Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-10-09

but not especially concerned. The
war was some thousands of miles
away. The quarrel was not hers.
FINALLY, America found that she
had to take a part, or become in ef-
| feet one of Germany's dependencies:
Then came from Belgium tales OF
temples DETAINED, and women sub
jected to such barbarities that tongue
cannot adequately describe them"
Mr. Gilbert described the steps
which finally brought this country to
the verge and over the edge.
'"The gentleman who left his mani
fold duties to come here tonight
has the esteem, the love and the re-
spect of his fellow citizens. We place
in his keeping the lives of our boys
with utmost confidence. This body
has been honored, probably as has
no other Chamber of Commerce in
this country, by the character OF the
men we have heard here in Harris
burg. We ought to be better men,
better patriots, and better citizens
for what we have heard. Never have
we been more highly honored than
in the presence of the Hon. Newton
d. Baker, Secretary of War.
Ovation For Secretary
The vast audience arose ana
rendered Secretary Baker a dlstlnct
ovation.
The story of Americas struggles
and ideals, of her efforts to submerge
the individual for the common good,
of the task before the people OF TINS
country to make the world safe for
democracy, left little place for hu-
NOR. A few flashes of rare wit IL
Illuminated Secretary Bakers address,
however, and he told several good
stories on himself, as rejecting upon
his smallnesS of stature.
while touring in the country in
1914, on a mission of which some OF
you would not have approved at the
time, said the Secretary, someone
pointed me out to a young lady
'''See that man-thats the Secretary
of War" she was told. The young
lady gave him critical glance.
"Well, you'd never think 1t to look
at him!" she declared.
Upon another occasion, young
ster of seven, while with his mother
at White House reception, had been
presented to the President, and all
OF the great men present, but he
wouldn't be content until he had
seen the War Secretary. His eyes
were afiame with expectation, and
when he discovered that Secretary
Baker, instead of being 6 feet and ,
inches in height, was feet and 3
inches, he turned to his mother with
despairing glance and said, Let
go home!"
Perhaps" said Secretary Baker,
although l may have disappointed
you in similar manner this evening,
l can contribute something to your
pride in being Americans" He paid
fine tribute to the businessmen ol
this country, referring to their
| greatest achievements as not when
they were multiplying their equip
ment and covering the hills with in
dustries, but when they dedicated
their services without hope of re-
ward to the service of America in the
present crisis.
When war seemed inevitable, the
| businessmen suggested that the gov
| ernment take stock of her resources
! out of this suggestion grew the Ma
! tional Defense Council, which proved
! invaluable when the accumulated
wrongs to which this country hao
| been subjected, brought us to the
vortex and then over the edge.
Every day." said Secretary Baker
"I receive hundreds and sometimes
| thousands of letters from business
men asking the one question, How
can I help?' And the men who ash
| the question are men of affairs, mel
at the head of great industries, wht
! are willing to desert all else and Civ