The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-11

FOR CUBAN RELIEF.
Governor Mount Calls "a Conference
for This Purpose.

The question of organizing a Cuban relief
committee for the State of Indiana was yes
terday the subject of a conference held in
the Governors office. The initiatory steps
were taken and on Wednesday it is expect
ed that the members of the committee will
be named 1t is probable that Ex-Governor
Claude Matthews, provided he will serve,
will be placed at the head of the commit
tee.
The conference yesterday was attended
by Governor Mount, William Fortune, pres
ident of the Commercial Club, and III. r.
Kinney, president of the Board of Trade. 1t
was the outgrowth of recent appeals made
by President Mckinley through the State
Department. The first appeal made by the
President sent out on Christmas day,
stated that money, provisions. clothing and
medicine for the destitute and suffering
Cubans could be sent by the charitably dis
posed people of the United States to Gen.
Fitzhugh Lee, consul general for this coun-
try at Havana. Subsequently, on Jan. 8,
the President, seeing the advisability of a
concerted and organized relief system,
caused another proclamation to be issued,
in which Stephen +. Barton, of New York,
second vice president of the American Red
Cross, was made the chairman of a central
Cuban relief committee. Charles A. Schie-
!. rem, of the New York Chamber of Com
merce, was made treasurer of the commit
tee, and Louis Klopsch proprietor of the
Christian Herald, was also placed on the
committee. The proclamation, continuing,
said
1T will be the office of the committee so
organized not only TO receive and forward
to the United States consul general at Ha-
vana such money and necessary supplies as
may be contributed by the. people of the
United States, but to invoke in its own
through interests
represents the concerted effort of the relief
boards throughout the United States and
to invite the kindly aid of the transporta-
tio1 agencies OF the country for the prompt
conveyance of contributed supplies 10 the
seaboard and their shipment thence to
Cuba.
assured of the effective cooperation of
every available agency in the island of
Cuba in order that life may be saved and
suffering spared. The Spanish government.
welcoming the aid thus rendered, will facil-
itate the work, and to that end will admit
into Cuba free of duties and charges all ar
ticles otherwise liable TO tax. when duly
consigned to the consul general
by direction of the President the under
signed appeals to the people in every city
and town. To the Inicipal authorities
thereof, to the local boards of trade and
transportation, to corporations and others
producing the necessities of life and to all
whose hearts are open to the cry of distress
and afiliction TO second the generous effort
now being made, and, by well-directed en-
deavcr, make its success truly responsive
to the sentiments of charity that have ever
characterized the American people,"
President Fortune of the Commercial
Club, said yesterday after the conference
that the committee, including representa-
hVeS OF the commercial bodies and Others
would likely be appointed on Wednesday.
we are of the opinion, he said, that ii
Will be inadyisable to attempt to send
clothing, medicine or provisions to Cuba
and i think any donations received will be
limited to money"