Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-04-23

lerE was the principal speaker saturday
afternoon before the Philanthropic
Union. which met in special session for
the second time in it's life of 20-odd years
the other time being when in 1898 it was
deemed advisable to adopt relief meas
ures during the SpanishAmerican war.
The president and mother of the associa-
ton, Mrs Laura E. Richards presided
and after a few brief words introduced
Capt. Fogg.
Captain Foes
The speaker opened by asking whether
was as a nation and as individuals fully
realized the cause in which we fight ana
what our true place in this cause is APP
probation of it is sure to come, for we
are as England was in 1914, and as a real
ization came to her SO it will come to US
Our forefathers in 1776 lighted the torch
of liberty and democracy for the world
even for China and Russia, and it is even
today shedding its light in the last
strongholds of autocracy, Germany and
Austria In doing this they laid the
whole world in their debt but during the
last 80 months the world has paid back
the debt that today America is indebt-
ed to Belgium, France, England and Rus
STA. 1t is the same question today that it
was in 81. a question of liberty or slav-
cry, not for a nation alone but for the
world. We have been slow to perceive it
England was slow to perceive it, but now
there are some who realize that the fleet
of England and the army of France have
been the only things between us and
slavery. 1t was the plot of Germany to
wipe out France, conquer England and
make America pay the price
To little Belgium the world is hugely
in debt, for it was she who saved civil
ization for us all. The men who died in
this cause died a sweet death, but they
paid not the price that the women and
children of Belgium have France is to-
day bleeding even as Germany said she
would; and England, when she saw what
her duty was, produced an army that
with that of France is driving the Won
Hindenburg line back to the Rhine. Amer
lea itself now realizes that it is a fight
for liberty and that she should be lead
ing and not following. Capt. Fogg said
that for every man on the firing line 10
are needed to keep him going Endless
are the number of things that the wo-
men of France and England are doing,
and the women of America are getting
ready to do their part. He said, speaking
as a soldier, when the call comes for
US TO go-and | think it wil-we will 60
feeling that the women of America are
behind is. We will feel that our house
shall stand forever and that the pillars
shall not fall.
"Lcng may the Germans live said
Re-. Il. W. Plant, the next speaker. but
to her greatest enemies the Hapsburgs
and the Hohenzollerns. death We real
ize that we are in a state of war though
about us are peace and plenty, yet we
have the determination to fight the bat
tie to the end no matter what the cost,
until the conspiracy against the peace
and happiness of the world shall be crush
ed Today we have but two classes of cit
liens patriots and traitors, and that man
that stands with us fighting for the flag
I even though he be of alien birth, can
stand beside the bluest blooded American
In the name of our Father let us find our
bit and do it,
/
the success of the work of coordination
or aid societies through the country. He
said that nearly all towns and cities had
been visited and organized into splendid
combination so that the government
might have before it when needed every
resource that kennebec county couiu
give.
Mrs. Henry Richards
Mrs. Henry Richards then spoke as fol-
lows:
/ have ben asked to say a word re-
gIrding the details Of the work TO be
undertaken. | have here a number OF
cards giving the branches of work
which are suggested by the Red Cross,
and some of which it is hoped may be
taken up by US. Breads subjects). snail
ask the chairmen of all the societies
composing the Union to take some OF
these cards. each taking as many as
/ she thinks are likely to be required In
her society. Each chairman will be re-
| sponsible for the cards she takes, and
I all cards, whether marked or not
| should be returned to Mrs. Charles H
Gray, chairman of the Gardiner Red
| tIOSS. II Will Dt Stcii tll1t q SUN iiie''S
| of the subjects indicated on these cards
are not exactly in our line of work:
any line of work mentioned on the
cards may be indicated in case of flu
ture need We feel that, for present
work. the three simplest lines are most
needed: Namely. surgical dressings,
: knitting and comfort bags.
! For the comfort bags. there is an ur-
! gent call A thousand seem to be need
ed at once There is already a Red
, cross committee for making these bags
the chairman of which is Mrs. F. n
Boston Description of the bags is as
! follows
! The knitting is in charge of Miss Del
la Collins. Miss Collins being absent
for a few days. will say that the Red
Cross is prepared to provide wool for
the knitting ct home of the two articles
at present called for namely, sleeve
less sweaters and socks. The resuonse
to the call for knitting has already been
most prompt and generous, but it Is
hoped that the goodly army of knitters
may he still, further increased. Tell
your friends about this. Tell ladies in
sor1c Of our country neighborhoods that
vs. will send them wool for knitting Il
they will form groups for taking up the
work.
The third branch. surgical dressings,
yac,,irnc Soroa tion For 10