The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-05
ALABAMA LEADS THE NATION IN KNIGHTS |OF COLUMBUS DRIVE Local Forces Went "Over the Top" With $26,4S0 and Re-
 ports Still Coming In LADIES' DIVISION
 DID VALIANT WORK Success of Drive Attributed to the Spirit of Co-Operation Shown
 by Citizens of Birming- ham District

 committee was called to order in the
 sence of Field Marshal T. o. Smith, by T. J. Crittenden. The Rev. James E. Coyle invoked the divine blessing. General Crittenden in presenting the first speaker of the day introduced Mrs. H. H. Shell, whose intense patriotism has won for her place among the -four
 minute mem of America.
 tIt has been my great pleasure" said
 Mrs. Shell. Ito watch the movements of the '. M. c. A. and K of c. activ- ities in the different camps and I want to say that wherever there is an Amer ican soldier stationed in this country, and we hope some on the battlefronts of France, the kindly hand of the Knights of Columbus or the Y. M. c. A. will stretch out and aid in his moral uplift
 Those two great patriotic bodies are doing for the moral side of our boys are doing for their physical side. And
 may l ask, if boys moral life is not kept wholesome and pure, what good will it do if he returns to his mothers side, wrecked. not by an enemy's bull let, which can only kill his body, but by those immoral forces that tend to destroy Gods image in that boy-his mortal soul.
 Tn this work of moral uplift, two of
 Americas greatest societies, the Y. N. c. A. and the Knights of Columbus, are working side by side.
 If kind hand, a kind word is
 given your boy when far away from home, will you stop to consider whether
 that hand came from a Catholic. Jew or Protestant? No, you will think only
 of its purpose and thank God. THREE BOYS IN ARMY After great applause, General Critten- den introduced as the next speaker Mrs J. II. Wallace. Holding her right hand letter, Mrs. Wallace drew the atten- tion of those present when she said: "I
 have three boys in the army today one p years, one 24 and one 26, and I know they are doing what their father would have had them do if he were living and what I would want to do today if 1 1 were man. Here Mrs Wallace S voice was drowned in a sea of applause which lasted for several minutes Mrs. Wallace, continuing, said: Do you not think I am glad to be here with you where I realize what you are doing for my boys, the things I would, but which I cannot? Your organization has taken the hand left by me and other moth-
 CTS of this land and are today guiding our boys in all that is right, good and honorable, and my heart goes out to your cause"
 General Crittenden then called on the
 Rev. Father Tomerlin, chaplain for K 1 of c. hall, Camp Sheridan, Montgomery Father Tomerlin has just been trans fcrred from the army to navy and will leave shortly for his new post.
 He said over 2O00 letters were mailed from the K. of C. hall in Montgomery. Two thousands letters home. Think just what that means, my friends. Two thou sand messages of cheer to those whose love is just as strong as yours and mine"
 SET A RECORD After Father Tomerlin had concluded his remarks General Crittenden in- troduced James H. Glennon, state deputy of the Knights of Columbus, a promi- nent business man from Mobile
 We have just finished our campaign in Mobile and thought that we had set record that even Birmingham would have hard time to follow" he said, but today I again realize that Birming- ham is truly a magic city. Yonr drive has met with great success and from all sides l can hear only words of praise and appreciation from the great help that our generous friends from every creed have given us. Our motto from now on should be, 'Co-operation.' This Is a time when all petty jealous ies must be set aside. This war has cemented us together in fashion that
 can never be broken"
 Father Coyle was the next speaker 1T have been with you in spirit each day"
 he said, "even though this is my first appearance here in person. Each morn ing l hurriedly reached for The Age Herald to follow your splendid drive.
 As your totals rose su did my enthus- iasm for the cause. For what can be a greater cause than doing our bit for him who is sacrificing all that you and may live in peace at home with those we love-
 GENERALS REPORT After the speakers had finished General Crittenden called for reports. Gen. l.. A. Mccormack reported .5O for the day. General Hilike's team reported $1013 50. The ladies division under Mrs. Frank lJ. White was yet to report before the top had been reached. Not sound could be heard as she rose to speak. Well,
 who ever heard of Mrs. White failing in any cause, much less one like this?"
 said the chairman Three thousand and 1 fifty dollars and fifty cents" she read. Then it was over. We had gbne over the top for $2S. .4s0 From several sources we learned that the total drive will
 net almost saO,000. This, with the amounts collected in Mobile and Montgomery, will make Alabama's share in the nation- lwide drive greater per capita than any state in the union-a record that every
 citizen should be proud of
 SUCCESS OF THE CAMPAIGN The success of the drive for the Knights of columbus war fund was due. it was stated, to the great cooperative spirit shown by every citizen of Birmingham whether Jew, Protestant or Catholic, who realized the werk that this order mad undertaken to make better the lives of cur fighting men regardless of their ie- lligious beliefs.
 To Gen. T. J. Crittenden fell the burden of the drive for the Knights of C0lum- lbus. Col T. O. Smith. field marshal l for the week. had general charge of the teams And the great work done by Gen. 1 eral Pizitz will never be forgotten, Mir, lC. l.. Harold of the Civic associs tlok Twas always present when called on. But to the ladies' whose untiring ef- forts under the chairmanshp of M:s. Frank J. White, assisted by Mrs. Oscar Hundley, Mrs. G. M. Lathem, Mrs. T.. IA A. Mccormick. Mrs. T. w OByrne and and Mrs. w. l.. Grubb, were the werk- Iers who put over the last hours of the