The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1918-05-15
Secretary Daniels. Like1eed
TO Old Southern Orators
By Judge George Hillye1'

i1clS, whom II is proud to hOnOr as one
OF its most distinguished members.
Second, it has given 100000 soldiers
to the army, and all they ask is an
opportunity to reach the 100000 Prus-
sian junkers who are credited by Lord
Northcliffe with having launched the
war. have an idea those junkers are
in safe place far behind the lines,
and | think the war will end when
the victorious flags of the Allies and
America are hoisted over Berlin
Third, the Methodist church has given
a bishop (referring to Bishop Lam
buth), who will be in charge of rails
ing Methodist war fund of 100000
during the next four years"
| Clark Howell Makes Hit
: In introducing Clark Howell editor
Of the Atlanta Constitution, Major
Cohen spoke of him as the dean of
Georgia editors, great newspaper
man and patriotic American who
has sent his son and namesake to
France. Mr. Howell spoke with his
usual eloquence and was given much
applause.
Il Major Cohen limited me in my re-
marks" said he, by telling me not
to say anything about Secretary Dan
iels, which privilege he reserved for
himself But am not going to obey
orders. Secretary Daniels is the
finest example know of what coun-
try editor can do by sticking to his
business. | take pleasure in saving
here now, in this distinguished pres
ence, that the press of Georgia is up
holding the flag and backing the adj
ministration to the limit. AS Major
Cohen said, my boy has gone over,
although he is now in England, not
yet having arrived in France, and |
see before me the faces of many other
fathers whose sons are gone, and |
say for them, and say for myself that
we thank God the strong hand of Jo-
sephus Daniels was with them when
they made their perilous journey
across an ocean infested by subma-
rines. On behalf of the Georgia press
wish to thank Major Cohen, one of
the most brilliant men of American
Journalism, for the pleasure of meet
ing here on this inspiring occasion the
greatest secretary of the navy in Am
erican history. man who has turned
/ rldicule and contemptuous criticism
INTO praise, cabinet member who en-
joys the unique distinction of being
free from single complaint from anv
party or any source"
he next speaker was General Will
liam Hampden Sage, the new COM
mander of Camp Gordon, who made
a very effective speech along military
INES, consisting of an appeal to the
bIshops to call on the mothers of the
Methodist church not to write discour
aging letters to their boys in the serv-
ice
/ He said one of the most troublesome
problems in the army is boys who 90
home on furlough, drawn by letters
from their mothers which make them
homesick, and who overstay their time
and then are afraid to return because
OF the military penalty, and who stay
and stay and are finally classed as
deserters, and arrested by sheriffs.
who are paid $50, which comes out of
! the soldiers salary.
I 1T is better for a mother not to
write at all than to write a letter that
makes her boy homesick," said Cen
eral Sage. The boy has enough on
his shoulders without carrying a bur-
den of discouraging reports of con-
ditions at home. 1t doesn't remedy
the situation to write him about if.
and most of the time conditions are
really not bad when he goes back, but
were simply overdrawn by his mo-
ther IN her respondent loneliness. I
! appeal to you gentlemen of the Meth
odist episcopacy to use your influence
IN your church to correct this fault
OF American mothers, which thew do
not commit because they are lacking
IN patriotism, but because their hearts
are tull of love for their boys"
The general spoke in a serious vein
straight to the point, and his remarks
produced profound impression. The
bishops assured him by noddine their
heads that they would render the serv-
ice he asked them, and Major Cohen
took occasion to remark, before intro
duclng the next speaker, that the
newspapers of Georgia would also
lend their influence in this matter.
| Toast to Our Allies
In selecting speaker to respond
to a toast TO Our Allies" Major
| Cohen chose Major Daniels. British
officer who has been wounded and
| decorated for bravery, and who is
| now the instructor in gas at Camp
Gordon.
Major Daniels, speaking with the
real British accent, crisp as a breeze
on frosty morning, responded with
a few brief and well-chosen remarks
and closed with a little story about
the German gas.
| The Germans letter various kinds
OF gas, said he, "and one of them is
known as X gas. We decided the
| X was meant for 'Kultur. Someone
inquired why the Germans spell Gull
ture with K instead of a &C.. and
we Britishers replied that it was be-
cause the Allies hold the command
of the seas"
Then came the introduction of Sec
rotary Daniels In presenting him to
the luncheon guests, Major Cohen re-
called the fact that they were friends
and associates in the department of
the interior during the administration
OF Grover Cleveland twenty-six years
ago, and he was proud to say that dur
ing the subsequent years he and Mr..
lDanlels had never disagreed as news
paper men, on single public ques-
ton.
We are proud to welcome him
here today" said Major Cohen. PROUD
to welcome him as a southerner, an
! American patriot and tbe ora,+ae+