The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-11-19
QUICK ACTION
IS NEEDED NOW
Devastated Belgium Suffering
Great Agonies.
Children Tear Bread From Ger.
man Soldiers.
KANSAS DOING Her BEST
Every Day Relief Campaign Is
Bearing Fruit.
Newspapers Contribute Space to
the Movement.
SCHOOL CHILDREN WILL AID
Appeal Sent Out From State
Headquarters Today.
New Statement From State
Committee Is Issued.
Every Day Relief Campaign Is
Bearing Fruit.
Newspapers Contribute Space to
the Movement.
SCHOOL CHILDREN Will AID
Appeal Sent Out From State
Headquarters Today.
New Statement From State
Committee Is Issued.

Each day is adding to the intense
suffering in war trampled and devas-
tated little Belgium, and the need for
quick action in Kansas is strongly em-
phasized. Kansas has heard the call,
and hundreds of citizens have dis-
played their generosity and desire to
be Of assistance by ag- eing to give %
many sacks or barrels Of flour. bue
the work of organizing and making
up the shipments is causing delay. In
the meantime many Belgians arc dy-
ing through exposure and lack Of pro.
visions
A dispatch received from London
sets forth clearly the critical condi-
ton which exists in Belgium. Tho
stranger who goes into .he couutry -
surrounded by great numbers OF wo-
men and children who beg for food.
Here is the message from London:
London. Nov. 19.-Cardinal Franz
co.'s Joseph Mercier, primate OF Bel
gium. who has just returned to his
own country after a visit to England.
where he received an enthusiastic re-
ception, sends a stirring appeal
through the American commission tor
relief in Belgium, for assistance Tor
his starving parishioners of Maltneo
and the surrounding neighborho00fN
X In. hosscityssof MAltnes alone. the
cardinal says, twelve thousand mouths
| have to be fed daily. In his telegram
| to Captain c. F.. Lucey OF the AmeEs
lean commission the Belgian prelate
says:
"Children come to the German sol-
diers and tear bread from the sol.
diers' hands (the soldiers divide their
bread with them). They really are
famished.
Every stranger who comes to the
| city or goes into the country IL sur
rounded by a great number OF women
and children begging him for some-
thing to eat. There is hardly single
| laborer who can fnd any work to gain
his daily Tread.
"Eyerything is lacking. We are in
want Of potatoes, peas, grain. Hour
meal and ba n. No petroleum 10 OBJ
| tainable Col can be obtained in the
district of Charleroi, but the railway
cannot carry the coal because the
communications are Interrupted. Tho
cattle Of the people of the country
have been sold to the soldiers, but TOT
the receipts received for the cattle the
Belgians cannot obtain any 1000 un-
| til after the war is over.
Can Mass Meetings.
Mass meetings have been held in g
number of towns for the purpose. OF
organizing, and many meetings VIII %
held Saturday and Sunday. BY the
should be received at the main onicee
/ from all sections Of the state.
Indications are that the mass meet.
| ing at the Topeka Commercial cIuD
Saturday at o'clock will be well at
tended. Considerable interest has been
shown in this meeting particularly be
cause the noted social service worker
F, DR.. Graham Taylor, will be present and
| will give an address.
Concordia business men and others
! decided at a meeting held this week to
, send a carload OF flour Immediately -
| a first installment, and to arrange later
for further contributions.
/ Plans have been made to hold .
rousing mass meeting In the Bower
sock opera house, Lawrence, tonfghts
4 A committee OF workers met Tor con-
ference at the Y. M. c. A. building
| Douglas county expects to make .
| liberal contribution.
| An enthusiastic mass meeting was
held Wednesday night at the Leaven-
Leavenworth expects to donate II
least two cars of flour.
Headquarters to Mills Building.
The headquarters will be moved
! this evening to the seventh floor OF
the Mills building. Communications
gian Relief Fund Mills Building, To-
peka. Tho telephone number win be
| 1895.
| Posters have been sent out from
| headquarters to mayors OF Kansas
towns. They will be placed in bank
and store windows. They call upon
the people to contribute generously
to the cause.
Kansas school children will b
asked to contribute to the Belgian re-
lief and thus have q part in the great
work that in being done in Kansas In
the way of providing food for the
starving thousands across the water.
1 w. D. Ross, state superintendent Of
public instruction, has sent out 500
copies Of a letter to all administrative
superintendents. county high school
principals and city superintendenta,
with q view to having them interest
the children through their teachers.
The letter follows:
''The desperate situation Of the un-
fortunate people OF Belgium il sum-
ciently familiar to you. The tmpof>
tant thing now IL prompt and effect
. i've means to relieve their SUFFERING.
! To that end relief committees, under
the direction Of . general COMMITTEES
II in Topeka with ex-Goyoruor w. n
: kGtubbo - its chairman Aed HoooFa111
u