The times., 1899-07-13
AN APPEAL FROM TEXAS
Mass Meeting TO Raise Funds for
Flood Sufferers.
The District Commissioners sturt
Movement to Encourage System-
Needed for the Thousands RENDER
ed Homeless by the High Water.

Through the columns Of the press the
District Commissioners issue a call to the
public spirited citizens of Washington for
a mass meeting TO be held in the Masonic
Temple, at the corner of Ninth and T
Streets northwest, at o'clock tonight,
when the question of providing immediate
aid to the Texas food sufferers will be con-
sidered. No written call viii be issued, as
the Commissioners believe that through
the local newspapers sufficient attention
will be directed to the meeting.
The proposition to hold a meeting is the
result of the conferences which Represent
atiye Hawley of Texas and his private sec
retary have had with the Commissioners
during the past week. The Commissioners
believe that there will be hearty and
spontaneous response to the call and ex
peet to have a largely attended meeting
this evening.
Commissioner John B. Wight will call
the meeting to order after which those in
attendance will choose permanent chair
man.
The devastation caused by the flood has
made hundreds and even thousands of
Texans homeless or without any immediate
means of support. The food sufferers are
in urgent need of food, clothing, and mon
ey, and as the present emergency is so
single-handed, render all necessary aid at
once. 1t is necessary that an appeal be
made 10 the people Of the country at large,
as was done after the great flood at Johns
town ten years ago.
At the meeting to be held tonight a
committee will probably be appointed to
assume charge of the matter of collecting
funds and clothing 1t will be provided
that all money, clothing and food collected
~.
Governor of Texas or some other person
designated by that official. 1t is thought
that this will avoid confusion and will re-
suit in the proper conveyance of the aid,
to the places where it viii do the most
good.
Representative Hawley left Washington
for New York last night to enlist the as
sistance OF the people of that and other
cities in the same great philanthropic
work. The work will be taken up in other
large cities, It being pointed out that the
National Capital took the initiative in the
way of methodical municipal assistance.
Al the meeting tonight addresses will be
delivered by Texans living in Washington,
who are familiar with the conditions in
the Lone Star State as the result of the
present calamity.
1T must not be inferred that the people
of Texas cannot care for the sufferers, said
do this just as Pennsylvania did after the
Johnstown flood, Illinois after the Chicago
fire." He said that outside aid was sought
now to tide over the flood devastated COM
munity in the present emergency until
the resources of the State can be made
available. Many prominent Texans reside
in Washington. Among those who have
been consulted in connection with the
mass-meeting, and who will take an active
interest in the movement to be started
this evening, are William Terrell, OF the
Sixth Auditors Office. and Mrs. Terrell,
William Low, Miss Dwyer, Claude ]. Neis,
Mrs Andrews, DR.. Haynes. Miss Cooney,
Edward Mccarthy, Capt. W. s. Scott, Miss
Robinson. Mrs. Poole, Charles Tansill j.
d. Ennis, Rudolph Kleberg, H. Cordua,
urs. F. W. Garner, and Messrs. Cleburne,
Cannon, Cooper. Lee, and Hall.
Among the colored Texans interested in
the mass-meeting are Leo Turner, DR.. j.
H johnson, Charles Asbury, n. Wright
Cuney, E. A. Patton, W. P. Patterson, J.
w. Ross, E. Knight, z. L. Scott, G. w.
johnson. h C. Johnson, DR.. W. E. Hamil-
ton, and Messrs. Blackshear and Switzer.