Evening journal., 1919-06-28
GIVE $4,000 TO
REBUILD FRANCE
Former Ambassador Her.
rick Tells Delawareans of
Some War Horrors
is DINNER GUEST
AT HOTEL DU PONT

Former Governor Myron T. Herrick,
p of Ohio, as guest OF honor, and a
group OF prominent Wilmingtonlans,
were entertained at a banquet last
night in the grill room OF the Hotel
dupont, by the Delaware Branch Of
the American Committee for Devastat-
ed France. The principal address was
made by Mr. Herrck, who was Am
bassador to France at the beginning OF
the world war, and is now president
OF the American Committee for De-
vastated France.
Former Judge George Gray. president
OF the Delaware Branch, introduced
the speakers, who included Senator
Robert L. owen, Of Oklahoma, and DR..
Joseph II. Odell, director OF the Ser
vice Citizens.
Former Ambassador Herrick was the
guest OF Mr.. and Mrs. Alfred I. dupont
at Nemours, during his stay in the
city He left this morning for Ohio
During the dinner-conference at the
hotel, the sum OF $4,000 was subscrib-
ed by the guests present, to be used
= by the American Committee in recon-
struction work in France
Mr.. and Mrs. Alfred l. dupont each
subscribed 5000.
'Not charity, but relief and intelli-
gent understanding is what FRANCE
asks OF the American people, Mr..
Herrick stated in the course OF his ad-
dress on Devastated France"
France will recover from the ef-
fects OF the war. and quickly" Gov
ernOr Herrick declared. "The spirit
OF France is uncOnquerable. They are
the same people who met in way to
challenge the admiration OF the world
the obligations OF defeat imposed by
the Germans In 1871. Those burdens
were imposed with the expectation
and intention that France would be
ruined. They were thrown off almost
Immediately. A defeated France met
all her obligations then. A victorious
France will meet every obligation i'm
posed upon her by the world war
now.
France has no unemployment prob
lens In the sense that these are un-
derstOOd In the United States and Eng
land. In the first mobilization men
were taken alike from factories and
felds, but the necessities OF war de
manded that certain lines Of maI(fac-
ture be continued, so that In large
numbers men were returned to the
factories, and with Frances incompaEr
able women the great industries NOV
ed uninterrupted, and the burden OF
lighting was largely borne by the
French peasantry. So the soldiers
have for the most part returned to the
farms-their own farms, for four-hfths
OF all the farms Of France are tracts
OF twenty-five acres or less, owned by
the people who till them. This enor-
nous percentage Of freeholding Is in
itself the best guarantee OF the future
OF France. There Is no great unem-
2loyment problem there"
Mr.. Herrick strongly deplored at
lempts TO ferment discOrd between
America and France, which he attrib-
uled in part TO German propaganda
and in part to lack OF understanding
on the part OF a few Americans.
He said further, "For three years we
stood idly by talking about being too
proud to fight, all the time pronteerine
out OF France in wholesale way. We
made billions upon billions out Of her
necessities while she was defending US
and she never complained. For France
always believed that in time this ma
ton would prove true to its historic
tradition and come TO her aid.
1T is our duty and should be our
pride TO assist IN the rehabilitation OF
this stricken region where the people
are now coming back empty handed to
nothing"
OF present-day conditions in this
country, Mr.. Herrick said: 1T is not
France alone that Is going through
troubled period OF reconstruction. The
whole world is In a state OF flux and
change, eldeavoring to get back from
the abnormal state Of war TO the hap
pier conditions that went before or to
something even better. In this cOun-
rv theorists have found their oppOrtu-
nifty In the midst OF war to try out
their set beliefs. We have conducted
elaborate and costly experiments in
government control Of utilities look
ing towards government ownership.
We have flirted with socialism and
addd 10 the Industrial unrest"
s.rhe people OF the United States are
noH tired Of being experimental upon.
Trey want less government, and that
more efficient and less costly. They
want a chance TO conduct the business
Il the country without constant inter
ference from paternalistic boards and
Impractical commissions in Washing
ton.
"Given opportunity to express their
will, the strong stabilizing influence oil
this country-the business men, the
laboring men, and the farmers-wll
translate these desires into action. In
dlvidual initiative has made this coun-
try what II is, and individual enter
prise has not lost its potency"