Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-07-21
PLEA FOR THE PORTO RIcANs.
Mrs. Guy v. Henry Asks New Workers
to Aid Them.

to Aid Them.
Mrs. Guy V. Henry. the wife Of the for
mer Governor Of Porto Rico delivered an
eloquent address in New York city
Tuesday at the rooms Of the Merchants
Association, appealing for funds 70 aid
the suffering poor of Porto Rico. At the
conclusion of her remarks the following
subscriptions were announced: Robert
ogden 500; John Wanamaker 800; J.
Pierpont Morgan, $3.50; Louis Windmuller,
So: G.. J.. Putnam. $50; the Hockanum
Noolen Company $500 and Mrs. George
Buckham, Stockbridge, Mass, so. Pledges
were also received from the II. b. Clahin
Company and others. a committee of
five-Duncan d. Chaplin, chairman; John
Z. Eames. w. r. Corwlne. II. d. Lock-
wood, and S. c. Meade-is 70 canvass the
trade for contributions Of money and cot
ton and woollen cloths.
Ex-Mayor Strong presided, and intro
duced 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-mils turn
slowly, the plantations are deserted, and
business is at q standstll. There is no.
thing for the men to do. She added:
II come 10 tell you about the women
OF Porto Rico. Why are they so poor
one reason is that the men are idle. An
other is that they used 10 make all the
uniforms for the Spanish soldiers on the
island. There is nothing OF that kind
now Widows and orphans were support
ed by pensions from the Spanish Govern
ment. All that has been taken away from
them. The old women sold lottery tick
cts. and out OF their little commissions
were able 20 buy a Few bananas, some
coffee, and a little rice. That source OF
income has ceased TO be. The work on
the fortincatons has stopped, and, there
fore, there is poverty on the island"
Mrs. Henry told OF the establishing or
the Aid Society rooms in San Juan and
tho 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 lie OF a child.
Inc people are as poor as poor can be.
Their one ambition is 10 be self-support-
ing and self-sustaining, and i assure you
they are well worthy Of It. The people
are starving, and l appeal 70 you men or
New York 10 help those women and chill
dren over the shadow that rests upon
them in 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 beau
uful. and / would be ashamed IL they
starved under rs protection.
GOOD, clothes. and education mean the
growth Of trade and the refinement Of
taste, and that means the absolute neces-
sity OF beautiful things and surroundings.
Help womanhood. over five hundred are
awaiting this help to-day on on list.
Help them that they may not be dragged
down as they have been IN the past.
Help the Porto Rlcan girl; help us that
we may be able 10 hold her back until
she can enter the schools Help child
hood. 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
were different from us, and they did not
want 10 become Americanized, although
they were anxious TO become Americans.
He said that II the Porto Ricans were
given fair laws and their customs were
respected, they would be able to work out
their own salvation without the need OF
toisting lot OF carpet-baggers on the
people Of the island.