Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-19
MRS. HENRYS WARM PLEA
The Generals Wife Asks Merchants to Aid
Porto Ricans.
People Desire to BE Self-Supporti9g-
Why They Need Tempo
rary Assistance.

Mrs. Guy V. Henry, the wife of the for
mer governor of Porto Rico, delivered an
eloquent address in New York city
yesterday at the rooms of the
Merchants Association. appealing for
funds to aid the suffering poor of Porto
Rico. At the conclusion of her remarks
the following subscriptions were an
nounced: Robert Ogden, 500; John Wanna
maker, 500; ]. Perpont Morgan, $3.50;
Louis Wfndmuller $25; G. l.. Putnam, $50;
the Hockanum Wooden Company, 5000, and
Mrs. George Buckham, Stockbridge, Mass
$50. Pledges were also received from the
H. B. Claf1in Company and others. A COM
mfttee of fiye-Duncan D. Chaplin, chair
man; John E. Eames w. r. Corwine, H.
d Lockwood and S. C. Meade-is to can
VaSs the trade for contributions of money
and cotton and wooden cloths
Ex-Mayor Strong presided and introduced
Mrs. Henry. He said that New York was
always ready to help the needy in any
part of the world, and especially had a
warm feeling for our new colony in the
West Indies.
Mrs. Henry, according to the New York
tribune, described the conditions in Porto
RICO as she had seen them. There was
nothing of the industry of a short time
ago-the wheels of the sugar mills turn
SLOWLY, the plantations are deserted and
business is al Il standstill There is moth
Ing for the men to do. She added
Il come to tell you about the women of
Porto Rico. Why are they so poor? One
reason Is the the men are idle Another is
tnat they used to make all the uniforms
Tor the Spanish soldiers on the island
There is nothing Of that kind now Widows
ana orphans were supported by pensions
from the Spanish government. All that
mas been taken away from them. The old
women sold lottery tickets, and out of
their little commissions We're able to buy
Few bananas, some coffee and a little
rice. That source of income has ceased to
be. The work the Notifications has
stopped, and, therefore, there is poverty
on the island.
Mrs Henry told of the establishing of
the Aid Society rooms in San Juan and the
gratitude of the poor for the little benefits
they We're able to receive from this society
A lew SpoonfuS of milk given there"
she SAID, have saved the life of a child
me people are poor as poor can be-
Their one ambition is to be self-supporting
and self-sustaining, and l assure you they
are Well worthy of it. The people are
starving, and | appeal to you men of New
York to help those women and children
over the shadow that rests upon them in
TINS intermediate state. Help them in order
that they may not change their belief that
the country really cares for them. Their
love for the flag is beautiful, and / would
be ashamed if they starved under It's pro-
lection,
Food, clothes and education mean the
growth of trade and the refinement of
TASTE and that means the absolute neces-
slty OF beautiful things and SURROUNDINGS
Help Womanhood over five hundred are
awaiting this help today on our list Help
them that they may not be dragged down
as they have been in the past.
Help the Porto Rican girl, help us that
we may be able to hold her back until she
can enter the schools. Help childhood, for
your children must later on deal with the
children of these colonies
General Henry spoke briefly. saying that
the only way the people of Porto Rico
could be governed was by affection. They
We're different from us, and they did not
want TO become Americanized, although
they We're anxious to become Americans
He. said that If the Porto Ricans were
given fair laws and their customs We're
respected, they would be able to work out
their own salvation without the need of
1olst1ng lot of carpet baggers on the peo-
pie of the island