The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-03-11
Vivid Portrayal of Conditions
by Charles f. Scott of lola.
Crowd Hears Kansas Repre-
sentative of Food Distribution.
us NOT OUR FIGHT" HE SAYS
Ex-COngressman Urges United
States to Keep Out of Conflict.
No Waste to What Kansas Sent
to the Starving BeIgians.

Charles F. Scott, of lola, former
congressman, and =the representative
of Kansas in the distribution of food
stuffs in Belgium, gave vivid por-
trayal of conditions in downtrodden
little Belgium and northern France
before nearly 1000 persons at the
Auditorium "Wednesday night 1t was
his first verbal offiaial report of his
recent trip to the war zone. 1t was
first hand Information that was given
and it was evident shat the situation
has not been overdrs5wn by the news
papers. In his clos ing remarks Mr..
Scott strongly urged that the United
States keep out of fhe conflict. He
not let ourselves be baited, begged
or bullied into it..
Charles NJ. Harger, Abilene banker
and editor and well known citizen,
was elected to succeed w. R. Stubbs
as chairman of the central committee
of the Kansas Belgian Relief Fund.
Chairman Stubs "camped" cOntinu-
ously on the job for weeks while the
money was being raised for the pur-
chase of flour for kansas Ship No
L. the Hannah, but his physical con-
dftion will not permit of his contlnu-
were announced it was generally
understood that Kansas will not stop
with her first cargo-that further as
sfstance will be given
WnaG Kansas SOntf1DuIcu
Charles Dillon, secretary of the
Kansas Belgian Relief Fund, who
worked untiringly for the good of the
cause, made a brief statement of what
Kansas actually contributed towards
Belgian relief. He stated that ap
proximateIy $50 car loads of flour or
$4,000 barrels was forwarded for
shipment on The Hannah, and since
that time the equivalent of eleven
cars has been consigned. There is
now $4,000 on hand in the fund
Arthur Capper, governor of Kan
sas, was called upon for few re
marks at the close of the Scott ad-
dress.
Every Pound Distributed.
81 am glad and proud to say that
every pound of your food on the ship
Hannah went to those who would 9TH
erwise have starved" said Mr.. Scott
in his Introductory remarks This
would not have been possible had not
the Germans in absolute good faith
helped in distributing and the Bel
gians remained in perfectly good
ORDER
The speaker said that the food line
in Belgium is very similar to the soup
lines maintained in cities of this coun-
try in times of financial depression
at was the most pathetic class of peo-
pie [ have ever SEEM he stated.
There is a glow of gratitude when
ever one of these Belgians sees the
American flag or hears anyone speak
the American tongue.
The Belgians express their gratitude
on every hand, according to the
speaker. Cardinal MERCER said to
him: while Belgians can never re-
pay Belgium will never forget
Bread Line 6OJ Miles Long.
Space will not permit of going into
detail but the facts and figures given
by Mr.. Scott were of intenS interest.
The bread line of 100000 is 500
miles in length. The officials for the
American commission for relief in
Belgium are prominent American bus
mess men, two of whom are worth
$780, 900 a year to their respective
companies. Fifty thousand well-to-do
Belgians are helping in the good work.
Rhodes scholars, although young are
heading distributing committees and
are acting with tact and intelligence.
Brand Whitlock, the American repre-
sentative, is honOred by the Belgians
and nothing would be too good for
him in their estimation.
Mr.. Scott spike in high praise of
Herbert Hoover in London and Lin
don w. Bates in New York who have
been managing affairs for the Ameri-
can commission.
How Food Is Distributed.
The speaker told in detail of the
method of distributing the food among
the Belgians. 1T is the greatest COM
missary ever maintained" he con-
tended. The food must be taken
from headquarters to it's destination
by motor car. Then it is taken to the
stations where soup kitchens are
maintained. At each station there is
n relief officer, an American overseer
and a doctor. When a Belgian wants
relief he first is investigated to make
sure that he needs help, and then he
is given ticket that will be honored
at the soup kitchen at store
room. There is no waste anywhere
and kanSans may be assured that
their generosity is appreciated
Germany VS.. England.
The war is really between Germany
and England, according to MIR. Scott
bitter hatred is daily becoming
more intense between the Germans
and the British. This hatred is par
ticularly felt by the former The
speaker expressed the idea that Ger
many now has no intention of reach
ing Paris; that she is looking for
France to come to terms within the
next few months. This belief is found
ed on the fact that there was a strong
anti-war element before the war and
it is expected that this element Will