The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-07
ROOSEVELT PRIZE
GOES TO WAR WORK
Congress Votes Back $4,000
Nobel Award to the
Colonel.
HE'LL PUT 1T TO USE
Red Cross, Y. NJ. G. A. and
Knights of Columbus Will
Get Their Part.
Special DespdfcA 10 TIE Sus.

1
motion of Representative Gellivan
'Mass) to-day passed a resolution re-
turning to Theodore Roosevelt the s4O.-
600 Nobel peace prize. which wac
awarded to Col. Roosevelt after the
Portsmouth peace conference. The SEN
ate is expected to act on the resolution
| favonably before a recess ia taken.
| Col. Roosevelt explained In a letter
4 to Mr.. Gallivan that after the prize
| carrying with It the sum OF money
which was awarded to him. he turned
| 1t over to a commission headed by the
Chief Justice Of the Supreme Court OF
the United states as a foundation for
| an industrial peace fund. Nothing has
| been done with the money and Col.
Roosevelt now desires II to apply TO
| war contributions through the Red
| Cross. the Y. NJ. c. A., the Knights of
Columbus. the Jewish War Fund and
similar organizations.
Use for IDLE Money.
Col Roosevelt wrote a similar letter
to Senator Williams (MissD, but the
Sudden death OF the Senator's daughter
to-day might make 1t impossible that he
devote any attention to the matter and
Senator johnson (Cal.) took charge
OF II.
The letter to Representative Gallivan
follows:
my DEAR CONGRESSMAN GALLrvAN:
After the peace OF Portsmouth I was
awarded the Nobel peace prize medal
This carried with it the gift to me Of
the GUM OF about $4,000. This gift
was made to me outright, but did not
care to use II for myself under the cir
cumstances so l gave 1t as foundation
for an Industrial peace fund. Congress
created a commission to receive and use
It. 1t seems. however. that 1t did not
prove practicable to make the use in
tended Of the money. Nothing whatever
has been done with II and II Is still in
the hands OF the commissioners
I'VE are now in a great crisis and the
utmost demand Is being made upon the
charity of every man and woman. rich
or poor. Under these circumstances I
do not think II right that the fund
should lie idle and I do think 1t most
appropriate now that the Nobel peace
prize fund should be used through ap-
propriate organizations to care for our
soldiers and for the widows, children
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.
broad Use for Fund.
Accordingly I am writing to you
and to Senator Williams to ask II you
will not put this communication i'm
mediately 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. I shall then at
once apply II for the purposes above
indicated through the Red Cross. the
Y. NJ. C. A. (both white and colored
branches). the Knights Of Columbus.
the Jewish War Fund and any other
similar organisations which may
think at tho moment would do particu-
larly good work At the end Of the year
I will report to you and to Senator
Williams the exact disposition made Of
the fund. sending you. II you SO de-
sire. the full correspondence, the stubs
OF the checks. &C.
IT felt that as the money was given
to me to be used as I desired the proper
course to take is the one I have re-
quested. but / feel much more strongly
that In any event the money should no
longer remain as a talent wrapped in
a napkin and buried in the ground. but
sh~"d be used to help meet the needs
CT ted by this terrible war. Accord
ingly, II there Is objection to having me
receive and dispose of 1t as above out
lined ask that the money be turned
over to a committee composed of your
self 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 II you feel that such extra work
should be undertaken by those not
pressed by public business ] suggest that
YOU turn the money over to commit
tee Of three. consisting of Mrs Thomas
]. Preston (widow OF the late President
Cleveland), Maurice Francis Egan date
Minister to Denmark) and Nathaniel
Risberg (former State Senator Of New
York;. They could report in similar
fashion.
THE essential thing IL that immedi-
ate 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
a Administrations think the Chief JUS
tice is another. I do not see that there
can be any objection on grounds of
policy to using this idle money immedi-
ateIy for this most worthy OF purposes.
II there IL objection to the money being
as above outlined by me the
donor, then request that either OF the
have suggested or some
similar committee which may commend
itself to your Judgment be appointed to
distribute the fund. In any event, L
trust there will be immediate action.
FAITHFULLY yours, ,,
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