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To Aid Our Blind Also
IntroductionWhile floating in the frigid Irish waters after a German submarine torpedoed the R.M.S. Lusitania in May 1915, American businessman George Alexander Kessler vowed that if he survived, he would help war-blinded veterans of the Allies. Kessler had recently learned of Arthur Pearson’s efforts to retrain blinded soldiers at St. Dunstan’s. Kessler survived his seven-hour stint in the ocean and promptly turned his marketing acumen towards building a Blind, French, Belgian Permanent Blind Relief War Fund (renamed the A.B.F.B Permanent Blind Relief War Fund as soon as the United States entered the war). Kessler used his connections—built while serving as international distributor for the champagne company Moet & Chandon—to recruit leading socialites, businessmen, politicians, and even royalty on both sides of the Atlantic. In the U.S., members included William K. Vanderbilt, Mrs. John Astor, and lawyer Elihu Root and, eventually, President Woodrow Wilson. Helen Keller provided major help with fundraising. The Fund supported existing schools for blind people in several countries; after the war, it evolved into the American Braille Press for War and Civilian Blind, Inc. and later merged with the American Foundation for the Blind. | |||||||||||||
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| 1 | Fund Will Care for Men Who May Be Made Sightless in Mexico. | |
| 2 | The executive committee of the Permanent Blind Relief War Fund, which has been aiding blinded soldiers and sailors of England, France and Belgium, yesterday voted that if war were declared between the United States and Mexico, to establish an American branch of the fund. The resolution read in part: | |
| 3 | Whereas, As a result of the unrest on the national border between Mexico and the United States and the raids by Mexicans upon the persons and property of the United States, it may become necessary for the United States to go to war with Mexico: and, | |
| 4 | Whereas, Such war would entail upon the soldiers and citizens of the United States suffering and bloodshed with corresponding need for care and support of the wounded; and, as it is the business of this fund to provide such care and support for war-blinded men; and, as it is desirable that the name of the fund indicate its real purpose and scope, therefore, it is | |
| 5 | Resolved and hereby ordered, That in the event of a declaration of war between Mexico and the United States, there shall immediately be added to the name of the fund the word "American," causing the full name to be American, British, French, and Belgian Permanent Blind Relief War Fund. | |
| 6 | Miss Helen Keller attended the meeting. "I am opposed to all war," she said. "It is a madness that spreads faster than we can check it. But if the worst comes and we go to war with Mexico, it will be a noble work for this fund to care for the United States soldiers who are blinded. I shall do all I can." | |
| 7 | The aid to the blinded soldiers should consist of supporting them at a school where they could learn trades. There would also be workshops and an exchange for the sale of their products. | |
| 8 | Seated in a room of the fund yesterday was Sergeant Major George Middleness of the British Army, who was blinded at Gallipoli. He was busy knitting on a frame handbags for women, of which he can make several a day. Miss Keller showed great interest in his work. | |
| 9 | The fund is distributing thousands of copies of an indorsement of it by the Churches of Christ in America. | |
