The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1917-03-01
LIVE WIRE SPARKS

In this farming community there is
scarcely a soul who has not benefited
financially by this war which is mean
ing death to thousands of our fellow
men daily, and it is altogether fitting
that we should return some of the
tribute we have collected out of the
sufferings of others in an effort to re-
ieve this suffering as far as possible.
The visit to the United States Of Her
bert c. Hoover, chairman of the Com
mission for the Relief of Belgium has
served to bring before us picture of
privation, suffering and starvation
among the Belgian people beyond be-
lief. Mr.. Hoover, who is chairman,
was travelling in Belgium when the
war broke out, and his quick foresight
executive ability and untiring energy
doubtless saves the lives of thousands
Of Belgians for it was he who immed-
lately organized the relief forces and
made known the needs in America
which brought such ready response
and it was this work of one man that
has made all Belgium worship Ameri-
ca.
But what have we actually done?
Out of our plenty, we have given less
than $10,O0O,000.OO, while England
and France, out of their extremity,
have given over 5000, ZOO, 100000, and
we have received the credit. A few
days ago Mr.. Hoover said "The Bel
gians have come to look upon Ameri-
cans as their sole saviors. Within six
weeks / have visited station in the
slums of Brussels where 1900 child
rem are fed daily. The children were
sitting down to their meal, and when
they saw me, they rose and feebly
sang the first stanza of The Star
Spangled Banner. Now, knowing that
the food supply was not American, I
could feel nothing but shame"
Mr.. Hoover has told of the unbeliev-
able want among the children in way
that inpresses. He has told of child
rem waiting hours in long line for
their daily ration of bread, how each
is weighed, and those who have not
lost weight are denied food in order
that those who are losing may be
saved from starvation. He has told
of seeing the squirming, struggling
children taken out of the line and sent
off hungry-sent off with no hope of
anything to eat for "a hours more.
He has told how one dollar month
will supply enough extra bread to keep
one more child from starvation.
This is no time to discuss who is re-
sponsible for the conditions or to con-
denim Germany for not providing food
for this imprisoned nation-it is time
to act, time to give or thousands of
little ones will perish. After their
lives have been saved, we can discuss
the responsibility at our leisure. It
is undoubtedly true that there are Is
men or less in the U. s. who have
profited 50 enormously by the war
that they could afford to furnish all
the food needed themselves, but it is
also true that. they have so lost them
selves in their greedy rush for profit
that they won't do it, and that others
must or thousands will die. Let them
build their colleges and Libraries for
those who happen to live thru these
terrible days, but let us try to save
their lives.
The statement has been made that
q large part Of the food shipped to
Belgium goes to the German army.
Mr.. Hoover asserts that 999% Of the
food provided reaches the needy Bel
gians, and that less than Ito of 10
finds its way to the German army.
The break with Germany has i'm
periled the work of the American
members of the commission, but with
in ten days the German government
has given the American commission
permission to continue with the work,
and today, ships flying the flag of the
commission are the only ships in the
world enjoying the freedom of the
seas. They may go where they will,
unmolested.
The Literary Digest, itself an enor-
nous contributor, has volunteered to
handle all contributions, and see that,
the money reaches the proper destina-
ton. Cities, counties, civic organiza-
lions, school districts, oranges, clubs,
churches, schools, colleges, labor un-
ions and individuals are contributing
from all over the country, but a great
deal more in needed. In short, one of
our fellow citizens has provided the
way, we have received the credit, but
we aren't living up to our responsible
tiles.
We farmers in the west haven't
much to give, but it all helps, so let US
see it we, as a community, can't send
in hundred dollars or two, remem-
bering that quick charity is double
charity. The grange has started
community fund and those who will
give are asked to leave the money at
the Finley store, at the Courier-Re-
porter Office, or with either the secre-
tary, j. r. Ayers, or the master, A. s.
Goss, and it will be promptly for
warded to the proper destination.
The Finley people think they are
pretty up-to-date, but they will have
to take off their hats to those River
Readers. Down here we are just be-
ginning to plan our silos and lay off
our corn land, but up there they have
already built and filled their silos this
year. II. H. Bowers finished filling his
last Monday.
Bill Cochran has been hauling seed
wheat to the hills. Wheat is so high
now that it takes four men to haul a
load. - ".