The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-06-14
ROOSEVELT SCORES PACIFISTS
N SPEECH AT BRYAN'S HOME

but our soft and unready, strength,
so that we may use our hardened might
to bring the slaughter to a real and
final end In the only way honorably
possible by securing for ourselves and
our Allies the peace Of justice based
on overwhelming victory"
In his appeal for support for the
Red Cross, Colonel Roosevelt said:
1.-THE most important thing is to
send abroad at the earliest possible
moment a great fighting army. Sec
ond only to the army in the work Of
winning this war comes our Red Cross.
Indeed the importance Of this work
is so great that the President Of the
United States has set apart next week
from June 1S.25-as o period Tor
sacrifice and unselrish generosity, a
week in which the whole American
people will be asked to join in rails
ing funds to enable our Red Cross
to perform its vast and indispensable
duties in this war.
"The President has also commission
ed several Of the ablest business men
of the country as War Council of the
Red Gross, to administer this service
on behalf Of stricken world. This
War Council tells us that fund Of
500, 100000 must be raised at once
in order to meet even the most urgent
needs.
Here, indeed, is summons to every
American. 1t is an enormous sum OF
money; but what comfort can we
take in Withholding that or any other
sum of money If it is needed to relieve
the suffering of our own sons or the
sons Of our allies who are fighting
for all that makes life worth living.
Into our Red Cross without stint
should be poured heartfelt offer
ing of thanksgiving that we are per-
mitted to join in this great service
to all mankind. Our soldiers and sail
ors will do their part without finch
ing; we may rest assured Of their
courage and fidelity. The Red Cross
offers to US who are not allowed to
fight, the opportunity for sacrifice
and for help.
I'VE little realize what is before
US. Our own sons and brothers will
soon be going into battle. They will
be three thousand miles from home, In
land already wasted by war, land
threatened by famine, land smitten
by disease, They tell US that in many
cases today the wounds of soldiers
in France must be tied up With news.
papers for want Of the necessary surgi-
cal bandages. When our own men are
wounded-as they surely will be in
great numbers-are we going to allow
them to suffer yet more because we
fail to provide those things which can
at least mitigate distress? Surely
not! But we must do it in advance. II
we wait 1t may be too late. Do 1t
now!
Our Red Cross must not only care
for the shattered bodies Of our wound.
ed men; 1t alone can become a foster
parent to them in the trying conditions
tey are sure to face when they are
convalescent from wounds or recover.
ing from exhaustion. We shall soon
have an army Of million soldiers.
When they go to France they must
have homes in which to rest and to
be cared for and to recover. The
generosity Of our whole people must
make it possible for our Red Cross
to provide for them.
I'm no previous war have the limo.
cent non.combatants had TO bear so
terrible a share Of its physical suffer-
ing. And It is through our Red Cross
that we can show to the nations of