The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-11-27
MIDDLE WEST STRONG
FOR WAR, BRITON FINDS

London Nov. E4---Is the grea,
Middle West of the United States
whole heartedly in the war? Has The
vast population throughout these
Middle Western states of German de-
scent had any appreciate effect upon
the war enthusiasm? An English cor
respondent who travelled with the
Lord Eorthcliffe mission and who
made many investigs lions on his own
account. thinks that the vast Middle
West. especially the cities. Is strongly
enthusiastic for the war, ana that
the German influence has been com
pletely overcome. He publishes his
ciuclusions in the London Times
Writing from indianapolis. he says
since / came to the United Stat s
in the middle OF July | have been
wanting hsto@.@ssa - ft-.s,t RE ~
West was feeling and thinking about
the war / was told by all whom /
consulted at New York that it need
ed waking up. The people Of the
Middle West. / was assured. with
grave headshaking aid not realize
the war. understand it. or like il. In
time. perha ps'~-the sentence remain
ed portentiously unfinished
With doubt and misgfving I came
therefore. to the Middle West, that
yast territory of 40, 00o, 600 people,
which includes the great farming
states OF Ohio, Indiana. Illinois, Mis-
souri,. Kansas and lows. came ex-
pecting to find If not open hostility,
lukewarm interest in the war, an
absence of vigor in adopting war
measures, unwiilingness even to think
of war sacrifices. >>,.
New I ana on my way back to reli
my New York informants that they
were grotesQuely wrong in what they
told me. / shall prove TO them how
wrong they were. Let me rehearse a
few of nay proofs,
Cleveland was the first place Wis
tied | arrived about noon. and heard
familiar noises like exploding bombs,
They We're bomb explosions~-harm
less bonn scattering Liberty Loan
leaflets TO the people In the central
square OF the city. + stood and
counted attentively the number of ex-
plosions In order to learn how many
millions OF dollars Cleveland sub
scrieed TO the loan by midday.
Service Flag at Factory,
Hanging outside a factory / saw
flag. blue, with many stars upon IL,
and asked what It was. / was told
1t was to show how many men had
gone TO the war from this establish
ment. These flags hang everywhere.
There is II spirit stirring rivalry be-
tween places OF business as to which
can show most stars
j went TO two meetings in ora
evening. The first WAS 7 NJ c. A.
meeting beginning Cievelsnd's effort
10 assisl ln-r24aiap- sAe.Ht- million
POUNDS Tor war work, Thousands Of
men, young. n1iddle-aged. and eideriy
packed tightly together, cIapped hands
vigorously tAmerieans do not cheer)
IN sign of approval ar every reference
made to the need Of energetic war
activity for all. The next meeting was
composed of business men. Tickets
had been given TO as many as applied
upon the understanding that the rule
of admission was first come first
served. Holders of tickets who did not
come early could not ger in; there were
throngs round every entrance The
local newspaper said next day that
thousands were disappointed, and
there was riot outside. big over
aow meeting was held in the street
The chill october night air was unheed-
ed. the Indignation against Germany's
disturbance of the peace kept the lis
teners warm enough
Inside Lord Northeltffe, speaking as
chairman OF the British mission, was
received with a warmth which sur
prised him. accustomed as he is by
now to the enthusiasm of American
audiences. The people stood up.
clapped hands ard waved fags for
nearly two minutes. Mr.. Herrick late
United States ambassador at Paris, had
introduced the city's guest as one of
the most powerful men in Europe
what he did" said Mr. Herrick, was
as much for our benefit as for the bena-
MT of his own country. He stirred
Britain to a knowledge of what were
the needs of her armies at critical
time. brought about the necessary
change of government and abolished
party lines. That immense service to
our ally was service also to us" That
great meeting proved by applaused
both loud and long continued that |.
understood how real Is the allies in
terdependence upon one another, and
how needful is that close corporation
for which Lord Northciiffe asked
Foreign Element Divided
Cleveland has a very large proper
ton OF inhabitants OF foreign origin
/ heard 1t put as high as 50 per cent
Mr.. Baker. the secretary of war, as
fo~mer mayor. told me that in one
ward thirty nine n languages were
srso1 en- and that tffhre werE large dis
tricts where English was never heard.
But at a luncheon IF the heads of big
businesses which Iattended--a lunch
con where II was whispered the guests
represented hundreds OF millions of
dosaars--only enc Of those at the table