The Bismarck tribune., 1931-12-31
(Official City, State and County
Newspaper)
Foreign Representatives
SMALL, SPENCER. LEVINGS
& BREWER
(1ncorporated)
NEW YORK BOSTOr
In Peace AS In War


In Peace As In War
II the people OF Bismarck and
North Dakota needed evidence Of the
fine spirit and exemplary citizenship
OF its war veterans, few could resist
the evidence presented by the Amer
lean Legion's "Open Your Heart"
campaign, the report Of which was
presented Tuesday.
AS offered by Milton Rue, cam.
paign chairman, it reminds us Of the
short and simple annals Of the poor"
in whose interests it was organized.
In type the recital that the campaign
collected so much money and gave
away so many pairs of shoes or So
many pounds Of oatmeal, may fail to
inspire the average reader. On its
face it is an outstanding achieve
ment, but unless we get into the de-
tails of the venture and 60 behind
the scenes to see what made the
project so successful, We lose the full
significance OF one OF the great
manifestations Of our place and time.
The results of the campaign, of
course, speak for themselves. Every
pair of shoes given out means a pair
Of feet protected from the rigors of a
northern winter. Every pair Of over
shoes means additional comfort and
protection Of health. Every pound OF
oatmeal or raisins, every quart OF
milk given away, every overcoat
donated and distributed means much
in the way Of comfort, health and
preservation of the will to better
things among folks who are finding
the going hard this winter. Not one
among the thousands of items dis
tributed, whether donated or pur-
chased by the campaign committee,
but what tells its own tale Of human
ity reaching a helping hand to hu-
manity.
And still, we do not get at the bot.
tom of the thing.
Many organizations and individuals
donated materials, services and
money. Such contributions were
many and generous and each had its
inception in the heart of generous
citizen who wanted to do his bit to
help along a cause which enlisted the
interest OF every warm hearted in.
dividual.
Some Of these contributions were
substantial in their character or for
relatively large amounts, but the most
significant was one Of a single dol
lar. IL came from a man who was
helped by the "Open Your Heart"
campaign last year.
This year he was ION his feet"
again. Not too securely 80, perhaps,
but with sufficient strength so that
he no longer needed help. The
movement which gave him aid when
he needed it so sorely was again un-
der way. The dollars were scarce
enough with him, it is true, but here
was something which he would sup
port If he found 1t at all possible to
do SO. That one contribution speaks
volumes for the effectiveness of the
campaign and the benefit which it
conferred upon the community. Those
who have suffered know how to ap-
preciate the agonies OF other suf-
ferers. They have kinship Of spirit
with them.
And right there we begin to
get at the one thing which moved
that vast amount Of physical goods
from the hands OF those who did not
need 1T, Or could spare 1t, into the
hands of those to whom it was a
boon indeed. It was the spirit of the
enterprises which, rising over and
above all its other phases, made 1t
an outstanding achievement and an
everlasting credit to this community.
People gave generously because they
know the idea was conceived and
would be carried out in a spirit Of
unselfishness. They knew that every
dollar and every pair of stockings
donated would be put into use with
a maximum of efficiency. They
knew that, because Of public support
TOR the movement and the unse!tiSi,
efforts Of the American Legion spon-
sors. there were no overhead
charges to be deducted. They had
faith in the ability and character ot
the veterans organization.
These spiritual values are intan-
gible. They cannot be proved in any
manner other than by demonstration
and they do not appear in the Le-
gton's report Of its work. Yet they
are the really important factors
v -