Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1918-12-05

Again in full confidence, call up
on the American people to set a
side Sunday, December first, andthe
week following for the consideration
of Americas opportunity for renew
ed service and sacrifice.
Last summer, when the military
situation was acute, we assured the
the Inter Allied Food Conference in
London, that whatever the war-food
program Of the allies required we
were prepared to meet; that the Con
ference 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 nee
essities. The ending of the War
does not release us from the pledge.
The same populations must be fed,
and until another season has passed
they cannot feed themselves.
The change the foreign situation
necessarily alters the details Of our
food program, because the freeing
| Of the seas from the submarine men
ace, renders accessible The wheat
supplies of India, Australia and the
Argentine. The total food demand
upon the United States is not dimin-
! ished. however, On the contrary, it
! is increased. In addition to the sup
| plying of those to whom we are al
ready pledged, we now have the
spledid opportunity and obligation
| Of meeting the needs of those mill
ions Of people in the hitherto occu-
pied territories who are facing ac-
tual starvation. The people of Bel
GUM, Northern France, Serbia,
| Roumania, Montenegro, Poland,
| Russia and Armenia rely upon A.
merica for immediate aid. We must
also participate in the preservation
Of the newly liberated nations in
| Austria; nor can we ignore the eff
feet on the future world develop
ments of famine condition among
those other people whom we have
recently released from our enimies.
All these considerations 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 famine. 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.
"The president of the Unitec
States has asked to take charge fol
this government Of this work; tt
perfect ad enlarge the arrangement
! for foodstuffs to the populations O
! Belgium and France now being re
leased and to organize and deter
mine the need of provision to tn
: liberated peoples of southern Europ
! to prevent such as has taken plac
! in Russia"
The determining factor for tn
success Of such an enlarged appea
will be the vivid consciousness i
every individual in each communit
of obligation and opportunity.
is that common recognition Of obi
4 cation, that we now wish to create
Such an intelligent world cor
! science" in the American people mus
be the main dependence of the stric
en- countries of the world until MOI
NAL conditions are once more RI
stored.
America by her participation
T" the War has accomplished her oil
J, jectives of self-defense and of vii
= dicating the efficiency Of govern
: ment in which the people, and Il
people only are sovereign. She b;
: established the foundations Of go
= eminent by the people throughol
= the enemy countries, and this is Il
= real bulwark of world peace. Y
=. have yet to build on these found
- tions. No government nor natl,
~ can stand II its people are starvin
We must do our part if the wor
= be not consumed in flame Of 2
archy.
The American people, in this me
critical period Of their history, ha
of the opportunity to demonstrate n
es only their ability to assist in esta
i'll Using peace on earth. but also the
o. conservation, by self-denial, to t
on cause Of suffering humanity.
HERBERT HOOVER