The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1918-12-05
CHURCHES HEAR
HOOVER MESSAGE


Week opened in Vermont and tn
rest OF the country yesterday by tn
reading in the churches OF the mes
sage from United States food admin
istrator, Herbert Hoover, in which b,
calls upon the American people It.
demonstrate not only their ability I.
assist In establishing peace ON earth
but also their conservation by self-de
NAL to the cause Of suffering human
ty,' Mr.. Hoovers message az read IL
the churches is as follows
Again In full confidence, call up.
on the American people to set aside
Sunday, December first, and the weeh
! following, for the consideration OF
Americas opportunity for renewed
service and sacrifice
Last summer, when the military
| situation was acute, we assured the
Inter Allied Food Conference In Lon
don. that whatever the warfood pro-
gram of the Allies required we were
prepared to meet: that the Confer
ence need not consider whether or
not we had the supplies,-we were
prepared to find them; we pledged
ourselves, by the voluntary economy
of our people. to have the reserves In
food to supply all necessities. The
ending of the war does not release us
from the pledge. The same popula
tons must be fed, and until another
season has passed they cannot feed
themselves.
The change in the foreign situa-
ton necessarily alters the details OF
our food program, because the freeing
of the seas from the submarine menace
renders accessible the wheat supplies
of India. Australia and the Argentine.
The total food demand upon the Uni
ted States is not diminished however
On the contrary. it is increased. In
addition TO the supplying of those to
whom we are already pledged. We
now have the splendid opportunity
and obligation of meeting the needs
vi ihooN hiiilioho vi pCODlt III tuC
hitherto occupied territories who are
facing actual starvation The people
of Belgium, Northern France, Serbia,
Roumania Montenegro, Poland, Rus
sia and Armenia rely upon America
for immediate aid. We must also par
ticipate in the preservation OF the
newly liberated nations in Austria; |
nor can we ignore the effect on the
future world developments of fam
inc condition among those other peO-
pie whom we have recently released
from our enemies. All these consid-
erations mean that upwards of 200
million people in addition to those we
are already pledged to serve, are now
looking to us in their misery and fam
inc. Our appeal today is therefore
larger than the former appeal to the
war conscience of our people The
new appeal is to the world conscience
which must be the guiding inspiration
Of our future program
1.-THE President OF the United States
has asked me to take charge for this
of this work; to perfect
and enlarge the arrangements for
foodstuffs to the populations OF Bel
GUM and France now being released
and to organize and determine the
need of provision to the liberated peo-
Pies of Southern Europe to prevent
such debacle as has taken place in
Russia.
THE determining factor for the
success OF such an enlarged appeal ,
will be the vivid consciousness in
,very individual in each community /,
II obligation and opportunity. II lis
hat common recognition Of obliga
ion, that we now wish to create 7
such an intelligent world con
cience' in the American people must !
70 the main dependence OF the strick- .
N countries of the world until normal
conditions are once more restored. ,
America by her participation in n
he war has accomplished her object
We Vi bCil -uElenst anu Va 'ihNsSotbit
be efficiency Of a government In T
vhich the people, and the people only
re sovereign. She has established +
be foundations of government BY the
eople throughout the enemy coun-
ries, and this il the real bulwark OF [
Torld peace. We have yet to build
n these foundations.
No government nor nation car Il
tand II its people are starving. We v
must do our part II the world be no .;
In a fame OF anarchy. V
The American people. in this mos d
rit,cal period OF their history. have
be opportunity to demonstrate moi
nly their ability TO assist In est"
shing peace on earth, but also
by self-denial, to
suse of suffering humanity" L