the Jewish Welfare Board, and the speakers were, besides Mr. Schiff, Abram I. Elkus, Judge Otto A. Rosalsky, Israel Unterberg, Jonathan C. Day, Dr. Leon L. Watters, and Colonel Harry Cutler, Chairman of the board.
An appeal to the workingmen of New York to continue to volunteer for war work until President Wilson announces that the great need for war workers no longer exists was issued yesterday at the headquarters of the United States Employment Service, 489 Fifth Avenue.
The United War Work Campaign in the Oranges opened last night with initial subscriptions of $226,395 out of a quota of $650,000. On Wednesday morning at 11 o'clock at the Fruit Trade Building, 204 Franklin Street, there will be held an auction of fruit and produce donated by the members of the west side wholesale trade. Among the speakers announced are Dr. William T. Manning of Trinity Church, Dr. George E. Vincent of the Rockefeller Foundation, the Rev. Father John L. Belford, Dr. Stephen S. Wise, Albert E. Roberts, and Colonel McIntyre of the Salvation Army.
Hippodrome's $10,000 for Fund.
A performance given at the Hippodrome last night in aid of the allied war work fund resulted in gross gate receipts of more than $10,000, while a collection taken up following an address by United States Marshal McCarthy was estimated at several thousand dollars more. The program was arranged by E. F. Albee, and was made up largely of vaudeville headliners.