The sun., 1919-03-23

was getting near the dinner hour and
there had been very much oratory he
might as we'll just make a bow and let
II go at that
Consul-General I.iebert made the first
speech Of the day and announced that
at a meeting held two weeks ago 1t was
decided to centralize the reconstruction
committees formed by Miss Skinner,
Miss Anne Morgan and others to put
them under one business head In order
to bring results desired. The charitable
part would go on under the various
committees, he said, but to that would
be added the efficient direction Of a COM
mon head. Miss Skinner seemed much
surprised at this announcement and said
to reporters that no such consolidation
was thought of by her committee. at
least. At the meeting referred to, she
said. neither she nor any representative
of the Societe des Villages Liberes was
present and neither did any one from
the Committee on Devastated France,
Miss Morgan's organization, attend.
Plan to Achieve Results.
"Of course we work under the French
Government" she said, but We are able
to achieve results without any further
consolidation. Such an arrangement
| would take the life and spirit, tho per-
sonal element which means SO much, out
of our work. Why, the Red Cross did
| not succeed in absorbing the smaller
| societies when some time ago 1t pro-
posed such a plan. They insisted on
going on rs entities though glad to
| cooperate with the Red Cross"
Most OF the speakers who came after
the Consul General took a whack at his
plan. Martin Littleton especially came
out strong for the individualistic way
OF doing things. Mr.. Littleton, who was
| introduced by former Governor Whit
| man, the chairman, as one who had
given more than most OF us to the
cause of freedom (Mr. Littleton's son
was killed in Franco. devoted part Of
| his speech to genial comments on the
Investigations and determinations that
are following the war.
I'VE are now entering upon the au-
topsy of the war. We are beginning the
mutually accusative period. There is
nothing new in that. Why, even La
| fayette and those other hero es of France
who came to aid America in her need
were accused and traduced. first in
France and then in America. There
was just as much Investigating in those
days. Democracy would die II we
| ceased to criminate and recrminate.'
Referring to the League of Nations Mr.
Littleton warily refused to commit him
self. from what l hear every man is
in favor of a League Of Nations X he
can be allowed to write 1t himself" he
observed.
A group of sailors and a squad oil
men from the Twenty-seventh Division
wearing their tin hats and field equip
ment marched in at the beginning OF
the Ceremonies. two of their number
carrying French and American fags
| The commander of the Twenty-seventh
Gen. Organ, was on the platform ant
made a brief and soldierly speech, tell
ing the audience that II they wanted t
know the truth about German atrocities
about their deliberate destruction o.
French factories and agriculture and al
that goes to make up a country. abou
the desolation of the villages they RACED
all they had to do was talk with thu
American soldier.
French Endurance Praised.
I'VE entered the war late" he said
I'VE had a lookin. and frankly we haS
all we wanted. But we never ceased t,
marvel that human beings could endure
as the French endured, those horrors 70