The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-06-28
FAMINE STRICKEN INDIA.
Efforts being Made to Relieve the
Starving People.

Starving People.
Editor of Savannah Morning News
To-day some 100000 OF our fellow-be-
ings in India are suffering acuteiy for
lack of food. OF this number 10000 900 are
already face to face with starvation. and
not hundreds, but thousands, are dying
daily.
Government aid. just enough to main
tain life, is being given through the
agency of relief works to large numbers.
Private aid Is also doing much to relieve
these terrible conditions, but sin there
ought TO be. there must. be. done, many
times over what is already being done.
The famine is one OF the most severe and
far-reaching of any during the past one
hundred years, and the worst is not yet
Were these conditions existing in any
part OF our own country, there IS scarce
ly man. woman or child who would
not rush forward with his or her aid
however small it might be- But the mere
fact of distance can surely make no dIf-
ference with US as a people. The fact
Of this crying need and our knowledge
of 1t, is the call TO us for service each
according to his or her ability.
There is To-day stored up in Ind grain
SUFFICIENT to feed every person. as we'll as
animal, in all the affected districts, but
the people have become so impoverish-
ed ia great measure through the over
taxation of the British government and
oiher causes of a kindred nature, that
they haven't even the pitiably small
means required on the part OF each to I'M
lock 1t. Through the agency of the cable
any amounts sent to the treasurers OF
the relief funds to-day can tomorrow be
unlocking and distributing the grain
among those who but for its merciful
coming would not be alive even on the
third day.
There are many thousands of people
in all parts Of our country who would
gladly, l am confident, contribute their
portion, were the matter properly pre-
scented 10 them, and a safe channel for
their aid brought to their attention. May
I therefore make the following sugges
tins to the re- aders of the Morning News
During the past few days in Boston a
committee of one hundred prominent citi-
zens, known as the Boston Committee
of One Hundred on India Famine Re-
lief" has been organized 10 take In hand
the collection of funds from Boston and
vicinity. This committee has selected
chairman, a secretary, and treasurer.
1t Is already circulating literature set
ting forth the facts In connection with the
famine, and putting forth whatever eff
forts are required for the speedy collec-
ton and transmittal to the affected dis
tricts of as large a fund as is possible
for 1t to collect. Through les agency alone
many thousands of lives will be saved
from the pain and agony of slow starva-
ton.
This same plan-and this is my point
can be adopted in every city and town in
the country and trust that il will be
adopted in very large numbers. Any per-
son of known integrity and honesty OF
purpose who feels moved 10 turn an ear
to the pitiahle cry for bread that is at
this moment going up from hundreds OF
thousands of our suffering fellow eings,
in country which has given to the world
some of its most valuable treasures in
learning, in music, in science, in art, In
thought in religion, in life, can be in
strumental in putting into operation the
above plan in the community in which he
or she is living. Special care should be
exercised in selecting a treasurer to re-
ceive the funds-etther some well-known
individual Of uneuestionsble integrity, or
better still. perhaps, some well known
banking house.
| An organisation of a similar nature was
| formed a. few days earlier in New York
City, ana within twelve days after les
formation the sum of $4,000 had been
ca bled to the starving ones.
The secretary Of the Boston Commit
tee, who can be addressed Boston Com
mittee of One Hundred on India Famine
Relief No II Beacon street, room 2o4, or
the secretary of the New York Commit
tee who can be addressed Committee
of One Hundred on Famine Relief u
Bible House, New York, will be glad
am sure, to give suggestions to any who
may interest themselves in organizing a
committee in their own city or village,
and also TO send printed information re-
gar5ing the existing conditions in the
famine stricken districts of India, Is also
the nesds. methods of distribution there,
etc. which can be reproduced by the va
rious committees through their local press,
in letter and leaflet form. etc, as they
may deem best.
The treaeurers of the Boston Commit
tee, Messrs. Brown Bros. & Co., bankers.
80 State street, Boston, or of the New
York Committee, Mefsrs. Brown Bros.
& Co.. bankers, 50 Wall street. will be
glad to receive. acknowledge. and forward
by cable, any amounts that may be in
trusted 20 them by the tressurers of any
organizations, not so closely in touch wirh
the bile, and the distributing agencies
in India. or to receive, acknowledge, and
forward In like manner, any sums direct
ly from contributors. where no local COM
nrittee exists.
Certsinly from this land of plenty. large
sums will go 10 that land of famine. II
Is within the power of each one here to
be the means of saving a life or many
lives there. Two cents day Will feed
one person: two dollars viii save a life
until the coming harvest. Surely upon
us all. even to the extent of soma little
sacrifiee IL necessary, a deep responsible
ity rests.
Ralph Waldo Urine. Boston.