Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-10
SHOW IDEAL SPIRIT
IN WARFUN6 DRIVE
Dr.. Motifs Selection Suggest
ed by Catholic and Sec
onded by Jew.
MOVEMENT is HISTORIC
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Copyright, 1913. By N. 7. Evening Post. 1nc.)
John r. Mott, head Of the Y. M. c. A.
movement the world over. has been
selected director general OF the United
war work campaign, which is the name
of the consolidated drive to be made
in November for a budget Of $170,000,-
900 to be dispensed by the represents
tive organizations Of Protestants,
Catholics, Jews and other sects for
American forces in the war zone.
Mr.. Motifs selection is in itself an
indication Of the new spirit Of CO.
operation which President Wilson's
recent letter asking for consolidation
Of activity has produced. It was John
G. Agar. ths Roman Catholic leader,
representing the National Catholic
War Council and Knights Of Colum-
bus, who moved that Mr.. Mott be
chosen and it was Mortimer L. Schin
of the Jewish welfare board who
seconded the motion.
That incident is typical of a co-opera-
tive era which the heads Of the organi-
cations are trying to INTRODUCES In the
work abroad, but which they have not
always been suceessfuls in establishing
because Of the constant expansion Of
their enterprises and the difficulty In
getting the right kind Of personnel.
Pays Visit Here.
Mr.. Mott came to Washington to con-
fer with the Council Of National Defense,
so as to secure the assistance Of all the
drive for funds success. 1t will be
publicity and joint pledge cards are
planned, and while individuals can
specify the organizations to which their
gifts shall be given, this will not be en-
couraged, for the funds will be dis
tributed between the seven war organi.
cations on a pro rata basis and ex.
penses will likewise be so apportioned.
America has never experienced any.
thing like common movement OF 'ail
religious institutions. though there is
here than in most other lands. The
interesting thing is that while all
these different sectarian societies will
endeayor to blend their efforts as much
as possible in the war zone, they are
not expected to surrender their iden-
tity. Mr.. Mott himself called atten-
tion to that today when he quoted from
President Wilson's letter, which, said,
in part:
Retain Individual Identity.
IN inviting these organizattons-to
give this new evidence Of their patri-
otic cooperation. wish it distinctly
understood that their compliance with
this request will not in any sense
imply the surrender on the part OF
any of them of it's distinctive char
acter and autonomy. because I fully
recognize the fact that each Of them
has it's own traditions, principles and
relationships which it properly prizes
and which, If preserved and strength
ened, make possible the largest serv-
ice.
1 talked with DR.. Mott about the
criticisms one hears of friction
abroad and the rivalry between the
sectarian organizations. He was con-
fident that the machinery now in op-
difficulties and would make the per-
sonnel Of all organizations follow
more closely the expressed wishes of
the leaders. who, he said. had always
sought to cooperate.
both sides Of the European conflict,
spending many months in Germany and
Austria among allied prisoners before
the United States entered the war. He
knows the morale Of every army. He
has made study Of the psychology Of
troops.
Tribute to q. s. Army.
dice, I am sure he said. but there
never has been as clean an Army, one
SO efficient in morale and one from
which springs the conquering spirit, as
the United States Army. say this de-
physical facts and Observed the spirit
Of our troops in FFance-their physical,
mental and morA efficiency.
There must be causes for this. Our
government has had no uncertain
mittedly the chief factor in warfare,
but we do not always give sufficient
study to what produces it. Our Rov-
ernment, however, has favored both
obligatory and voluntary measures to
uphold the morale Of American SOL
my opinion is the large place that
has been given to the voluntary
agencies who endeayor to bring the
best principles of the American spirit
to bear on the situation. I cannot pay
too high tribute to the War Depart
ment commission on training activi-
ties, who stimulate and guide these
civilian agencies. It is something new
in the history of wars.
Perhaps the public has heard very
little of certain committee Of six,
too. 1t is very important. Protest
ants. Catholics and Jews compose it.
They advise the government on. all
matters pertaining to chaplains. 1t
was through their efforts that the
Congress recently provided one chap
lain for every. 1900 men or three to
q regiment instead of one chaplain
to $4,000 men as before. The same
spirit of cooperation prevails at Gen.
Pershing's HEADQUARTERS. where the
Brent. Father Dougherty and Paul
pertaining to Army chaplains.
"Y" Most Firmly Established.
"Of the voluntary organizations, the
Y. NJ. c. A. was the largest and most
firmly established when the war be-
gan and 1t has given its facilities to
the Knights Of Columbus and Jewish
Welfare Board wherever the latter
lacked huts or buildings. Tho fric-
tion and misunderstanding that have
occurred will not occur under our new
system Of coaching our secretaries,
We arrange for them to, go into con-
ference with the Red Cross and Army
officials and find out exactly what
they must do. I know that so far as
the Y. NJ. c. A. Is concerned it will
be sufficient cause to bring a man
home who violates those instructions
And I am quite sure similar policies