Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-11-29

ny ~ ~ tUuSe NV 70 eooept t"~ uWW
after u comes from the conference.
lido mot ob5ccs, to the'mild ressrva-
tionists. but every day Of deiay--every
week OF delay--is costing us lots OF
money as well as tho lives OF the
stricken peoples.
During the war 7 accepted the Job
Of handling the hunger relief funds for
the state OF Iowa, This responsibility
has brought me Into conference with
Mr.. Hoover and Mr.. Elkus, Mr.. Nor.
ganthau, Mr. Taft, DIR. James l.. Bar
ton and others who have carried the
responsibility Of feeding the stricken
peoples OF Europe. was at meet
ing In New York City two or three
weeks ago where George Walter
Smith. ex-president of tho American
Philadelphia, and who for the past six
months had been spending his time
investigating the hunger conditions In
eastern Europe. said 1t wes his decided
conviction, which no expressed In
much stronger terms and stronger
language than I used in my sermon,
that every week Of delay caused by
the United States senate In ratifying
the peace treaty was a week precipi-
tating tho little countries over there
nearer revolution and bolshevisrl. l
do not wish to be personally RESPONSE
bio for that sort Of thing. Some
United States senators may wish to
assume that responsibility.
We have 500 American men and
women over there handling relief
&c tyrf+h a.,
Ing under their direction. There 10 no
variation Of opinion on tho part OF
those American relief workers as to
the necessity Of things to be done in
order to save the little republics which
have come into being, and which we're
guaranteed an existence by partcipa-
ton IN the war with the allies. and 1t
is our responsibility as much az It IS
the responsibility Of others. For us TO
scuttle and run away Is but little less
than cowardly. l think this explains
my attitude.
1nasmuch as no less than five or six
marked copies OF the Times Repub-
licau have come TO my desk. wish
you would kindly publish this letter
that your readers may know my real
attitude. With all good wishes to you
personally. I beg to remain.
Very sincerely yours.
J. Edward Kirbye.
Des Moines. Iowa.
Publication Is given above to DR.. J.
Edward Kirbyes reply to the Times
Republicans suggestion that Con-
gregational preacher who bitterly OPP
posed a resolution expressing the sense
of state conference that the sigma
ture of a Congregational minister to a
saloon petition Of consent was con-
trary to the spirit of the church.
might also be as uncertain in his
leadership now when abusing the SEN
ators from Iowa. Perusal Of his de-
tense in his own behalf convinces
more than ever that his counsel and
advice are too erratic and variable for
sound leadership because he now SO
positively proclaims the courage he
displayed when he and Rev.. WEIGH
took Mr.. Short aside in the church at
Marshailtown" at the time of the state
conference and told him to his face"
etc The truth and the fact are that
Mr. Short was not in MarshaNtown o.
at that conferences or in the church at
any time while that conference was
held or later shat4any one knows OF;
that he stayed away by request by
those who held clearer vision Of the
duty of the hour and the responsibility
of great church organization. Mr..
Short was utterly absent, another de-
l!vered the ded;catory sermon which
he was TO have preached, att o. which
makes for confusion in lin dersta nding
Just how Messrs. Kirbye and WEIGH
dealt personally with him al Marshall
town in the church at .Iarshalltown at
the time Of the state conference and
suggests again that Mr.. kirbye may
be wrong or mistaken or something as
to the traltorism. asinjnity. etc.. Of the
senators from Iowa-(Ed)