The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-02-03
$9,OOO,0OO RELIEF
SENT TO BELGIUM
FROM UNITED STATES
As Compared with Profit of $4,000 900
Coming Back Through Spending of
Vast Sum for Supplies.

Vast Sum Tor Supplies
New York, Feb 3.--The first public adj
dress which Herbert C. Hoover, chairman
I of the American commission for the re
lief of Belgium, has made in the United
States since the war began, was deliv
cred yesterday before the chamber Of
commerce of the state of New York
with an effort to impress upon the Amer,
lean people how comparatively insight
fcant have been their contributions fol
Belgian relief.
AS compared with a profit of 0,000,,
900 which has come to America through
the spending here of $l50,000,0O0 by the
relief commission in the purchase OF
supplies for Belgium, the public benevo.
lence in America towards Belgium has
amounted to only $9,000,000. Such were
the figures Mr.. Hoover presented.
Gentlemen, Europe has begun to take
stock of u.s." said he, in comparing these
figures with American claims to ideal
ism, devotion to humanity, and great
benevolence.
1t was true that Americans had opened
the door to Belgium, but time and again
! the door has threatened to close, and
Mr.. Hoover declared that the financial
future of the organization gave untold
anxiety.
To-day" he said, Eve must have
SIT ,000,0 900 to S1S000,000 a mouth-an
additional $3,0o0o00 to 100000 over
the subsidies which are now being re.
ceived through the allied governments.
give months ago we appealed to the
American people to find only 81 100000 a
month towards the cost Of the extra
imports needed for little children, but
despite the efforts of thousands Of de-
voted supporters in the United States
the apathy of the country caused failure
even for this moderate sum. Yet, with
in month | have stood ashamed be-
fore a thousand Belgian children who,
on my entrance upon their daily meal
warbled the opening stanza of the Star
Spangled Banner"
Mr.. Hoover concluded by asking the
American people for truly proper
representation" in the provision of So
100000 month with which to support
the destitute, and added 81 want the
American people to be prepared in emer-
gency to loan another 100000 a
month which will be repaid"
To help in the INSTALLATION of eondi-
tons in Belgium, Mr. Hooper begun his
address by asking his hearers to as
sumo that New York City and environ
ments were occupied by enemy army.
He said:
lass -. 1..l
with wall of steel. You would be,
from military necessity, blockaded of
imports. The daily flow of 20 per cent
OF your food supplies to your cities
from beyond the wall of steel would
cease, and your markets and bakeries
would be empty. Every citizen and ey-
cry village would hoard food to them.
selves. You would be interdieted from
outside of your own ward or
village or from assembly in any manner
without permission. Your railways would
be taken over for military purposes.
All communication would cease with the
outside world. Your post, the telegraph,
and the telephone would be suppressed.
Your factories would be closed and half
your people rendered destitute overnight
through their loss of wage and income.
Your normal newspapers and periodic
press would be suppressed. The theatres
would be abandoned; your whole intel
ectual activity smothered. The normal
seats of administration would be oc
supied by enemy soldiers. A sentry
would stand on every street corner, and
every cross road, and the instructive
.,f rf
MS right to be heard in justice would
be submerged in the practical power of
life and death by the enemy army. You
would b. called upon to contribute TO
he cost of the occupying army. In
word, the whole economic, intellectual |
ind governmental functions of ordinary |
life would be suspended.
'In picture of such situation you
an imagine the indescribable despair /
md terror of every citizen, the terror |
AIMED by the millions of rumors which !
hiver through the population. Couple |
With this the over shadowing fear as to |
allure of the very food upon which your
women and children survive or die. This /
5 war.
"Such has been the situation of TO- /
100000 people in Belgium and northern
france for over two years, but for the
elief commission. And this has been a
elief not only to the physical being but
o their terror and shield to their des.
air"
Mr.. Hoover told how the relief organi-
alton had grown. He and others who
rat joined it thought that so terrible Il
situation could exist for only short
ime, but eve found" he said, chat we
gere confronted with task not merely
yer days but months, and an expendi- 4
ure far beyond dream of any relief hith.
rto known. IL became clear that the
ills of charity of the world would fail