Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-04-30
WHAT IS Done
With the Money De-
rived from the Show?
Used for Charity

! Speech of Hon. Daniel A. Reed, of
New York in the House of Repre-
sentatives, Saturday, June 5, 1920.
Mr.. REED of New York. Mr..
Speaker the ending of the war has
not ended all of the problems con-
nected with it, We might classify
cur experiences Of the past few years
into three great divisions: First, our
preparation to engage in the war;
second, our actual participation IN
the conflict: ard third. the solution
of the problems resulting from the
aftermath of var.
The Government was. of course,
expected to provide men and arms
and munit ons for the actlal conflict.
as we'll as 10 direct the forces in the
field and care for the wounded
? and disabled on the field of bat
tie. 1t is true that other agencies
were recognized as more or IS Of
fetal and were permitted to par
ticipate with the Government because
of their previous experience.
For example, the American Rcd
Cross, to which the Government had
intrustcd the care of 'ie wounded
and the y. NJ. c. A, which was autH
,riztd TO provide entelta;Hme
handle much of the cantecn service.
naturally entered upon those duties
coincdcnt with the Governments
own activities. Later other agencies,
which were invited or volunteered
responded to the full limit of their
resources, and rendered magnificent
in1 nd rcnbiN-p6
the countrNs grateful appreciation.
But would say that foremost
, amors such volunteer agencies, act
ing both as a whole and individually,
came the Benevolent and Protective
Order of Elks, with their then half
million patriotic American citizens
making up the membership of the
order.
This great order seemed to sense
| with prophetic vision the frichtful
conSc quenceS of war. and proceeded
to set in motion and bring to sue
cessful fruition or achievement
through it's Elks War Relief Com
mission a service most essential and
timely which had not been anticipat-
ed or performed by any other agency.
AS an illustration. the Tlks War
Relief Commission very early realized
tl.at our arms could not be engaged
AGAINST the enemy without the re-
Sultant loss of life and the wounding
and disabling of many thousands par
tcipating. The Elks were the first
to suggest to the Government the
building Of a reconstruction hospi-
tai. and offered TO purchase site and
erect n building for the purpose, to be
tHrEed over to the Government gratis
Fer usc during the period of the war
er! as much longer as needed, and
or: Government fastened to accept
this generous and timely offer
The Elks Reconstruction Hospital,
at Boston, was thereupon erected,
completed. and equipped in record
tir1ic. and was the only hospital of the
kind ready i'll time to receive and
treat the first of the disabled return
ing soldiers sailors, and marines Of
our fighting forces.
Two la ge base hospitals in F. ance,
completely QUILTED and equipped by
the Order of ElkS, were among the
most efficient operated during the
war.
1t is a matter Of record that the |,
Benevolent and Protective Order of :
Ellss largely financed or assisted in !
financing the Salvation Army during !
the period of the war, thus making |
it possible for that great uplift or
ganization to successfully accomplish |
results among those ir the trenches !
that have received the unstinted !
praise of practically every person |
connected with the American Expe- |
dictionary Forces abroad. as well as |
the mothers and fathers of every boy !
in the service. It has been publicly
stated by Commander Evangeline
Booth that but for the assistance of !
the Elks the Salvation Army could I
not have accomplished the results !
that it did at the front. This in itself |
is great tribute to any organization.
Congress has endeavored to make !,
proper provisions for the rehabilita-
ton Of the wounded and disabled he
roes. through a program for their
vocational training and reeducation. I
This is new departure in the
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