Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1919-10-11
Secretary Baker Urges Continuance
of Welfare Work With Troops
Abroad.
Requested to Serve For Further
Period of Three or Four
Months.
viii Feel Free TO Call For Advice
Counsel and Active
Assistance.
PROTEST THE GUSHING ORDER

Newton d. Baker, Secretary of
War, in a letter to James A.
Flaherty, Supreme Knight of the
Knights of Columbus, urges that the
order still continue its welfare
activities with the soldiers in France,
Germany, Siberia and the Canal
Zone and insular possessions until
''such time as the army is in a
position to undertake the RESPONSE
bility." The letter from the head
| of the War Department came in
answer to the countrywide protest
which the knights issued against the
peremptory ousting of the seven
affiliated civilian welfare organiza-
tions. With the abolition of the
| Commission on Training Camp
ruling body over all welfare organ
izations, the War Department recent
ly announced that the soldiers would
be looked after by an organization
of army officers 10 be established
within the general staff. Secretary
Baker acknowledges the interest
which the knights of Columbus dis
played in their desire to have the
soldiers welfare in future looked
after. He said
II quite agree with you that so
much of the programme as relates
to leisure time at least should be
conducted in such a way as to induce
feeling of ease and comfort among
the men, approximating as nearly as
possible the conditions of home life,
atmosphere and spirit. We hope to
accomplish this by the employment
of carefully selected men and women
who, because of their training during
the emergency, as representatives
of the affiliated organizations, or
because of their natural ability and
interest, are qualified to carry on
welfare programme as employees of
the War Department.
'In contemplating the end of
emergency l turn with gratitude to
you and your able associates. who
SO willingly accepted the RESPONSE
bility placed under the Knights of
Columbus. l extend to you the
appreciation of the War Department
and the thanks of every man of the
service who came in contact with
your representative in the field
1Ou are IcQutolcQ " COutlnu0 yOul
work with the troops in France,
Germany, Siberia, Panama Canal
Zone, Hawaiian and Philippine
Islands and Alaska for a further
period of three or four months, or
until such a time as the army is in
position to undertake the RESPONSE
bility. The War Department in the
future, as 1t has in the past, will
feel free to call upon the Knights
of Columbus for advice, counsel and
active assistance wherever the need
develops"
The Knights of Columbus protest
ed the ousting order declaring that
the question was OF such large pro-
portions il demanded statement of
the conditions which such a move
would invite. 1--WE are opposed to
any attempt to institutionalize the
activities heretofore conducted by
the so-called War Welfare societies."
the knights told Secretary Baker.
THE men in the service welcome
relief from war supervision and
military methods. They welcome the
relief and willingly respond to the
services Of civilians to whom they
owe no special duty or military
Difference and obedience. 1t is a
relief from the restraint Of official