Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 90, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 April 1920 — FRANKLIN K. LANE TO "FOLLOW ON" [ARTICLE]

FRANKLIN K. LANE TO "FOLLOW ON"

Accepts Invitation to Become National Chairman of Salvation Army's Annual Appeal for Funds. WASHINGTON’S BEST BELOVED RESTARTING LIFE AT 55. Former Cabinet Officer Before Enter- ' Ing .the Oil Business as an Executive for the Doheny Interests Will Lend His Great Abilities to the Church Militant Organization. Franklin K. Lane, referred to far and wide as “Washington’s best loved man,’’ is undertaking two notable innovations at an age when most men think mainly of retiring to the quiet of private life. One is to “earn enough, money to support my family and keep my bills paid,” and the other is “to step down from a high place to resume my place among the shirtsleeve boys and give them a hand if I can!” Two history making statements from a man of Mr. Lane’s attainments and station in life! And the remarkable part of it all is that he puts the shirtsleeve matter—the thing about helping his neighbors—ahead of that other thing —making more money in order the better to underwrite the Autumn of his life! Few men reach a higher niche in the affartinntt and confidence of the public mind than has this remarkable man from the West, who was once an editor, then a lawyer and finally a member of the President’s cabinet and who withdraws from public life to “earn a better living” after rendering a service to the government the extent and value of which would be impossible to estimate. Still fewer men are called to such responsible places as Franklin K. Tens will now occupy. He will enter the oil business as an executive for the Doheny interests and will be established In New York city for that purpose by April 1. But the rosy prospect of making “a living wage” after several years spent In struggling along on the salary of a cabinet officer has not blinded Mr. Lahe to another opportunity—that for striking a few powerful blows pn behalf of the “man who is down, but never out!” Franklin K. Lane hy4ccepted an in--vitation from Commander Evangeline Booth to become the national chairman for the Salvation Army’s annual appeal for funds in 1920. He is already on this job, although Wall Street does not greet him as an oil well executive for another month. “It la a genuine privilege to find opportunity for encouraging a work so direct and practical and so valuable to the masses of the people as the work of the Salvation Army,” said Mr. Lane at his office in Washington the other "day. “When Commander Miss Booth asked me to take the responsibilities of national chairman for the 1920 appeal of that organization,” continued i the secretary, "the first thought that j a»»«hed across my mind was. How can I spare time for such work when I am entering upon a commercial task of great responsibility? ' “And then there flashed across my j mind a vision of the things the Salva-। tion Army does—the help it gives to ■ten and women and little children just when and where they need it most— * and I thought to myself that after nil there could be no more important thing than this. So I accepted—along with the ether job—and I am trusting to the generosity of my new employers to Indorse my action In the matter.. “I believe every right, thinking man aad woman in America owes the Salvation Army some of ’ his or her ‘time 1 every year. And I am going to pay my share. lam going tb get my shoul- | atr Mjunrety neiiinu ♦ human that can win the hearts and i

the confidence of the common people like this Salvation Army has won them in recent years. I am going to pull off my coat and do some real work that will show where I stand when it comes to weighing the homely, unostentatious and-highly practical relief methods of this amazing band of workers. I heard the call. The problems of the poor are there to be solved, and they can use my poor efforts perhaps, so I have answered the call. “I won’t-do much talking in the coming drive. I will do real work, and when I do talk I don’t, want to talk to anyone but actual workers. There will be no speech making by me to those who might be curious to hear a former cabinet officer In action, but who are not interested In the work of the Sal-vation-Army. I shall talk to workers aad only to workers. The day for oratory in such matters has gone. We are down to brass tacks. “I think I owe It as a citizen of America to show my understanding and appreciation of the helpful work the Salvation Army Is doing in Its rescue Domes, maternity hospitals, free clinics, industrial homes, fresh air farms and tenement house relief work. “My testimony is not needed, however, In this matter. There are 2,000,000 or 3,900,000 of young Americans who went into the recent war either unaware that the Salvation Army existed or having no use for its methods if they did know of it. So far as I can learn these men came out of that war unanimous on one subject—and that was that the Salvation Army under-' stood the average man, knew how to deal with him and simply ‘delivered the goods’ on the 100 per cent basis.

“There Is no division of opinion on that one subject. There could have been no greater test for the Salvation Army than the test it received in the war. So after all lam merely adding my voice to the mighty chorus I hate referred to whenlsay thattheSalvation Army has long since won the right to make an appeal to the rest of us for its maintenance, and I am sure It will not make that appeal in vain. “The Sa'lvatlon Army one year ago abandoned its old custom of begging in the streets the year around so that its workers could devote all of-their time and attention to the poor. It makes an annual appeal each May. Personally I know of no greater bulwark that could be raised against the rising tide of human unrest than to strengthen the hands of this band of self sacrificing Christian toilers who have the confidence of all men and women, regardless of race, creed, color or position in life. I think it is important for the interests of our advancing civilization that such a practical and wholesome work be stimulated and maintained to the utmost.

“They say there are no ‘down and outers’ any more. Personally Ido not believe It, or if I did believe it I would know that the abnormal times have swung the pendulum back too far on one side—and that it will swing far to the other side directly. There will always be a bottom to society. The poor will always be with us. We owe It to our fell Ow-men to know our neighbor and share his troubles and problems, and only by that method can we, fairness and righteousness, keep the scales even In this life. “I am proud to face the problems of the poor with the Salyation Army in Such a trying hour, and I hope that American men and women will stand with me In the work ahead of us. But they must be workers. I shall have no time to entertain mere observers.” Both for the organisation that gives aid and relief to the poor and for the poor themselves, the high cost of living has been a troublesome factor in recent months. Money does not go far these days, but there’s no one in the world who can get more worth-while work out of a dollar than can the Salvationists. In this country they gave away 3,699.767 meals in the twelvemonth ending last September and provided 371,334 meals besides at approximate cost. They supplied free beds for 1,181,547 night lodgings and 1,498,887 at a merely nominal charge And la addition to all this and to all that was done for thousands in the Aasy Institutions they gave temporary VMtnTOMHI Persons,

Thomas Jefferson, accredited with being the founder of the democratic party, was 'born one hundred and seventv-seven years ugo today, April 13, in Shadwell, Virginia. Jefferson was the third president-—of... the United States. _ The members of the Dorcas class will be entertained .Tuesday evening at the church basement.