Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1918-10-03

On November II the American peo-
pie will start a one weeks drive to
raise the largest amount of money
ever given outright by any people in
the history of the world.
The drive will be a new thing under
the sun For the first time Protes-
tants, Catholics and Jews, forgetting
all their differences, will line up shout
der to shoulder, welding their individ-
ual organizations together in their
common devotion to the boys in the
environments and over there. This
amalgamatiOn of the seven great agen-
cies engaged in war work is one of the
fine developments which have been
brought about by the war and under
the wise guidance OF President Wilson.
The seven organizations which to-
gether will make this united appeal
are the Y. NJ. c. ~, 7. w. c. A, Ma
tiOnal Catholic War Council and K.
of c., the Jewish Welfare Board, the
War Camp Community Service, the
American Library Association and the
Salvation Army. Each of them will
need funds this Fall; each had planned
a separate campaign for support
Now, acting on the suggestion of the
Presidents letter of September 5, the
seven campaigns will be rolled into
one. The American people will be
spared the burden of seven separate
appeals and the nation will have an
opportunity to demonstrate splendidly
that men and women Of all creeds at
home can work together, as men of
all creeds over there are fighting and
dying together.
Dr. John r. MOts, whom President
Wilson has spoken of as one of the
ablest and most useful men of his gen
GRAFTON, has been selected Director
General of the drive. It is interesting
to note that DR.. Motifs name was
placed in nomination by John G.. Agar
of the National Catholic War Council
and seconded by Mortimer L. Schiff of
the Jewish Welfare Board. The gen
eral committee having the campaign
in charge contains such well known
names as Raymond B. Fosdick. Chair
man of the Commission on Training
Camp Activities; George w Perkins,
Chairman of the Finance Committee
Of the U. S. Steel Corporation James
T. Phelan of HornblOwer and Weeks
Honorable Myron 7. Herrick, former
ambassador to France; Cleveland II.
Dodge, George Gordon Battle, Mrs.
Henry P. Dawson and Frank A. Van
derlip, president of the National City
Bank
In every city, county and town the
campaign will be in charge of the big
gest men of the community.
Together these seven organizations
represent a work that is staggering in
its proportions. They have more than
$4,000 uniformed workers, standing
shoulder to shoulder with the boys ev-
cry step of the way from home to the
front line trenches. They operate more
than $500 buildings and ship 800 tons
of supplies to the boys in France ev-
cry week Fifteen miles of film set
sail for the other side each week I'M
der their direction, and the regular
weekly attendance Of Soldiers and sail
ors at their motion picture shows is
more than 100000 The Bibles fur
nished to the boys since the war broke
out would, if piled one on another,
make a pile more than twenty miles
high
Morale" said Napoleon, "is as 9TH
err factors in war as three to one" By
which he meant that one man who is
kept contented and happy is better
than three men who are discouraged
and homesick. 1t is the business of
these seven great agencies to help
maintain morale They are keeping
up the fine fighting edge of our boys,
and by their ministrations. helping to
put added power into our army and
navy and so hasten the hour of victory
when they will bring our boys home
again.
1t is predicted by national leaders
thai this great victory drive will "go
over the top in a larger way than an
caTCaign that has preceded it,