New-York tribune., 1918-07-07
Congress Asked to Give
Back $4,000 Won by
Ex-President
Doesn't Want 1t Idle
Gave 1t to Nation To Be Foun-
dation for Industrial
Peace Fund
Especial Dispatch to The r,1bnnoA

VfAoAAANN ONs July b.-lheOdOre
Roosevelt asked Congress to day to re-
turn to him the $4,000 Nobel Peaca
prize awarded to him in recognition
OF his part in the negotiation of the
portsmouth treaty Of peace between
Russia and Japan in order that he
might turn the money over to war
charities. The House Immediately
adopted the resolution introduced by
Representative Gallivan, of Massachu-
sets, authorizing the return of the
money. In the Senate Senator John
son, Of California. will sponsor a sim
liar resolution.
Colonel Roosevelt's request for tho
return Of the money was incorporate
III letter sent to Representative Gal
l1van, of Massachusetts. in the House
and Senator John Sharpe Williams in
the Senate, which stated that since it
had been found impracticable to en-
ploy the money as a foundation for an
industrial peace fund. as had been pro-
posed bv Mr.. Roosevelt, he would now
like to regain control Of 1t. Mr.. Roose-
velt's letter to Representative CALI
van, as read in the House, follows:
after the peace of Portsmouth |
was awarded the Nobel Prize medal.
This carried with it the gift to me Of
the sum of about $4,000. The gift
was to me outright, but l did not care
to use 1t for myself under the circum-
stances, so | gave it as foundation
for an industrial peace fund. Congress
created commission to receive and
use 1t. 1t seems, however, that it did
NOT prCvp prQcti hla <O ~ %bo yoo
intended of the money. Nothing what
ever has been done with it and it still
is in the hands of the commissioners.
Sees Use for Money
eve are now in great crisis and
the utmost demand is being made upon
the charity of every man and woman,
rich or poor. Under these circum-
stances I do not think it right it should
lie idle; and | do think it most ap-
propriate that the Nobel Peace Prize
fund should be used through appro-
pirate organizations to care for our
soldiers, and for the widows and chill
dren and mothers of our soldiers in
this great war, waged to secure the
only kind of peace worth having-the
peace which is founded on right and
justice and mercy.
Accordingly, | am writing to you and
to Senator Williams to ask if you will
not put this communication immedi-
ately before the two houses of Con-
gress. I desire Congress to give me
back, or, rather, authorize and direct
the commission created under the prior
law of Congress to give me back, the
Nobel Peace Prize Fund | shall then
at once apply it for the purposes above
indicated through the Red Cross, the
Y. M. c. A. (both white and colored
branches), the Knights of Columbus,
the Jewish War Fund and any other
similar organizations which I may
think at the moment would do pecul-
iarly good work. At the end of the
year | will report to you and to Senator
Williams the exact disposition made of
the fund, sending you, if you SO desire.
the checks, etc.
Should Not Remain Idle
81 feel that, as the money was given
to me to be used as l desired, the
proper course to take is the one | have
strongly that in any event the money
should no longer remain as a talent
in napkin and buried in the
ground, but should be used to help
meet the needs created by this terrible
war. Accordingly, if there is objec-
ton to having me receive and dispose
of it as above outlined, l ask that the
money be turned over to committee
Of yourself and Senator
Williams and the Speaker of the
House, who will report by the end of
the year to Congress the disposal Of
the funds they have made; or if you
feel that such extra work should be
undertaken by those not pressed by
public business, l suggest chat you
turn the money over to a committee of
three, consisting of Mrs. Thomas J.
Preston (widow Of the late President
Maurice Egan (late Min
lister to Denmark and Nathaniel Els
berg (former State Senator of New
York;. They could report In similar
fashion.
"The essential thing is that imme-
diate action be taken. Senator Lodge
and Congressman Longworth know
about the fund and Mr.. Oscar Straus
is one of the gentlemen now Interested
with the Administrations think the
chief justice IS another. I do not see
that there can be any objection on
grounds of policy to using this idle
money Immediately for this most
worthy of purposes. If there Is OBJ
lection to the money being distributed
as above outlined by me, the donor.
then l request that either of the COM
mittees 1 have suggested or some SINH
lar committee which may commend it.
self to your Judgment, be appointed to
distribute the fund In any event I
trust there will ha irnme medie4e oc+io,v -