Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1909-01-13
ASKS 100000
FOR ITALIANS
President flakes Request for
Record Appropriation.
CONGRESS- ACTS IMMEDIATELY

! This Generous Fund Is Intended to
Supplement the Despatch of Supply
Ships with cargoes of Necessities
and Also the Presidents Offer to
Send the Entire Atlantic Fleet of
RattIeships to the Scene of Disaster
in Italy.
Washington, Jan. Am a message
to congress President Roosevelt asked
for direct appropriation Of 100000
for the relief Of the stricken people
in the earthquake zone of Italy.
This, the most generous fund ever
!. contributed by the American people
for succon of sufferers in other lands,
is to supplement the dispatch of the
! supply ship Celtic from New York and
the Culgoa from Port Said for Mes
sina with their cargoes of necessities,
originally intended for the American
fleet.
1t also supplements the presidents
offer of the services >of the entire
Atlantic fleet of sixteen battleships,
whose use, in whole or part, depends
only on the acceptance or declination
of the Italian government.
Following the receipt of the presi-
dents message, resolutions giving eff
feet to it were introduced in both
houses.
Text of the Message.
N0IT Il, 4 Al
to congress:
ITO the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives-The appalling calamity
which has befaIlen the people of Italy
is followed by distress and suffering
throughout wide region among many
thousands who have escaped with life
but whose shelter and food and means
of living are destroyed. The ordinary
machinery for supplying the wants Of
civilized communities is paralyzed and
an exceptional emergency exists which
demands that the obligations of hui
mainly shall regard no limit Of nation.
al lines.
Relief Should Be Prompt.
"The immense debt of civilization
to Italy, the warm and steadfast
friendship between that country and
our own, the affection for their native
land felt by great numbers of good
American citizens, who are immi-
grants from Italy, the abundance with
which God has blessed us in our safe
ty-all these should prompt us to i'm
mediate and effective relief.
Private generosity is responding
nobly to the demand by contributions
through the safe and efficient channel
of the American Red Cross society.
Orders to Supply Ships.
Confident of your approval, I have
ordered the government supply ships
Celtic and Culgoa to the scene of the
disaster, where, upon receiving the au-
thority which l now ask from you, they
will be able to dispense food, clothing
and other supplies with which they
are laden to the value Of about $780,
600. The Celtic has already sailed and
the Culgoa is at Port Said.
Eight vessels of the returning battle
ship feet are already under orders for
Italian waters and that government
has been asked if their services can
be made useful.
Asks for Sum of $5oo,ooo.
81 recommend that the congress ap-
prove the application of supplies above
indicated and further appropriate the
SUM of 100000 to be applied to the
work of relief at the discretion Of the
executive and with the consent of the
Italian government.
81 suggest that the law follow the
form of that passed after the Mont
Pelee disaster in 1902.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
1.-THE White House, Jan. 4, 1909"
u. s. Shios TO Aid Sufferers.