Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-07-01
Guardsmen's Families Found
to Be in Immediate Need
of Financial Help
THIRTY-ONE HOMES
ARE INVESTIGATED
Conditions Vary; Husband
and Three Brothers Go
From One Household

II there is any doubt regarding the
need for aid in the families of some
of the young men who have left Of
tumwa for the front clad in the khaki
uniform. few minutes interview
with any Of the officers or members Of
the Soldiers Fund committee organ
lied Wednesday will quickly dispel
such doubt. 81.
That there is need and real need.
too, is fact and while perhaps little
known, Is none the less actual. That
Ottumwans will show their patriotism
in a practical manner by rallying to
the support Of this movement inaugu-
rated for the relief of such cases as
may be found among the families of
the guardsmen and band members. is
not doubted. The committee would.
however, have the people know that
something must be. done and done
soon. The need is not fancied but real
and in some cases must be given i'm
mediately.
The lads who have sworn to face
war and even death itself for the
countrys sake have made much
greater sacrifice than many would
think. That people generally do not
realize this the committee is con-
WINGED, but that every Otturnwan
should know it Is one Of the things
the committee has determined upon.
~ Some Actual Want.
There are families of local guards
men who are in actual want, accord
ing to members Of the Soldiers Fund
committee. The first days invest1ga-
tioh resulted in thirty-one cases being
looked into. The conditions found
were varied. A few were not in any
visible need, some will have to be
given assistance soon and some were
found in actual want and we're given
immediate relief. -.s -" ~
One member of the committee in
vestigated eight cases and two Of these
were In need of immediate relief. One
was mother whose son and only sup
port felt called to serve his country
when the call was issued to the guard.
His weekly pay check that had always
been regular, was stopped. In cir
cumstances none the best, this proved
blow and the investigator was soon
convinced Of the need for help and
gave it.
Husband and Three Brothers.
Another case was young wife with
two babies. Here was q pathetic in
stance for this household depended on
the regularity of the pay check every
Saturday and it's loss must needs be
felt to be fully appreciated. She did
not murmur. OF course, she would
far rather her husband and children's
father were with them but she was
willing to do as woman has ever done
in such trying times-bear the brunt
by caring for those left behind. Her
husband was brave enough to answer
his country's call. She. too, would do
as much. She and the children left
the city for a nearby town where
mother lives. There they would have
a home and she could help provide.
But her own husbands loss was not
the only sacrifice, for the mother to
whom she went for shelter, sent three
Of her sons to the front also. Here
was four out Of the one family. Three
were sons and one a son-in-law. To
take the place Of the three sons, the
mother took in the married daughter
and two children. 49, $50"
g.. Need Practical Patriotism.
This is not time for standing On
the street and waving flag to show
your patriotism said this committee
member. 1T is time for real pa
triotism. I believe many people feel
that the movement to aid these people
is merely patriotic impulse and tina.
real need does not exist unless In
isolated cases. Nothing is farther
from the truth. There is need and
crying need for help and this must
come from the patriotic citizens Of
this community soon. We cannot per
NIT the families Of these soldiers to
suffer physical pain or want in addi-
tion>to the soul anguish with which all
must needs be afflicted. The time to
act Is now and the acts must be gen
erous. Something must be done to
replace that absent pay check. The
army pay will go but trihing way TO-
ward meeting the expenses that the
former wages perhaps but feebly
met
Must Meet Payment on Home.
Another instance met in the travels