New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-20
TOLLS ASLAB0RER
TO HELP ALLIES
DR.. Forman, Formerly OF
Cornell, Works in Eng
lish Factory.

DR.. F. F. Forman, lately instructor
in Greek in Cornell University. is not
a hyphenated American, but he has
certain sympathies in the European
war. These sympathies are with the
Allies.
After having had his services refused
by the British War Office and the Brit
ish Red Cross, and having served sew
ersl months as volunteer worker in
British munitions factories the only
way that he could help the cause he
considered righteous-D Forman has
become secretary OF the American
Rights Committee.
The committee. which was brought
together largely through the doctors
fundamentally, is sending out thou
sands of memorials from its headquar-
tiers at 43 Cedar Street, calling upon
President Wilson TO cut off diplomatic
relations with the Central Powers.
Before the outbreak Of hostlities DR..
Forman, who has an independent for
tune, went abroad with his wife. lie
had just finished term in the Ithaca
City Council.
After a side trip to the Panama
Canal he went TO France, where he
and Mrs. Formal spent a year. After
another year in Italy, Tunis. Trpoli
and Erypt. the Formans found them
selves in Greece.
In the middle OF August last DR..
Forman heard that Lloyd George was
advertising for munitions workers.
Deciding to volunteer. he went to Lon
don and offered his services TO the
War Office.
81 want TO help England and the
Allies" he announced.
GLOW old are you?" was the first
question.
"Fifty-eight.' Dr. Formsn answered.
"But I'm in good condition
you're English. of course?
"No; I'm an American. But I'm
ashamed of the way my country has
acted thus far. want to volunteer
my personal services"
DR.. Forman was told that only Brit
the army and navy. II WAS not until
then that he mentioned having an idea
Of going to work in the munitions
plants. When he did he got a job.
81 went to work in The Nickers, Max
i'm e. Co factory he said. describing
his experiences. "My status was that
Of volunteer worker, and the unions
had laid down such restrictions that
the volunteers could work only two
days a week. The days we could work
were Saturdays and Sundays.
"The plant to which was assigned
was at Firth. got there about o'clock
Saturday and Sunday mornings, and
worked until o'clock in the afternoon.
Like the rest Of the volunteers, | earned
fivepence ha'penny an hour. and, like
the rest, | turned my earnings into one
Of the various British war funds. In
my case the money went TO help support
the organization Of new battalion Of
yCurg men.
"Our volunteers were ranked as I'M
skilled laborers. Among us were law
yers. teachers. doctors and brokers, but
none had mechanical skill. Therefore
we wore overalls and did the work of
roustabouts The job consisted mostly
of transferring shells from trucks 70
sheds and back again, and keeping the
yards clean.
81 wasn't satisfied with working two
days a week. | felt / should be doing
more. One day | went to the British
Red Cross and applied for work in the
ambulance corps, explaining the situa-
/ tion. They were sorry. but, like the
War Office. they weren't recruiting any
one but British subjects.
at was not until the middle of No
vember that I decided | could do more
/ for the Allies in seven days a week
/ in America than ] could in two days
week in England. Then | came back
home"
The rest OF the story was told by a
( friend of DR.. Forman's. Anxious to or
ganize propaganda work In the United
1 States. the doctor first went TO the Of
h flee of George Harvey. editor of The
North American Review" There he
got another setback. Harvey had just
gone abroad.
/ Next Dr. Forman went TO his friend.
+ Professor J. ". jerks. of New York
+ University, who gave him a letter 70
/ Lawrence Abbott. Of "The Outlook"
Mr.. Abbott told him OF several groups
Of professional and business men which
were meeting ~ intervals to discuss
/ the American delay in the Lusitania
and Ancona affairs. These groups
/ finally have been organized by DR.. For
/ man into the American Rights Commit
D l. - - tDh