The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-12-12
STATE SENDS RELIEF SHIP.
SOUTH CAROLINA WILL DO HER
SHARE. TO AID NEEDY
BEIGIANS
VIII Sail from Charleston i'm january
Carrying Food ana Clo,hing---
American Commission 90 Furnish
ship for Expedition.


lima ship" to belgium is assured ana
viii sail from Charleston in January
carrying food and clothing from the
people of South Carolina to the
starving Belgians.
The realization of this plan of the
Belgium relief committee of the CO.
lumbia Chamber of Commerce comes
after a month Of assiduous labor ana
was assured to the Columbia commit
tee in u telegram yesterday afternoon
from Lindon w. Bates, vice chairman,
and Robert McCarter, honorable sec
retary of the American commission for
relief in Belgium, with Offices in New
York. From the start of the cam
paign in South Carolina about four
weeks ago for a Statewide move
ment for relief of the Belgians this
plan to have Il South Carolina ship
has been fostered.
The telegram from the American
commission to Brucc Walker Ravenei,
chairman of the Columbia Chamber o.
Commerce committee, follows:
I'VE welcome your proposed visit
and, before YOU come. hope you will
put before your colleagues the follow
ing offer which has been accepted by
several states. our suggestion is
that YOU might unite your efforts and
those of States adjoining. We are pre-
pared to place at the disposal Of the
committee organized in the state of
South Carolina for relief in Belgium
Il steamer to leave from Charleston
n January to he known as the South
Carolina ship.
The money contributed in your
state can be expended within it by
hose who contribute and every
South Carolina penny be represented
oy real food. California, Iowa. Kan
'as, New England, Maryland Virginia.
Louisiana, Minnesota, Oregon, Wash
ington and others have ali arranged to
send one or more ships. Our aim is
obtain OnC-quartcr of the per
.apita amount of food consumed i'm
tie United States to keep them from
starvation; but to secure even this
minimum of food requires all the sup
oort that we can muster and involves
l ship every other day. You will ap-
Dreciate. therefore, that we particll-
!arly desire your state to help in this
Following the suggestion that South
'aroilna unite its efforts for relief
With adjoining states, Mr.. Ravenel
.ast night sent {" Chambers of Com
merce in Ashevillc, Greensboro, At
lanta and Savannah, which have been
working on Belgium relief plans, the
following telegram:
I'VE expect TO send ship from
Charleston TO Belgium in January
with supplies. American commission
FOR relief in Belgium wires us from
New York suggesting that North
'arolina and Georgia cooperate with
South Carolina and send their sup
plies in boat from Charleston. Please
AXE up North Carolina Coz Georgia
matter with proper committees and
.,l,. ~
AN count on your cooperation. Using
Charleston boat will save time and
expense.
The purpose of obtaining South
Carolina ship, aside from the general
desire to help the Belgians, was to
advertise the products of the state and
90 put the name OF Charleston before
lhe world as transatlantic port.
The Columbia committee on it's or
sanitation appointed county chairmcn
in practically all If the counties to
took after the collection OF foodStuff.s
and clothing in tncir respective coun-
ties. such contributions, according to
instructions from thc Columbia com
mite instructions as To shopping. A few
days ago the committee wrote to each
county chairman, asking for iufor-
nation REGARDING the amount of
roodstulfs they had on hand and re-
plies are now being received