Dresden enterprise and Sharon tribune. (Dresden, Tenn.) 1907-1997, 1919-12-12
NEED CLOTHES AS
WINTER BREAKS
People Of Poland viii Suffer I'm
less Help Is Forth
coming.
US. MINSTERSENDS APPEAL
In the Widespread Areas Of DeVasta.
tion In the Country People Are in
Rags and Barefoot---Fuel
Shortage Is Also Acute.

New YOrk.-Hugh Gibson, United
States minister to Poland, is urging
the Lutherans of America to do their
utmost to provide clothing for the Pol
ish people before winter His appeal
has been received by the European re-
lief committee of the national Luther
an council through DR.. J. A. Morehead,
chairman Of the Lutheran commission
to Europe. The appeal follows:
II hear that your council is opening
a campaign in America to gather cloth
ing for Poland. hope this is being
made very earnest campaign, as the
need is far beyond anything that peo-
pie In America are likely to under
stand.
1.-THE lack Of clothing in this part
of the country is bad enough, as, you
have seen, and although really cold
weather has not begun the suffering
is already apparent. But do not know
whether you have been out In the
widespread areas of devastation,
where the people are in rags and bare
foot and where the situation will soon
be desperate,
'If people at home had any cOncep-
ton of the misery of these people, they
would not rest until shiploads of warm
clothing were actually distributed. |
hope you will impress upon the Luth-
eran council the urgency of the situa-
ton, and the fact that the Polish peO-
pie are not now in a position to help
themselves. We have got to see them
through this winter"
Appeal in Another Letter.
Similarly E. Richard of the Amert-
can relief administration Of European
children's fund is emphasizing the
need in Poland which the LutheranS
are endeavoring to meet in their cam
paign for clothing and money, in a
letter received by DIR. LauritZ Larsen,
chairman of the European relief COM
mittee of the national Lutheran coun-
=, ell. The letter follows:
"The appeal Of the Lutheran cOun'
ellis European relief committee for
funds for the purchase Of clothing to
be distributed in Poland and other
countries of central Europe ought to
receive a wide hearing. There Is q
desperate need for clOthing-a great
er need than can possibly be supplied.
"For five years practically no new
clothing has got into the hands OF
these people; practically none has
been manufactured, and old stocks
are exhausted. The rags and rem
nants which remain are simply not
sufficient protection during the winter
Conditions are especially bad ia
Poland, where the cold months are
very severe, where the fuel shortage
Is acute, and where 100000 or more
refugees must pass the winter in film
sy, makeshift dwellings.
"The American relief administration
European children's fund Is co-operat'
ing with various organizations to the
limit of it's resources in order to pro
vide in some measure clothing for chill
dren who must leave their homes tC
go to the relief kitchens. More than
100000 children in Poland will be
given meal a day at these kitchens
for the next seven months.
However. our work is limited tC
meeting the requirements of the chill
dren Of eight and under | earnestly
hope that the Lutheran committee will
be able to help largely in meeting the
needs of others In want.
Old Clothing Not Sufficient.
"If old clothing can be obtained
quickly of course it can be used to
great advantage, but we have decided
as far as the children are concerned
that this immediate need cannot be
met by old clothing nor can we wait
for clothing drive to bring results
We have consequently purchased new
cloth and shoes and we suggest that
any Of your surplus funds could be
used in this way.
ut is our convictiOn-voiced more
than once by Mr.. Hoover-that relief
work in Europe must know neither
creed, race nor country. Only the very
great need of those who are hungry
and cold must be considered.
IF we can in any way cooperate
with your committee to hasten cloth
ing relief not only in Poland but in all
parts of centarl Europe you may count
rnon no IN on the limit"