Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-23
MADE IN AMERICA"
TOYS TO GLADDEN.
YOUTH OF EUROPE
Plan Underway to Send a
Santa Claus Ship to War
torn Countries From Every
Nook and Corner of This
Country.

It Is now highly probable that shortly
before Christmas Santa Claus Ship"
loaded TO the water line with toys con-
tributed by children from every nook
and corner OF America. rich and poor
alike, will leave these shores fof
Europe, there TO unload the dazzling
cargo and offer it as a joyous Christ
mas gift TO the children of the war
torn countries of that continent It Is
said that most of the toys will bear
the trade mark made and contributed
In America"
The success OF this enterprise has
heen practically assured through the
efforts of Miss Olive May Wilson. the
santa Claus Girl" of Jenklntown. who
for number of years has supplied poor
children with Christmas gifts and who
desires to extend her work this wear
not only on n national but international
scope. She has the support of some of
the most widely known and most DOW
erful men in the United States. in
Guiding the President of the United
States, who, in an interview granted
her some time ago expressed mis- desire
to cooperate with Miss Wilson in every
way Miss Wilson has just returned
from Washington, where she laid her
plan before a number OF Senators. Rem
resentatives and department heads and
leaves this week for a tour OF New
England. where she will address numer-
Gus social organizations and child wei.
fare societies on behalf of her work.
U. s. EMPLOYEES TO HELP.
When Commissioner OF Immigration |
Caniinetti heard of her plan TO have Gov
ernment employees contribute Christmas
gifts to the destitute and orphaned chill |
dren OF Europe's war devastated conn
tries he issued a circular, addressed 10 the |
employees OF his department throughout |
the United States, in which he suggested |
that they contribute gifts for the Santa |
Claus ship" Other departments have al
ready followed suit
In the meanwhile, Miss Wilson is busy
with preliminary work. Since her prob
lem this year is both of a national and
international scope she will be obIipsd
to perform n double duty. First of all
she has her thousands of little friends
who remember her from previous vears
70 take care of. They are already. in
of letters received by Miss WI
son, clamoring for their Christmas gifts
Then, she has to think Of the thousands
ot httie ones on the other side of the sea !
whose hearts will yearn in vain this wear
.or a little Christmas gife. And, TO add
% the magnitude OF her problem Miss
Nlison has received within the past year
oil
-hese requests have come from outside NJ
ne United States and from such remote
points as Rio Janeiro, other BraziIian
'ities and Newfoundland.
But Miss Wilson does not despair. She
las mustered together all the couraoa
md all the sympathy of her IS wears anS
las settled down Il work 10 carry her
'lans TO success. In January OF this wear
Mss Wilson visited Washington for tbs
purpose or obtaining from the Govern
nent franklng privilege, something on
he order OF the one enjoyed bv Senstorl
md Representatives for the burmese 80
lending TO folks at home speeches tbey
lever delivered. ''
DENIED FRANKINCi PRIVILEGE
MISS wilson wanted franking privilege
'hich would permit her TO send her gifts /
y mail and parcel post without cbsrgs
IN this matter she saw the President
secretary Bryan, Admiral Dewey. Vica
resident Marshall Representative Under ,
'ood and other prominent men Last
7eek Miss Wilson took another trin to
Washington and conferred with Post
naster General BurlesOn on the frankinz !
rivilege Mr.. Burleson said that he was
thoroughly In sympathy with her plan
nd would help her in every way. but '
nat he could not grant her the franking
rivilege, as Il would be impossible 10.
he Government to diminish its revenue ]
I the present time in view OF the hnan-
ial inconvenience already brought about
y the war, This, however, has bv no !
lesns dampened Miss Wilson's enthusi-
SIN or diminished her hopes. She Is IN
er work to win, and judging by the way /
ne has gone at II she cannot help but
in.
SO, that II is with great 10y thar the r
hildrsn OF Europe may contemplate the !
as when far out on the horizon there :
Ill rise a ship, loaded not with guns Z
nd ammunition, but with beautiful TOYS
all descriptions. carrying a nag upon q
hieh will be inscribed: From the chill 8
rem or America TO their little bFsthFen
EuFone" 4