The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1914-12-12
HELP The BELGIANS
Kansas Must Show Her Great
Heart BY Sending More
Flour to Europe.

To fulfill the pledge that Kansas
would starr $4,000 barrels of -four to
the starving Belgians by December
14-One month from the day the re-
lief movement began in this state
the executive committee issues its
second appeal The necessity for this
action grows out of the startling in
formation gathered by the RockefeI-
Ter Foundation, by noted travellers and
by newspaper writer's of international
repute. All such inquiries and reports
show that conditions are even worse
in Belgium than have been described
and that 10000 tons of food IN addi-
ton to cargOes already assured must
be provided this month if the millions
of homeless and starving people in
that country are to have provisions
merely to sustain life. Every days
developments emphasize the import
ance of having the Kansas contribU-
tions hurried forward.
Every Cent fer Food.
The safety OF the Belgian relief sup
plies has been assured repeatedly by
the highest authority. Only yesterday
the German government notified the
American ambassador in Berlin-and
the assurance was made public by the
state department III Washington
that relief for Belgium would not be
interfered with, even in unneutraI
ships. when such ships carried GER
titicates from the proper authorities.
Belgium will receive food for every
dollar contributed in America. No
more sacred assurances are possible
than these. In the face of indisputa BILE
evidence of this kind the executive
M hn1 fIoT oh 10
to give to this cause who still with
holds his help upon the plea that his
contribution will not reach the Bel
gians is seeking an excuse for not Civ
ing and is deliberately evading his
duty as citizen of Kansas.
Transportation Free.
The transportation of these supplies
is free from Kansas to Belgium. Not
a dollar is wasted. Every arrange
ment on land and sea has been per-
fected. Generosity, with speed, is the
big demand today in answering this
cry for help.
What will Kansas do in this tragic
crisis? In the name of common hu-
manity, with the blessings of peace
and plenty everywhere, what record
will Kansas make? VIII it give
enough from its marvellous prosperity
of 1914 to fill the Kansas ship and get
ii started by December 20? Will Kan
sas answer as it ought to answer with
well filled ship?
Unto Little Children.
What man with heart and intelli-
gence can turn Unheeding ears to such
an appeal as these people make
What is days wages or a days
profits compared with the life of a
child? And that is precisely what 1t
amounts 20 when a man denies a dol
lar. How can men set at Widespread
tables, with happy, contented families
about them: how can they partake of
the liberalities of Providence, without
thought or a generous impulse for
the pathetic appeals of starving hu-
man beings across the sea who seek
not for the Injuries which are COM
mOnplace today, but merely fc-
bread?
How can men think of Christmas
the one time in all the year when
even the most penurious have gener-
Gus thoughts; the age-old season of
generosity; the day OF all days when
men should turn from seifishness to
acts of mercy: the anniversary of Cal
vary where the Supreme Sacrifice
was made: how can men let their
wives and children know that dol
lar, or five dollars, or ten dollars
meant more to them than the life OF
little child? How can they plan
their own pleasure or satisfy a per
sonal whim, when women and chill
dren. starving through no fault OF
their own. with no other source of sup
ply open to them. might be saved for
less than thousands of American fami
lies waste in a week?
Little seIf-DeniaI.
Isn't it a fine, comforting thought
too. that practically every family in
Kansas might give these unfortunate
| BelSians . sack of flour or barrel
and still he denied none of the CTS
| tOmary pleasures OF the season?
And most men will give Il properly
approached. The Kansas counties al
ready recorded among the active have
| proved that only the appeal is needed
| Marion county, with % 900 population
| is shipping six cars of flour; Douglass
| county, with %, 900 population, vii
| send six or eight: Cheyenne county
| with only 400 population, already
| has sent two cars; Meade county
| with population OF 5000, has shipped
| three cars and expects to get one
more; Sedgwick will give from ter
| 10 HIteen carloads; shawnee county
= ten cars; Montgomery county, five
cars; and Crawford county, five cars
Two Hundred Cars Assured.
The Kansas Belgian Relief FunC
| has been organized three weeks. State
wide organization began about TIVE
| weeks ago. In this time more thar
| two hundred cars of flour have beer
assured by committees, which have
| partly canvassed about seventy coun
ties. Within the next ten days Kan
sas will have to give another hundred
cars Of -four if the shipment it prom
ised is to go forward on schedule time
It takes $4,000 sacks OF -four t.
make one meal for this stricken coun
try.
Eighty-four cars Of -four, each ca,
holding 1000 sacks, are needed ever.
day If the destitute Belgians are t.
be fed.
County committees should appeal t.
every element in their territory. The!
should urge ministers and merchant
and mail-carriers, bankers and doc
tors, and men and women generally O
every degree to exert themselves f
the greatest extent during the mex