The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-08-09
PLACES
Faith in Y. M. c. A.
Builds Up Character. that's
the Reason" Replies
Secretary. ,
SHOWS HERO'S RECORD
Says Radio Operator on Steamer.
Who Sacrificed His Life. Is Ex-
ample of Associations Work.
BY HAvEY CLEVELAND BICkEL.


The correspondence Of an individual
frequently more than anything else gives
an insight into the life and character OF
the man who writes. A short time age
several letters written by Secretary Red
held came to my attention. They show
| how intensely interested the Secretary Is
in matters which are not strictly gov
| eTnmental in their nature. He is a man
| who believes in the ideals Of the church,
the Y. NJ. c. A, and kindred organiza-
| tons. as so many OF the members OF
I President WILSON'S Cabinet do.
The short conversation had with Sec
rotary Redheld. and also the opportunity
l have had In obSeTvInB his method Of
| correspondence. indicate his democratic
| spirit and the interest he takes in the
welfare Of men. Secretary Redneld was
connected with the Brooklyn Y VI. e A.
and he stated TO me that 1T was a pleas
ure TO be associated with that associ-
alton for some years as director and to
! note In recent days with particular inter
est the splendid growth of that asso-
citation"
Specifically. The Secretary answered my
question. Why do you believe in the
Y. NJ G. A." as follows:
i believe in the Y. NJ c. A because
II Is A practical and efficient means Of
developing men. and men land women
try. and therefore the best worth de-
velOping. But I believe in The Y NJ. c
A. more still because IL not only develops
human values In man. but the spiritual
ones. too. and the developing Of these
values makes the human ones themselves
more valuable. so that in the training
Of the body and The mind and the spirit
the y. II. {. A. and its sister Organiza-
ton. the Y. W. e. A, are doing a three
munity."
The following letters on the occasion
Of the sinking of the L. S S State OF
California on the Alaskan coast a short
time ago show the breadth OF mind OF
Secretary Redhsld and doubtless will
Prove Of interest to the readers OF The
Washington Herald.
In a letter to Mr.. D E. Luther, gen
eral secretary. Y. NJ. c a, Los An
geles. Cal. Secretary Redield wrote.
The School of Wireless TeIegraphv
maintained BY your institution is honOred
IN having as one of its graduates Mr..
Donald Campbell Perkins. trst radio o.
orator on the L. s. s State OF California.
who went calmly to his post when the
vessel struck and stood there facing Ger
tain death. sending out the distress call !
continuously during the few minutes that
elapsed while the vessel was sinking and |
went down with her and was lost The
evidence shows that Mr.. Perkins was OF /
duty at the time Of the disaster and that I
he could presumably have saved his own .
life II that had been 10 him the supreme !
hing He went instead back 10 his post,
sent his subordinate away to assist in
getting out the boats and remained him
'ef like faithful soldier at his station
The brief heroic story of his self-devo-
lion should be high among the honored
traditions Of your institution. II shows
hat there are heroes Of peace as well as
II war who without the inspiration and
excitement OF the battle can face death
With quiet mind. fearlessly doing their
iuty to the end. The Department of
commerce that issued TO Mr. Perkins the
license under which he served thinks this
1rlef tribute TO his memory due to the
that taught him"
In letter to Miss Mary R Perkins.
lister of Donald c. Perkins. Secretary
4edfeld wrote:
There is due TO YOU an expression from
his department Of its appreCia ton Of the
loole self-sacriflce shown by your broth
T. Donald Campbell Perkins. first radio
perator on the s. s. State Of California,
rho calmly with deliberate courage went
own TO death in pursuance of his duty
'hen the vessel on which he served was
Erecked. The evidence taken at the in
uiry into the disaster shows that Mr.
'erkins was OF duty when the vesss:
truck and presumably in a position
here he might have saved his own life
lie went instead back to his post. re-
eyed his subordinate. whom he sent TO
clip clear away the boats. and. taking
is place, sounded the call for help con-
nUously during the few minutes that
lapsed before the vessel sank He went
own with her. the call of distress still
funding. The story is brief and simple J
ut through II shines the light of a
trong unselfiSh character who preferred I
theirs to himself and faced death fear !
.ssly In the line OF duty. From such q
YES comes inspiration: from such deaths !
Jr sons learn the value of heroism |
our brothers life was all too brief, but !
the heroic act which marked its Close
e spoke a lesson Of fine devotion that {
trust may long live for the inspiration (
his fellows" s
At the conclusion OF the conversation O
lie Secretary observed: v
Fine as was the splendid example OF n
Dung Perkins, who gave his life in the Y
saster Of the State of California, IT is t
'rhaps even finer because II is a normal
Itcome to my thinking of all that Is b
est and truest In the association ideas" b