The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-05-03
President Roosevelt Urges Con-
gress in Special Message
To Acknowledge Offers of Help
From Other Nations.
FROM EVERYWHERE
Came Messages Of Sympathy and
PrOffers Of Money.
He Did Not Feel Warranted in
Taking the Money.

Washington, May "a special mes
sage was sent to congress today by
President Roosevelt in which he ex-
plained the attitude OF this government
regarding the offer of contributions to
the San Francisco fire and earthquake
sufferers from foreign countries. The
president says that when the contri-
buttons were made to this government
he did not feel warranted in accepting
them but where they were made to the
citizens relief committee of San Fran
cisco no OFFICIAL action was or could be
taken in regard to them. The message
indicates that the governments of the
entire civilized world promptly respond
ed in messages of sympathy and many
of them with contributions or offers Of
contributions.
The text of the message is in part as
follows:
ITO the Senate and House of Represen-
tatlves::
Immediately after the disaster at
San Francisco money offers of assist
ance in the shape of contributions were
rendered by foreign individuals, corpor-
attons, governments and municipalities
The Canadian government, with an in
stant generosity particularly pleasant
as a proof of the close and friendly ties
W41lCAt n-4A4l QS ~ our AiE18uDOIE OF the
north, offered to pass a resolution ap-
propriating 100000 for the relief of the
sufferers by earthquake and fire. With
a generosity equally marked and equal
" appreciated the Republic of Mexico,
our nearest neighbor to the south, voted
to appropriate $4,000. and the Republic
of Guatemala voted to appropriate
$4,000 for the same purpose. The en-
press Of China, in addition to sending
money to be used for the Chinese who
suffered in San Francisco offered TO
send more than double as much to be
used for the Inhabitants generally.
The japanese government imme-
diately offered to send across the ocean
one of their beautifully equipped hos
pital ships to be used in any way for
the sufferers and also offered 200, 900
ven to the relief committee in addition
to more than 1Oe. enc yen sent by
Japan subjects. The government of
far distant New Zealand voted SIS, 600.
The government of Martinique voted
1000 francs, the municipality of Ed
monton, Canada, $1,000. Many munich
palities, corporations and individuals
in England, Germany, France. Japan,
Cuba and other countries inam ediately
pToffered aid. Where these offers Of
aid are made to the private relief com
mittees organized to deal with the dis
tress in San Francisco, I have Of
course no official action to take con-
corning them. Where they were ten
dered to me in my official capacity
did not feel warranted in accepting
them. But I am certain give utter
ance to the feelings of all our cOun-
trynen when I express my very lively
appreciation Of the warm hearted
generosity and eagerness to help US in
the time OF our aff1iction shown by the
governments. the municipalities, the
corporations and the individuals men
toned above. We are deeply grateful
to them and we are deeply grateful for
the way in which they have showed
in such practical fashion the growth
of the spirit of brotherhood among the
nations"
The message here gives list of al
most every country on the globe
which sent messages of sympathy.
It continues: Appropriate express
sions of gratitude to all these friends
have been returned by the state depart
ment or by myself. but it seems to me
that the real depth of grateful feeling
awakened in our people by all these evi-
dences of genuine sympathy and friend
ship should be expressed also by formal
action of the supreme legislative power
of the nation.
I recommend the passage by the con-
gres of an appropriate resolution to that
end.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
The White House, May 8, 1906"