The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1917-09-07
RED CROSS RALLY
SPLENDID SUCCESS

A magnificent crowd was drawn 10
this city last Sunday on the occasion OF
the county Red Cross rally, and what is
more gratifying 1t was a very patriotic
one and in sympathy with the movement
that called it together, and there was not
one dissenting voice heard in the big as
semblage as the speakers drove home
some telling points for which America
stands in the worldwide conflict for de.
mocracy.
There was only one disappointment
in the great rally, and that was the alb
sence of Gov. Cox, who promised Chair
man Schunck of the county Red Cross
organization that he would come, and
was allowed to name his own date. He
sent Mr.. Schunck telegram just few
hours before the meeting, which the
Chairman read at the opening. The
Chairman was probably the most disap-
pointed person at the rally on this ac-
count and showed it in his Introductory
remarks.
While the Governor s absence was to
regretted, he, too, missed a couple of
as fine and patriotic addresses as was
ever listened to. The speech of ex-
Congressman Cooke was an able presen-
tation of his country position in world
ahame. He told plainly and with first |
hand knowledge how President Wilson |
tried to avoid war with Germany, even |
after that Government had murdered |
helpless men, women and children on |
high seas, without warning-with as lit |
tie compunction as if they had been so |
many rats. OF German parentage, with |
a knowledge of German laws and Ger
man intrigue as few men of that nation
ality in this country possess, outside
those in its service, he spoke plainly of
the duty men of foreign birth owed to
the country of their adoption in this time
of stress.
If among Mr.. Cookies listeners there
was any person who thought he would
find some crumb of comfort or an apol-
gy for the German government in the
present crisis from Mr.. Cooke because
of his parentage, the mind of that indi-
ual must have undergone a sudden re-
vision. Nobody has ever questioned the
of Mr.. Cooke, but he ad-
ded immeasureably to his popularity
with an audience the greater portion of
which had never heard him before last
Sunday. There were straight jabs at
those who came to this country to live in
a freer atmosphere, where they and their
children were on a level with every
other citizen, protected in their person
and property, and yet allowed their
Sympathies go out to an autocratic gov
ernment the very antithesis of the one
under which they chose to live-and it =
seems going much out of their way to do
so. Only one fault could Mr.. Cooke
find with the administration war prog l
ram, and that was for exempting any 7
sect from their duty to the government
n its hour of peril, and there were no
signs of dissent with the statement from
MS audience. 1t is to be regretted more f
If the big crowd could not be reached by :
1is voice, for they would have carried
lway with them the praise that was on
he lips of those who did for his patrf- {
,tic and clean-cut exposition of democ- |
'acy that the world is yearning for and G
t is to he hoped will be achieved by the
downfall of German autocracy and the
pirit of conquest.
Mr.. Cooke spoke of Red Cross work Z
n his town and county, and they surely 7
ire doing things over in Auglaize, COM
jared with which we seem to be lag d
tards. Old Mercer, however, is coming
nd will not be trailing behind very long I
n the great work. I
w. S. Wheeler, at the head of the Red
ross organization of Allen county,
poke of the work to be done, and urged
peed all along the line. Contributions
low to the Red Cross work means nec-
ssary supplies on the firing line at the
ime of their greatest need.
Chairman Schunck also fred some
hot in the same direction and with con-
iderable force. His appeal for the boys
1ho must 20 the front met with appro-
al from the audience.
The Wapakoneta and Chattanooga k
ands enlivened the occasion with pat
lotto airs, the former bringing with them
heir soloist, who pleased the crowd i'm
1ensely. Our own boys and girls
and, the pride of the town, also got
lerited applause from the crowd. These
rganizations deserve more praise than
hey are likely to get for their contribu-
on to the afternoon great work.