The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-11-05
Impressions Of
United War
Work Gained
By Rev. Trout
(By Rev. Charles H. Trout

1t was my privilege to attend on
Oct 29th, in Jacksonville, confer.
ence of the ministers of the various
Protestant Churches Of the State Of
Florida, the object Of which was to
get fairly and fully before the minds
Of the people of this State the facts,
and to see the importance of the
United War Workers Campaign,
which is to begin Nov. 18th.
Since returning, several have re-
quested me to give, through the local
papers, some Of the facts and i'm
pressions which / received from the
conference.
/ wish, first Of all to say, that this
conference of about forty ministers
Of the various denominations in the
State, was one of the most harmon
ious and helpful events Of the kind,
which | have ever attended. While
at first, there were some, who having
received some wrong impressions, as
to the plan and import Of the cam
paign, and some also, who, because
of lack Of all the facts, leading up
to the making of this United Cam.
paign, yet after We had listened to
two splendid addresses, and full
and free discussion of every phase
Of it, we were all of one mind and
voted unanimously to heartily sup
port this campaign.
The first address was given by Dr..
Alexander, of Atlanta, Ga, who set
before us in very interesting and
straightforward manner, the history
and facts out of which was inaugu-
rated the present United War Work
ers Campaign. He showed very con-
clusively that this plan was not en-
tered into hastily and without due
consideration, but was thoroughly
gone over by the leaders of each of
the seven organizations interested,
with President Wilson. These sew
in organizations, viz, the Young Mems
Christian Association, the Y. w. e.
A., the National Catholic War Coun-
Gil, the Jewish Welfare Board, the
War Camp Community Service, the
American Library Association, and
the Salvation Army, all of which have
been recognized by the War Depart.
ment as accepted instruments
through which the men in the ranks
are to be assisted in many essential
matters of recreation and morale.
Each of these organizations were
planning special campaign and an
appeal to be made to this nation for
means to continue their work.
1t was at this point that President
Wilson, who is ever alert to the
largest and best interests of the men
at the front, and the home, called a
halt, and asked them to merge into
one, the seven appeals, and to show
his interest in these several organi-
cations, and his desire to assist them
in any way possible he addressed a
letter to Mr. Raymond B. Fosdick.
who is chairman Of the Commission
on Training Camp Activities. The
letter follows:
"The White House,
Washington, September 3, 1918.
my dear Mr. Fosdick: May not
, call your attention to a matter which
| has been recently engaging my
| thought not a little?
1.-THE War Department has recog-
nized the Young Mems Christian AS
ISOLATION, the Young Women's Chris
ton Association, the National War
Council (Knights of Columbus), the
Jewish Welfare Board, the War Camp
Community Service, the American II
brary Association, and the Salvation
Army as accepted instrumentalities
through which the men in the ranks
are to be assisted in many essential
matters of recreation and morale.
1T is evident from the first, and has
become increasingly evident, that the
services rendered by these agencies
to our Army and to our allies are es.
, sentially one and all of a kind and
must of necessity, If we'll rendered
be rendered in the closest coopera
, ton. 1t is my judgment, therefore
that we shall secure the best results
: lin the matter of the support of these
agencies If these seven societies will
! unite their forthcoming appeals for
? funds, in order that the spirit of the
r country in this matter may be ex
: pressed without distinction of race
or religious opinion in support Of
what is in reality common service
This point of view is sustained by
thd necessity, which the war has
Aforced upon us, of limiting our ap
peals for funds in such a way that
. two OR three comnrehensive cam