Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1920-12-16
MERRILL HEADS
RELIEF DRIVE
Continued from page nine)

Continued from page nine)
urgent request is made that each and
every church so acting in the matter
be sure to report the amount of said
offerings to the secretary-treasurer
of the county, r. B. Wagner, in order
that the county may also be given
credit for such funds. This states
quota in this matter amounts to ap-
proXimately one and one half mil
lion dollars of which it is hoped
Gratiot county shall be able to raise
$4,000. Anticipating the appeal
somewhat in advance, the Presby-
terrain church of our city has already
pledged better than 100000 so that If
this same ratio is continued through
out the churches and other organic
ations of the city, and likewise
throughout the county, the committee
feels it will be an easy task to raise
the county's full quota. Alma
share is at least $4,000.
This drive which is to be known
as the Hoover drive includes
assistance for the children in
the same part of Europe as that
which is being sought by the Liter
airy Digest and other National maga-
zines and likewise will include funds
being raised, for the Near East Re-
lief organization. ]. w. Kelder,
supt. of schools has been chosen as
chairman of the city of Alma and all
organizations throughout the city
should seek to cooperate with Keld-
er in this work.
Through Mr.. Hoover, this appeal
is being made for the four million or
more children of Central and South
ern Europe who must starve to death
in the coming few months unless
this assistance is given them by the
people of the United States. The
credit of these countries are abso-
lutely gone and hence it is impossible
to borrow funds on which TO feed
their starving people. On four
previous occasions, part during the
war, others since, the American
people have taken the unselfish at
titude towards Europe and are again
called upon to share the wealth OF
our country with those across the sea
who are in the throes of bank
ruptcy and starvation. Vienna alone
will lose 100000 of her children I'M
less this help is given. The children
of Poland have been so deprived of
fAoI 10 tLD,,.orI- 81 +ho.s.
feeding like animals on what little
grass and herbs they can take from
the semi-barren fields, while thou
sands have already died from lack
of food. The amount which is being
raised is based upon the estimate
that $1,000 will carry one child
through until the harvest Of August
has been gathered. Upon this basis
it is hoped that great many fam
:lies throughout our country will
make their Christmas gathering
many times happy by knowing that
while their own children are eating
in plenty they are at the same time
saving the life of one, two or more
in less fortunate countries Of
Europe. Mr.. Hoover stated in his
splendid appeal made at Detroit last
week. "The progress of peace is the
progress of the growth Of good will
of mankind. That this offering to
the children Of Europe is virtually
the planting of the American flag IN
the hearts Of each child whose life
is saved and that the American flag
in the hearts Of these people Of Ell
rope twenty years hence will mean
more to the world and to the United
States than the American flag placed
en- the citadel of any country OF
Europe"
The executive Committee hereby
make their most whole hearted ap-
peal TO the people Of the city and
county that they go TO the very limit
in giving in this European crisis ami
IL necessary, suggest that Christmas
gifts be curtailed to greater or
less extent in order that this cause
may be given due and just consider
alton. II any organizations through
out the county are missed in this
appeal by the members Of the county
organizations, will they kindly pro-
coed with the matter without such
solicitation and send all funds 10 the
treasurer Of the county organization