Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-09-23
LEADING DAILIES
PUSH The CAUSE
Americas Christmas Ship Com
mended by the Highest
Authorities.
ALL CLASSES COOPERATING
Rock Island One of the First to Pre-
pare to Bring Cheer to War
Stricken Children.

Rock Island is in notable company
in taking part in the Christmas ship
project. A photograph of clippings
from some of the newspapers CO.
operating with the children of Amer
lea was in last Sundays Chicago Her
aid. and shows that the leading cities
of the United States are being repre-
scented. The photograph contains
headings from the Sunday Star, Wash
ington, ID. c., the New York World,
the Pittsburgh Press, the Boston Post,
the st. Louis Republic, the Philadel-
phia North American, the Toledo
Times, the Des .Moines Capital, the
Waverly Democrat, Sheyboygan, Fond
du Lac, and other city newspapers,
and The Argus was accorded a re-
production OF an entire column of its
Christmas ship appeal. The Kansas
City Star, the Atlanta Constitution,
the Omaha Bee, the Peoria Journal are
enrolled in the good work. The Christ
mas ship loaded and sent on its way,
Rock Island will have just pride in the
part 1t has taken in conjunction with
neighbor, Peoria, is making a vigorous
campaign for the good ship, and Rock
ford, Decatur, Dubuque, Murphysboro,
Franklin Grove and numerous other
Illinois cities are enlisted in the cause.
The first person to respond to the
suggestion of a Christmas ship was
President Wilson, who gave it his IN
qualified endorsement and sees in it
a shaft of light to a dark situation.
Eminent men from east to west have
offered their services in placing the
matter before the public. Bishop
Sumner, well known to tri-city citi-
zens, is enthusiastically for it. 1t has
an especial appeal to educators. Mrs.
Ella F1agg Young. Americas school
teacher, incidentally superintendent of
Chicago schools, in an article calls the
Christmas ship a big thought, big in
its immediate purpose. big in :.s al
most unlimited potentialities. The
schools of Chicago are rallying to the
support of the idea as we'll as schools
in the cities wherever the matter has
been preached.
Kindergartens at Work.
In Peoria all the kindergartens are
at work, and it would be a churlish
person, indeed, that could not see
what this will mean to the tiny crea-
lures of Gods love as well as the
of Europe. At White Hall,
ILL.,, the schools have set aside Sept.
% as a fund and gift day. Teachers
everywhere are entering into the pro-
ject
Cardinal Gibbons, in a beautifully |
worded appeal. has laid the matter be-
fore his people and exhorts them to
behold the peace possibilities. The
children's poet, James Whitcomb |
Riley, is affected touchingly by the
divine inspiration in the idea.
Abroad, the Christmas ship has been
graciously received, and the
London newspaper, COM
ments of the suggested American toy |
ship for European children who have
lost their fathers in the war. Among |
other things i. says:
"Springing from a kindly heart and |
aiken up by a kindly people, who can |
1oubt that it will achieve the desired
result, not only by bringing happiness
% those who are too young, perhaps,
% be sensible to their loss, but also
,y reminding the warning nations or
he opening words of the first Christ
mas message"
Rock Island One of First.
Rock Island need offer no apology.
or being one of the first to offer its
luota to the Christmas ship. The
Argus, in taking up the publicity work
n behalf of the people, simply as
;umes a duty it 'cheerfully discharges
n the name of humanity. As proxy
or the Good Fellows that for num-
Ter of years have contributed to The
Argus Santa Claus fund, its experience
s invaluable, and any who desire to
make this newspaper a medium for
lift distribution TO the ship, will be
hown every courtesy and the gift or
lifts tabulated and account of same
,rinted The various charitable Or
,anizations and Jthe children of the
,oor in general that have received of
he Good Fellows will be given no
ess this year because OF the Christ
mas ship. Out OF the abundance or
.ood fortune enjoyed by its citizens,
took Island should make Christmas
or its poor Respondent with Santa
,laus feeling and still have enough to
lace the city in its proper place
mong the cities inaugurating the
christmas ship.
The Christmas ship is the greatest
Missionary cause of the times. and II
lamps each individual sending his
aite or muckle as casting his bread
non the waters, perhaps the most