The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-18
PLAN FOR
2JOINT WAR DRIVES
Head of X. of c. Wants All
Relief Organizations to
Unite in One Effort.

The knights of Columbus are to
protest directly to President Wilson
against the reported decision of secre-
tary OF War Baker to hold two sepa-
rate drives for the seven organizations
ngaged In war relief activities. accord
ing TO statement given out at the
Waldorf Astoria last night by James A.
Flaherty. Supreme Knight The organ
cation is In favor Of one big drive. A
meeting Of the supreme board of d.
rectors has been called, to be held in
Chicago on August c5. when the appeal
to the President will be formulated.
According to plans announced from
Washington it is proposed to have tho
first of the war relief drives In Novem-
Der, the Y. NJ. "A. the Y. W.. c., A..
the War Camp Community Service and
tae American Library Association par
ticlpating The second drive. which is
planned for early in January. is to be
for the knights of Columbus, the Jew
ish Welfare Board and the Salvation
Army.
After a meeting of the X. Of c. COM
mittee on war activities at the Waldorf
last night 1t was announced that Mr.,
Flaherty had sent the following tele-
gram Of protest to Secretary Baker
August "A: -.
L earnestly trust that the rumor that
you are to order two joint drives for
recreation funds--one for the Catholics
and Jews and the other for the Y. N.
c. A. and three other agencies-is not
true. This would be drawing religious
line In time Of war that cannot fail to
cause great criticism and disturbance
throughout the country"
Hopes Decision IL Net Final.
In commenting on the situation last
night Mr.. Flaherty said:
II hope the Secretary of Wars deci-
sion is not final. II seems 10 me that
this Ia drawing a line between the
Protestants on one side and the Catho-
lies, the Jews and the Salvation Army
on the other, a line which we have been
seeking to have wiped out in war activi-
\ ties. and surely In 80 far as welfare Of
the boys In the service is concerned.
THE press states that 1t was impos-
sible to have all OF these agencies join
together in one drive owing to the diff
ference in financial year periods. This
is news to me. The knights of Column
bus, at meeting in Washington at
tenueu ny VI tHc
other organizations excepting the Saliva
| ton Army. expressed its willingness and
desire to enter into joint drive with all
war work organizations at such time as
seemed best. and this news notice Is the
| first intimation which ] have had that
! the fiscal year entered into the propo-
| sition.
Relations Are Cordial.
THE relations Of the Knights of Co
| lumbus with all the organizations have
been most cordial and we have worked
shoulder to shoulder for all the boys
| both here and overseas.
I'VE are honor I'D With the association
of the Jewish Welfare Board, 20 whom
! we have extended the.use OF our bui!c-
| ings for their religious exercises, and
with the Salvation Army, whose won
derful work at the front has won the
| heart Of every hoy and of every mother
and father. could wish that the fra
ternal lines might be rounded to include
all OF the war activity agencies in one
great nationwide, all American drive"
Mr.. Flaherty says 1t 10 unfair to 81
! his organization and the two others 4 8
! ISOLATED with II in the Secretary OF
Wars proposal TO have their drive e.
January. He points out that 1t would
nece ssarily follow the third Liberty Loa7
drive in october. the drive OF the Y. NJ
c. A. and associated organizations ir
November and the Red Cross member
ship drive In December.