The Washington herald., 1914-11-01
AMERICANS NEED HELP.
7. v. PowderIy DispeIs Some Fake
Ideas About Belgian Immigrants.
m ~ " pnUnznUv

For the last two weeks stories have
appeared in various papers to the effsc,
that ''an influx Of Belgians" Is expected,
and that preparations should be mad9|
to receive them and settle them IN coli
onies on farms in the United Statesk
Certain charitable organizations have
taken the matter in hand, have heif
meetings. and passed resolutions 10 aip
the Belgian refugees when they land
Quite few men and women OF means
have inquired how they may help the dig-
tressed Belgian victims OF the Eurcpe4n
war, who are seeking asylum on our
shores in such numbers.
One large hearted, well disposed man,
on the strength OF what he saw in the
papers, wrote in from Iowa expressing
his sympathy and that Of his neighbors
for the Belgians. From his letter quote
this: Send US nifty Belgians who are
used to farming" The Belgians who
are coming. or likely to come, are not
hand-picked and cannot be shipped like
so many bales OF hay or bars Of pig
iron. They no doubt have relations or
friends In this country and any way they
may wish to have say about where
to go.
On the other hand a few. fortunately a
few spectators with an eye for the
dollar, and ten fingers to catch il, have
gian farmers who are TO come in such
large numbers.
II would be well to think carefully
over the probability. or improbability
rather, Of any considerable number Of
Belgians coming 10 the United States in
the near future. The young and middle
aged male Belgians are in the army or
held for military service in Belgium It
is not likely that they will come 10 the
nj fhaN
in this crisis. even II they could. Those
who can get away are women. children
and the aged OF both sexes When they
do come they will. in all probability, be
hopeless and nOneyIess. They are not
the kind to make farmers Of but II they
come they will need help. The division
Of information. Department Of Labor. has
instituted an inquiry to ascertain how
many Belgians have so far arrived. what
classes they are composed Of. and what
the prospects are for the coming Of
others. 4
Two very nice respectable people called
today to inquire where these BeIcians
were to go. II was their intention. so
they explained. to establish Red Cross
Auxiliaries" in such localities. for the
purpose Of aiding Belgian refugees. In
quiry at Red Cross headquarters revealed
the fact that these nice people were not
authorized to use the name Of that
great humane society i would not like to
intimate that my callers were impOstors.
but since a man cannot be fined for
thinking, / may say that I think they
were.
While the Red Cross is valiantIy striv-
ing to aid the victims and sufferers from
this awful war. on field and in home.
let US not forget the people who have
been dOuble-Crossed in our own country
since last July, on account OF the war.
They hava-been thrown out Of employ
ment as a result of the war and will
need help right here at home. There
is plenty a work to be done. Let our
men Of means show their patriotism by
investing capital in such enterprises as
will give work to American victims OF
European strife. at this time. and give
employment to men and women who need
work. and not aims We can help the
Belgians more effectively by furnishing
employment for Americans.
Every one cannot buy a bale Of cotton
and while every one may not use hand
kerChief everybody needs one Before
just ask the question that L asked
when I made my first purchase. Was
this article made in the United States?''
I have always made that inquiry before
purchasing and unless the thing I need
Cd was not manufactured in this country
l dldnt buy foreign made article.
Things made in the country I was horn
in are good enough for me and they
should be good enough for every other
American. II every one will just keep
that inquiry in mind when making pur-
Chases and stick to II for a few months
there won't be any unused cotton bales
in this country or unemployed workmen
either.
just throw that out in passing in the
hope that it may inspire others to do
likewise.