The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-02-04
RELIEF Of BELGIUM
PR0F|T|NG AMERICA
In Onmpax4son with That Proht
Americas Gifts to Belgians Are
Insignificant.
$4,000, 900 A MONTH is ASKED.
Graphic Description Of War ana
Suffering 1t Brings Given New YORK
Esate Chamber OF Commerce BY Re-
Nef Commission Chairman.

New York, Feb. 3.-The first public
address which Herbert =. hoover
chairman of the American Commls-
zion for the Relief of Belgium, mas
made in the United States since the
war began was delivered Thursoay pc
fore the Chamber of Commerce OF 1iie
State of New York, with an erort 70
impress upon the American people
how comparatively insignificant nave
been their contributions for Belgian
relief.
Al compared with a profit or S5o,-
ooo. 900 which has come to America
through the spending here or slbo,-
ooo. 900 by the relief commission In
the purchase Of supplies for Belgium.
the public benevolence In America
towards Belgium has amounted to
only 100000. Such were the figures
Mr.. Hoover presented.
Gentlemen, Europe has begun to
take stock OF U.S." said he, in COM
claims to tdeaiisrr. devotion to hu-
manity and great benevolence.
II was true that Americans had
opened tho door TO Belgium. but time
and again the door had threatened
70 close. and Mr.. Hoover declared that
the financial future of the organization
gave untold anxiety.
To-day" he said I'VE must have
sf7.000.0oO to $4,000. 900 month
an additional 100000 TO $4,000. ooo
over the subsidies which are now being
received through the allied govern
ments.
'sFIve months ago we Appealed 10
the American people 10 find only sl,-
GOO 600 a month towards the cost OF
the extra imports needed for little
children, but despite the efforts OF
thousands OF devoted supporters in the
United States the apathy of the coun-
try caused failures even for this
moderate sum. Yet withtn month
7 have stood ashamed before thou
sand Belgian children who. on my en-
trance upon their daily meal warbled
the opening stanzas of the star
Spangled Banner"
Asks For $4,000, 900 a Month.
Mr.. Hoover concluded by asking the
American people for a truly proper
representation" IN the provision OF So
coo. 900 a month with which to sup
mort the destitute. and added: Z want
the American people TO be prepared
in emergency 10 loan another $lo,-
eco 900 month which Will be re
paid
To help In the INSTALLATION OF con-
ditions in Belgium. MI Hoover be
gan his address by asking his hearers
to assume that New York city and en-
vironments were occupied by enemy
army He said
Your boundaries would he marked
with a wall OF steel You would be.
from military necessity, bloclSaded Of
Imports. The daily flow Of 10 per
cent OF your food supplies to Sanr
cities from beyond the wall OF steel
would cease, and your markets and
bakeries would bc empty. Every cit
teen and every village wonld hoard
food TO themselves, You would be
interdicted from movement outside OF
YOUR own ward or village or from as
semhiy in any manner without per-
mission. Your railways would be
taken over for military purposes. All
communication would cease with the
outside world Your post, the tele-
graph and the telephone would he
suppressed Your factories would he
closed and half your people rendered
destitute overnight through their loss
of wage and income. Your normal
newspapers and periodic press would
he suppressed The theaters would
he abandoned; your whole intellectual
activity smothered. The normal seats
of administration would he occupied
by enemy soldiers. sentry would
stand on every StieGt Npihtts anu
every cross-road. and the instructive
feeling OF security OF every free man
in his right TO he heard in justice
would be submerged IN the practical
power OF life and death by the enemy
army You would be called upon to
contribute to the cost of the occupy
ing army In word. the whole
economic, intellectual and govern
mental functions OF ordinary life
would be suspended.
''In picture of such Il situation
YOU can imagine the indescribable de-
spair and terror OF every citizen the
terror famed by the millions OF ru-
mors which shiver through the popu-
lation Couple with this the over
shadowing fear as to failure of the
very food upon which your women and
children survive or die. This is wal"