Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-05
HARRISON'S SPEECH,
The President Makes an Ap-
peal for Aid.
WASHINGTON WILL HELP.
Governor Beaver Seems to Think That
wiIliamsport is the Point That Needs
Aid RIost-The Cabinet Omcers on n
Committee of Relief-A Provision Train
to Leave at Once.

WASHINGTON, June "A public meeting
was held this afternoon to devise means to aid
the flood sufferers. President Harrison was
chosen to preside. Upon taking the chair the
President said: EVERY one here to-day is dis
tressingly conscious of the circumstances which
have convened this meeting. 1t would be i'm
possible to state more impressively than the
newspapers have already done the distressing
incidents attending the calamity which has
fallen upon the city of Johnstown and the
neighboTing hamlets and upon large section
of Pennsylvania situated upon the Susque-
hanna river.
''The grim pencil of Dore would be made
quate to portray the horrors of this visitation.
In such meetings as we have In the National
Capital and other like gatherings that are
taking place in all the cities of this land, We
have the only rays of hope, and light in the
general gloom. When such a calamity is Wis
tied upon any section of our country, we can
do no more than to put about the dark picture
the golden border OF love and charity. Ap-
plause.
Patriotic Appeal.
'It is in such fires as these that the brother
hood of man is welded And where is sympa-
thy held more appropriate than here in
the national capitalP I am glad to say that
early this morning, from city not long ago
visited with pestilence, not long ago itself ap-
ar TO fee raT of OI F
there came to the ebb of that tide OF charity
which flowed toward it in the time of its need
in a telegram from the Sanitary Relief Associa-
ton, authorizing them to draw for 81 600 for the
relief of the Pennsylvania sufferers. ZAP
plause.
This is no time for speech. While talk chill
dren are suffering for the relief which we plan
to give. One word or two of prayer or sugges-
tion and will place this meeting in your hands
to give effect to your impatient benevolence.
have a dispatch from the Governor of Penn
sylvania advising me that communication has
just been opened with Williamsporto on Dranch
of the Susquehanna river. and that the losses
in that section have been appalling; that tnou-
sands of people there are homeless and pennl-
less, and that there is an immediate call 1or
food to relieve their necessities
He advises me that any supplies OF FOOD that
can be hastily gathered here should be sent wa
Harrisburg to Williamsport, where they will
be distributed. I suggest therefore that
committee be constituted having in charge the
speedy collection of articles of food. The
occasion is such that the
Bells Might Well be Rung
through your streets to call the attention of
the thoughtless to this great exigency-in order
that a trainload of provisions may be
dispatched tonight or in the early morning to
this suffering people. 1 suggest sec
ondly, as many of these people had
the entire furnishings of their houses
swept away and have ,,I now SG only tempo nIpSS
to collect such articles of clothing, and especi.
ally bed clothing. as can be spared. Now that
the summer season is on, it can hardly be that
house in Washington cannot spare blanket
or a coverlet. and thirdly, ! suggest that from
the substantial business men and bankers there
be a committee that shall collect money.
For after the first eXigency is passed there
will be found in those communities very many
who have lost their all, who will need aid in
the reconstruction of their demolished homes
and in furnishing them SO that they may be
again inhabited.
Need say in conclusion that as temporary
citizen of Washington it would give me great
satisfaction if the national capital should SO
generously respond TO this call OF our dis
tressed fellow citizens as to be conspicuous
among the cities of our lana. tApplause.l
feel that as am now calling for contriou-
tions should say on Saturday, when first ap-
prised of the disaster at Johnstown, l tsle-
graphed a subscription to the Mayor of that
city. do not like to speak of anything so per-
sonal as this but felt it due TO myself and to
you that should say 80 much as this.
The Work Commenced.
A list of Vice Presidents, including the mem
bers of the Cabinet, Chief Justice Fuller, Chief
Justice Bingham, of the Supreme Court of the
District. and u of the most prominent business
men of the city was chosen, and secretaries and
a treasurer also selected. Calls for subscrip-
tions were then made and the responses were
numerous and for quite large amounts, half
dozen being for $500 each. About $1,000 was
raised in the hall.
The President in dismissing the meeting
said: MAY express the hope that this work
Will D0 6dfucSIg anu bnOAOuSlhy pusnON3 anu
that every man and woman present here, Will
go from the meeting to use their influence, in
order that the supplies of food and clothing.
SO much ana promptly needed may be supplied,
and that either tonight or tomorrow morning
a train well freighted with relief may 60 from
Washington"
Before the motion for an adjournment conld
be put however, a resolution was proposed
rendering the thanks of the meeting to the
President for the sympathy with distressed
humanity which he had manifested by assist
irrr OF rno
could be carried, arose. and requested that it
be withdrawn. In graceful speech he ex-
pressed his appreciation of the kindly motive
which prompted the resolution, but asked that