Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 130, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 June 1917 — RED CROSS HAS RED LETTER DAY [ARTICLE]

RED CROSS HAS RED LETTER DAY

TWO BIG MEETINGS HELD SUNDAY, AT REMINGTON AND RENSSELAER. Sunday, June 17, 1917, will long be remembered by a large part of the people of Jasper county; It was in many ways a fitting celebration of that memorable event, the Battle of Bunker Hill. Charles G. Spitler, chairman of the Jasper County Red Cross Chapter, was most fortunate in the day selected. It was one of the most fortunate June days one can imagine. The beautiful blue sky and the ideal temperature gave one an enthusiasm that only nature at her best can stimulate. The chairman’s selection of the speaker could not have been improved. William T. Abbott, of the Central Trust Company, of Chicago, a man of acute business acumen, wide experience, broad culture, and full of patriotism, made two of the very best addresses ever delivered, ig Jasper county. There were more than three thousand people present at the Remington meeting. It was held in the Christian church park and the band and the speaker used as a platform the Remington band wagon. Rev. AV. B. Warriner, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church, had charge of the meeting. The band played a number of selections, after which Mr. Abbott gave his address. Besides being a businessman, Mr. Abbott is an orator. In the first part of his address he talked of the war and' in the latter part he made a great plea fur money for the Red Cross. He praised very highly the Germans who had come to this country and had made useful and loyal citizens. But his condemnation of the ruling class in Germany was as bitter as it was true.

He read extracts from ministers, writers, and many other prominent Germans which reflected the sentiment of that nation. All of them showed that Germany was thirsty for war and bound, if possible, to rule the world with an iron hand. That her glory was in war and her hope was in a short peace. Thai this might pot come to pass and that the militarism of Germany might not humble the world into submission, our brave allies have for three long years been fighting our battles. They have stood a human wall between that monster and us. He said that every international law of war had been broken and all records of inhumanity had . been surpassed by Germany. During these ■ three long years a stream of blood has been .flowing from the wounds of the allies’ soldiers while a stream of . their e gold has been pouring into this country. Now the tyrant would put his hand upon us and take away from us our all that we hold dear. He made it plain that the fight against Germany was to fight a demand made for world power. That should the allies be crushed before we can help them a German governor general would be placed in Manhattan to collect an enormous indemnity from us which the poverty stricken nations of Europe would be unable to pay. He said the need now was money, Money, MONEY. Dollars now will win the war and save thousands of lives. His whole speech was a drive to the heart and pocketbook of everyone present. That the patriotism of the citizens of Jasper county has been augmented by these two

splendid addresses there can be no doubt. At Remington there was a generous subscription, and the people there were already awake, having K secured over three Hundred Red Cross members. At the Remington Catholic church Sunday morning Ihat list was increased by the addition of fortythree new members,.. The meeting at Rensselaer, beginning at 7 p. m., was attended by a great crowd. So intense was the in-< terest that at 10 o’clock the crowd reluctantly left for their homes. The address by Mr. Abbott was much the same as the one delivered in the afternoon at Remington. Mr. Abbott held that vast audience spell-bound for nearly two hours. That the speech had a wonderful influence -upon—the audience 4s -evidenced -by the fact that forty people pledged $25 each to the Red Cross War Fund. During the band concert and under the direction of Chairman Spitler, assisted by Col. Fred A. Phillips and the executive committee of this city, a total of $1,893.00 was subscribed. The apportionment of Jasper county is $4,200 and that of Rensselaer and Marion township is placed at SI,BOO. This week there is to be a drive all over the nation for the Red Cross War. Fund. One hundred million is to be raised. There will be meetings held all over Jasper county and we are sqr t e our allotment and more will be subscribed. There will be a meeting at Wheatfield Tuesday night. One at McCoysburg Wednesday night, also one in Union township Wednesday night. Abbott says: “The great question is, we are in the war and what are you going to do about it.”