Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-12-30
Statement of the National Relief
Committee Clara Bar
tons Work.
Ample Response from 1ndividu.
ais, the States and Cor
porations.

mittee OF the United States, has fur
nished to the press report Of the re
lief offered by America to the sufferers
from the famine in Russia.
After giving q concise sketch Of the
terrible famine and the response of the
and the response many countries made.
The first of our people whose fortune
it was to see their way to practical re-
cults were naturally enough the far
mers and millers Of the great northwest.
Upon tie failure of the government
to afford relief, the people Of the north
west redoubled their efforts Uuder the
inspira ton Of Gov. Merriam, Of Mime
sofa, whose inquiries into the actual
facts began as early as September, 1891
Of the Siberian Exile Petition associ;l-
ton, whose call for a bushel Of corn
from each Of it's million OF more mem
bers, by suggestion of Mr.. w. o. Nc
DoWell, Of Home and Country, and
delegate to the international peace
congress, was issued in October, and
of Mr.. w. G. Edgar, of the Northwestern
Miller, whose proposition to the flour
manufacturers Of the country was made
on the 4th Of December, something had
been accomplished ere the appeal made
by the president; so that by the 3Oth
a million and Il half pounds of -four had
been subscribed The Northwestern
N1ille's appeals were productive of
such liberal subscriptions that the pro
posed cargo was soon assured.
Meanwhile many citizens had been
quietly 1T work, laying plans and en-
listing the efforts Of efficient and intlll-
entail citizens in other sections of the
country. The eye of the president Of
the American National Red Cross had
been upon the scene of the suffering
from HE beginning. Indeed, what
seemed proper to be done by her had
been Initiated 1T several points. But
since the proper function of the Red
Cross is not to solicit, but solely to re-
ceiyc and apply in practical relief, she
with others had nevertheless waited
somewhat for the head of the nation.
1T was only after it became manifest
that nothing would be done by the
government, and after official aSSuI-
:nceS from the Russian legation of the
readiness Of that government to ac-
cept such aid as might be rendered by
foreign peoples. that she made her first
public statement Of the situation and
the Importance of earliest possible re
lief; thereby i'll effect awakening the
general public and, as ii would seem,
especially arouSing not only the several
communities where service had been
a. a lar
also the state officers ana people of
Iowa, to the activity which ut length,
under lead of Mr.. Il. i. TillinghaSt, of
the Davenport Gazette, resulted in
sending to Russia Il ship freighted with
stores from that corn producing state.
Still, the people of the country gencr-
ally were slow to move i'll any impor-
tant way: and therefore it WAS that
steps were now taken TO form Il nat
tional committee, whose efforts should
be expended i'll pushing the work in
every way.
It is proper to say in evidence of the
profound interest already felt, that this
national committee was readily formed
of most eminent citizens, including the
ex-preSident of the United States, the
vice president, the chief justice, fifteen
senators, the speaker and other mem
bers of the house of representatives,
4 number of distinguished ladies and
gentlemen devoted to philanthropic
work, the cardinal of the United States,
thirteen bishops and archbishops, with
other eminent clergy, Protestant and
Catholic, and twenty eight governors OF
states. all warm sympathy Of the
cause eSpouSed.
In the states of Minnesota, Iowa, and
Nebraska the work of canyaSsng had
steadily advanced during the month OF
january with such results as made the
sailing of ut least one relief ship early
in February seem possible.
So far as appears from the public
records it was Massachusetts, that took
the first step east. Gov. Russell max
ing his appeal on the 31st of December
and appointing the Rt. Rev. Phillip:
Brooks, Rev. Edward Everett Hale
and others to act as 4 committee.
The next important action was takel
ny the New York chamber of commerce
at whose regular meeting of FebIuar.
9TH, resolutions providing for a com
mittee of fifty with power to add t
their number were adopted, and tn
work of raising money by Subscription
was begun. But Philadelphia, alread
aStir at several points also took up tn
matter on the next day with much e1
thusiasm and practical effort as wer
soon able to place her in the fore from
of Ill the working forces in the country
There were now four great centers Q
activity each moved by the purpose
send forth at least one ship on its eITan
of mercy: l. The state of Minnesot:
under the leadership of Gov Merrial
end the commissions: .. the state {
Iowa, moved in like manner by Go
Boies. supported by a no less efficie1
staff, as well as by the Iowa Woman
Auxiliary to the Red Cross: 8 the CHI
of New York. by initiation of the chan
Der of commerce and under the dire
ton of a committee of its appointment
led by the officers Of the chamber. ar
at length reinforced by all the energi
of the Christian Herald: 4. the state
inidator. but at length more especial
the city Of Philadelphia. with it's eli
Zens' Russian famine relief commissi,
headed by Mayor Stuart and made Y
more potent by a finance committee e
dowed with Napoleonic energy.
The railway corporations. realizil
the situation. had begun to offer fir