New-York tribune., 1899-07-19
MRS. HENRY'S WARM PLEA.
THE GENERALS WIFE ASKS MERCHANTS
TO AID PORTO RICANs
SHE SAYS THE PEOPLE OF THE ISLAND DESIRE
TO BE sELF-sUPPoRTING-wHY THEY
NEED TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE.


TO BE sELF-sUPPoRTING-wHY THEY
NEED TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE.
Mrs Guy v Henry, the wife OF the former Gov
of Porto Rico. delivered an eloquent ADDRESS
yesterday at the rooms Of the Merchants Asso-
caton. appealing for funds TO aid the sunering
poor Of Porto Rico. At the conclusion or her re-
marks the following subscriptions were announced:
Robert Ogden 800; John Wanamaker. soO; j.
Pierpont Morgan, $50: Louis Wndmuller. VS.; g.
L. Putnam. $50: the Hockanum Woollen Company
$780, and Mrs. George Buckham. Stockbridge. Mass.
$50 Pledges were also received from the H. b.
Clahn Company and others. committee OF five
Duncan d. Chaplin. chairman; John e. Eames.
w. r. Corwine, II. D. Lockwood and S. c. Meade
is to the trade for contributions or money
and cotton and wooen 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 described the conditions IN Porto
Rico 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 at standstill. There is
nothing for the to do. She added'
Il come to tell you about the women OF Porto
Rico. Why they poor? One reason is
that the men are idle Another is that they used
to make all the uniforms for the Spanish soldiers
the island There is nothing OF that KIND now
Widows and orphans supported by pensions
from the Spanish Government. All that has been
taken away from them. The old women sold lot
terry tickets. and out Of their little commissions
were able to buy few bananas. some conee and
a little rice That source of income has ceased to
be. The work on the fortifcations 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 were able to
receive from this society.
"A few spoonfuls of milk given there" she said
have saved the life OF a child. The people are
as poor as poor can be. Their one ambition Is to
be self-supporting and sef-sustaining and assure
you they are well worthy OF 1t. The people are
starving and I appeal to you men of New-York
to nelp those women and children over the shadow
that rests upon them I'm this 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 I would
be ashamed If they starved under its protection
Food clothes and education mean the growth
OF trade and the refinement OF taste, and that
means the absolute necessity Of beautiful things
and surroundings. Help womanhood. over hve
hundred are awaiting this help to-day on our
list. Help them that they may not be dragged
down as they have been in the past.
be able 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
by affection They were different from us.
and they did not want to become AmerlcahZed, al
though they were anxious to become Americans.
He said that If the Porto Ricans were given fair
laws and their customs were respected they would
the need OF fosting lot of carpet baggers on the
people of the island.