The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-05-04
Bankers and Business Men In United
States, Among Them Local Com
pany, Have Received
Appeals.
FOR ALL THE ARMIES
Tho Association Has a,en Formed
for British, French
and Belgian
Soldiers.
Formed

The thousands Of French, Belgium
and British soldiers who have been
blinded in the European war are in
a pitiable condition, according to an
appeal of American bankers, philan-
thropists and business men. through
the B. F. B. permanent blind relief
war fund, $50 Fifth avenue. New York
City.
The appeal was issued locally, to.
day, by the Keokuk Trust company,
which is sub-treasurer Of the fund in
this locality and who will receive all
local contributions.
Unable to work at former trades,
these numerous blinded war-victims
cannot support themselves and their
families. Their governm ents. over
burdened with more immediate prob
lens. are able to do very little for
them, the appeal states.
Six months training. on the other
hand, the bankers, business men and
philanthropists say, can educate al
most all Of these thousands of now
useless blind men in practical, pay
Ing trades, In which they can support
themselves and at least partially sup
port their families. Work of this kind
has already been begun by C.. Arthur
Pearson, the blind English newspaper
proprietor and philanthropist, at st.
Dunstan's, in England, by M. Rene
Valery-Radot through Les Amis des
Soldats Aveugles" in the "Maison du
Convalescence" In France, and by
Franco American pour les Aveugles,
of which the Hon. Joseph H. Choate
is president. The B. F. B. perma-
nent blind relief war fund seeks to
assist, develop and enlarge these ef-
forts.
The American bankers. business
men and phi1anthropists who are
issuing the apepal include Frank A.
vanderlip, president Of the National
City bank, August Belmont, the Hon.
Elihu Root, Vincent Astor, the Hon.
Robert Bacon, DR.. Nicholas Murray
Butler, U. S. Senator Thomas p. Gore,
the Hon. Myron T. Herrick, Otto 81.
Kahn. Joseph Widener and George
A. Kessler.
These gentlemen and their asso-
ciates intend to organize an American
fund of sufficient proportions to con-
duct thoroughly throughout Europe,
the work which Mr.. Pearson. at st.
Dunstan's, NJ. Rene ValIery-Radit
through Les Amis des Soldats
Ayeugles," in Paris, Miss Holt Of the
Comite, and kindred institutions are
now doing locally.
The first work Of the fund win be
to enlarge and moderniZe all the
present blind institutions of Europe
by means Of financial donations, as
well as assisting the work of Mr..
Pearson in England, NJ. yallery-Radot
and Miss Holt, in France. The fund
later intends to organize in various
European cities additional modern
equipped blind schools, blind work
shops, blind employment exchanges
and agencies for commercializine
blind products, so that all this par
ticular class OF war-victims may be
saved from their present hopeless and
helpless situation, and may be rem
dered self-supporting for life.
"Self-respecting. able-bodied. pass
ing daily through living death, these
thousands of blinded war-victims are
being slowly killed. not by their IN
juries, not by starvation, but by the
apparently permanent hopelessness Of
their situation Six months training
on the other hand, will educate eact
one of them In some trade not requir
ing sight. A single contribution o.
several hundred dollars will go fal
to make one of these blinded soldier!
self-supportinz for life" the appea
states.
The appeal h being sent to one
hundred and twenty thousand people
OF prominence throughout the United
| States.