Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 February 1915 — Should Not Contribute More For the War Victims. [ARTICLE]

Should Not Contribute More For the War Victims.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Greathouse, doufbtless with a good motive, has suggested that money he collected through the school children for use in sending supplies to the Belgium sufferers. The Republican does hot believe that any money should be contributed at this time and does not consider it proper to use the schools for that purpose. There is a great division of sentiment in this country, notwithstanding our announcement of neutrality and there is every indication that the contributions sent to Belgium will simply seive to prolong the war. The price of wheat and bread and other things has been forced very high largely because of the great amount of flour Shipped to Belgium and our poor people are now compelled to bear the burden of this higher price because of the, spasmodic generosity of our wealthy and well-to-do people. It'is not altogether certain that the United StatfS can keep free from the foreign war and it is well that we should look forward a little while. The fighting zone in Belgium has been narrowed down and there can not be very much suffering except in that part of Belgium beyond the line occupied by the Germans and it is practically certain that the English and the French will halt the supplies before they get to the German line and that they will never go any further. The reconstruction days following the conclusion of the war will necessitate all the charity that can be given and the United States iriight well awbit tha£ day or for a time at least the granting of greater aid to foreign charity. Right here in Rensselaer the requests of the local board of charities 'has been met with parsimony and the needs in some cases here have been almost as great as in Belgium. With labor so generally unemployed throughout the country we should not make the hardship greater by contributing to foreign sufferers If England, with its great wealth, felt as sorry for the Belgium sufferers as its hasty decision to participate in ithe war because of the alleged violation of neutrality by Germany would indicate, it might easily take care of all the Belgium needs. Parents should not at this time encourage the children to give *o this effort of Superintendent Greathouse.