Omaha daily bee., 1918-11-12
WHOLE NATION
PLEDGES HELP
TO WAR DRIVE
President Wilson Says Gifts to
the Seven War Organize.
tons Express Our Graf
itude for Peace.

Although unable, because of ire
mendous pressure of international
affairs. to launch the great United
War Work campaign with a public
address, President Wilson Monday
morning in letter to John Mott,
director general of the unity drive,
has placed himself and administra-
ton squarely behind the nation
wide effort which started Monday
morning for the boys at home and
abroad.
The opportunity and need for
constructive work of the seven war
work organizations, President Will
son letter states, copy of which
was received in Omaha by Publicity
Director Menold, will be quite as
great during the period of demob-
ilization as during the war time. \
Gifts that provide the service
which this campaign makes posi-
pie" the president further points
out, "are not so much gifts to or
CARNATIONS as gifts--invaluable
gfts-to our soldiers, sailors and
marines and constitute an appro-
pirate expression of our gratitude
for their patriotic and unselfsh de-
votion."
The letter which was given out at
national campaign headquarters by
director geneyal today follows:
The White House, Washington,
November 8, 1918. My dear Mr..
Mott: am sure the people through
out the country will understand
why it is that | an, unable to fulfill
the desire of my heart to make a
public address at this time in the
interest of the approaching cam
paign. 1t has been with sincere
qualification that have observed
the wholehearted cooperation of
the Young Mems Christian associa-
ton, the National Catholic War
Council, the Jewish Welfare board,
the War Camp Community service,
the American Library association,
and the Salvation Army in response
to my request that they combine
their respective financial drives in
one United War Work campaign.
November II to Is, to secure the
sum of at least $l70,500,000 for their
invaluable work. The wise economy
of money and effort, the increased
efficiency which will result from
blending of experience, the creation
of an atmosphere of truer under
standing, the unmistakable evil
dence of growing unity of spirit
and the influence of all this in
Strengthening the national solidarity
is reassuring in the extreme.
As you now stand on the
threshold of presenting your appeal
I to the entire American people, l
wish to renew the expression of my
conviction that the service rendered
by these welfare agencies is indis-
pensable, and my earnest hope for
the abundant success of the CAM
paign. The inevitable growth of
the army and navy. and the multiply
ing demands for our help from
France, Italy and Russia, make it
clear that a generous oversubscrip-
ton is highly desirable. No matter
how distant the day of peace may
prove to be. it will be followed by
a long period of rehabilitation,
during which the opportunity and
need for the. constructive work OF
these organizations will be quite as
great as in war time, and am
glad to note that your plans con-
template serving the soldiers and
sailors in this critically important
period. I am particularly pleased
to know of the comprehensive pro-
gram of education to be carried out
during the coming months.
Gifts that provide the service
which this campaign makes possible
are not so much, gifts to organize
tons as gifts-invaluable gifts-to
our soldiers, sailors and marines,
and constitute an appropriate ex-
preston OF our gratitude for their
patriotic and unselhsh devotion. The
whole plan of the United War
Work campaign is inspiring and is
most emphatically in the interest OF
the nation and of all the lands with
which we are associated in these
flomentous days. Cordially and
sincerely yours, -.
WOODROW WILSON.
FILLMORE LEFFINGWELL."