The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-02-02

New York, FEB. THE nrst pupllc
address which Herbert G. Hoover
chairman of the American commas
sion for the Relief Of Belgium, mas
made in the United States since the
war began was delivered today pc
fore the Chamber of Commerce Oh
the State Of New York, with an ef1ort
to impress upon the American peopie
how comparatively insignificant nave
been their contributions for Belgian
relief.
AS compared with a profit of $780,
600 900 which has come to America
through the spending here OF Sloo'-
ooO. 900 by the Relief Commission In
the purchase Of supplies for eBlglum'
the public benevolence in America
towards Belgium has amounted 10
only $9,00O,OOO. Such were the ng-
ures Mr.. Hoover presented
..1entlemen, Europe has begun 10
take stock of us!' said he, in compar-
ing these figures with American CLAIMS
to idealism, devotion to humanity
and great benevolence.
It was true that Americans nao
opened the door to Belgium, but time
I and again the door had threatened TO
close and Mr.. Hoover declared that
the financial future of the oTgan1za-
! ton gave untold anxiety.
mrodavI,' he said, 1--WE must have
$4,000. 900 to $18,000,000 a month,
an additional $3.000,000 to 100000
over the subsidies which are now be-
ing Received through the Allied gov-
ernments.
give months ago we appealed to
the American people to find only
81 5000 a month towards the cost
of the extra imports needed for little
Z children, but despite the efforts OF
thousands Of devoted supporters in
IA the United States the apathy Of the
country caused failure even for this
moderate sum. Yet within month
have stood ashamed before a thou
sand Belgian children who, on my en-
trance upon their daily meal warbled
the opening stanzas Of the Star
Spangled Banner"
Mr.. Hoover concluded by asking
the American people for a truly
.proper representation" in the pro-
vision of $4,000, 900 month with
which to support the destitute, and
dded: 81 want the American people
to be prepared in emergency to loan
another 100000, 900 a month which
will be repid."
To help in the INSTALLATION OF con-
litions in Belgium, Mr.. Hoover began
his address by asking his hearers to
assume that New York city and en-
riyonments were occupied by enemy
army He said:
"Your boundaries would be marked
with a wall Of steel. You would be,
from military necessity; blockaded OF
imports. The daily flow of 70 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 cit
izen and every village would hoard
food 70 themselves. You would be
interdfcted from movement outside OF
your own ward or village or from as
sernbiy in any manner without per-
mission Your railwys would be
! taken over for military purposes. All
i communication would cease with the
outside world. Your post, the tele-
graph and the telephone would be
suppressed Your factories would be
closed and half your people rendered
destitute overnight, through their loss
Z of wage and income. Your normal
newspapers and periodic press would
be suppressed. The theatres would
s be Abandoned; your whole intellectual
activity smothered. The normal seats
of administration would be occupied
by enemy soldiers. A sentry would
stand on every street corner, and
every cross road, and the instictive
telling of security Of every free man
lin his right to be heard in justice
would be submerged in the practical
power of life and death by the enemy
army. You would be called upon tc
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.
s'In a picture of such a situation
YOU can imagine the indiscribable
despair and terror Of every citizen
the terror famed by the millions o,
rumors which shiver through the
population. Couple with this the
overshadowing fear as to failure o.
the very food upon which your
women and children survive or die
This is war.
.Such has been the situation of 10,
600, 900 people in Belgium and North
ern France for over two years.. blu
for the Relief Commission. And thi
has been relief not only to thei
physical being but to their terror ant
shield to their despair"
Mr.. Hoover told how the relief or
ganization had grown. He apd other
who first Joined it thought that 81
terrible a situation could exist 70
only a short time, but "we found,
he said, that we were confrontet
with a task not merely over days blu
months, and expenditure far. beyont
dreams of any relief hithertot known
It became clear that the rills of char
fty Of the world would fail us ant
that banking measures we could es
tablish in this situation were hope
lessly insufficient. Ultimately, we Sc
cured the support Of the allied gov
ernments, and now, after 500 wear.
days, we look back on an expenditure
OF some $250,OO0,000 Of which $50,
900, 900 have been from charity, AM
of which America has found unde
e $4,000, OOO."
Altogether we have created
structure composed Of over 500
committees" continued Mr. Hoover
sour organization now represents
volunteer service of some $4,000 PEG
ple We buy our own material, w
employ from fifty to seventy carg
ships at all times, and these ships fl.
the flag Of the Commission for Re