New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-30
ST, 100000 CLUBS
GIFT TO BELGIUM
Continued from page |

miner" had agreed TO donate 100000
as "his assessment" TO the fund for re-
lief. While great secrecy was observed
as TO the identity Of this donor, II was
understood that William b. Thompson
made the donation.
Entire Sum Pledged
More than half the 81 100000 club
house building fund had been raised by
the club governors and the rest had
been pledged. The entire sum, mem
bers said, would undoubtedly be I'M
medjately forthcoming, and IT is eN-
pected that many millions Will be col
lected by the organizations member
shin throughout the country Tor the
relief of Belgium.
That Belgian relief. in which the
world believed the United States to be
the pioneer and leader, was being pad
for by foreign money" was one OF MT
Hoovers first statements. 1t made ms
hearers bite on their cigars and look
thoughtful.
Of BRUSSELS" the man from Belgium
continued. "and ! saw l,500 children
sitting down to their one daily meal.
| heard those youngsters warbling the
first strains of the Star Spangled Ban
ner.' and /, knowing that the food they
ate was not American, although they
thought it was, could feel nothing but
shame.
"This relief work has come TO be
Americas greatest exhibit in Europe.
We are undertaking to continue II, hay-
ing faith in the American people; we
are undertaking TO do il, knowing that
once they realize they will do 1t IN an
American way; we want TO give dem
onstration of the great humanity that
runs through Am erican veins. II we
succeed il will be because We have re-
ceived the support Of the American
people instead of being forgotten.
81 feel that | have to justify the ac-
ton your Governors have taken said
Mr.. Hoover, "by giving you some de-
scription and some explanation OF what
we have done and the work we are try
ing to do. ] always find three difficult
ties in talking about Belgian relief
work One is that | have never deliv-
cred a public address on the subject.
My public appearance have always
been in those combaJive moods required
by having to defend the Belgian relief.
With friends it is more difficult. II
one of you would get up and assault
this enterprise, | assure you | could do
pretty well.
"My next difficulty is one of some
delicacy because of the position | hold
It is absolutely, vitality necessary for US
TO be absolutely neutral, not only in
deed but in word, lest we should by
some act of ours increase the suffer.
ings Of millions Of people. A third dit
ficulty is that | have to visualize TO
men who have not been in Europe since
the war began the actual situation
which exists in an occupied territory.
1magine New York and about five
adjoining counties occupied by an
enemy army, blockaded from without
and surrounded within by a wall Of
steel, the normal flow Of food, 20 per
cent of which comes from without,
stopped. You would, within thirty-siX
hours, find your markets empty your
bakeries stopped. Add to this that
your railroads would be taken over for
military purposes; that your telephone
and telegraph would be suppressed;
that your newspapers would be closed
IN: that every form Of communication
and intellectual life would cease in
stantly; that you could not assemble
except by special permission; that
every street corner and every cross