The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-05
BANKERS HELPING
FOOD DRAFT PLAN
~ -
r.. S. Halves. President Of AS
ISOLATION, Explains System
of European Relief.
as -
100000 CHILDREN FED
Work Is Being Done Under
and BY the Advice of
- Herbert Hoover.
5000, 900 CHILDREN FED


Halves of ST. Louis, president of the
American Bankers Association. has
wSJtten TO all of the 22,6S7 member
banks of the association again urging
support Of the American Relief Admin
isa-ation during the coming whit
months, which. according to field men
lust returned from Europe, threatens to
be the most precarious since the war.
Food drafts have been on sale for the
last eight months in 4,45S banks, MEM
bers of the association, in the United
States: IS banks in Canada and 70 IN
Central and South America. The sue
cess of the plan may be judged by the
fact that in the first six months of its
operation 10000 of the drafts were sold.
asgregating SA50O,000 The food draft
plan Mr. Hoover announces will be con-
tinued through the winter and spring.
The American Relief Administration
has announced that the banks which
have cooperated with it in the sale or
the food drafts are very Importantly re-
sponsible because of their cooperation for
the substantial relief that has been rem
dered thousands of families in Europe by
relatives and friends in this country.
Through economical management OF the
food draft system, to the success or
which. Mr.. Hoover says. the banks have
contributed so materially, there has ac-
crued a surplus of $605 .194.61, which,
in accordance with the plan, has been
turned over entirely to the American
Relief Administrations Europeon Chill
dren's Fund, also under the direction or
Mr. Hoover, and through which under
nourished children of Central Europe
have benefited. The same procedure. in
case of any surplus will be followed in
the future.
Practical Way of Giving Relief.
In the letter sent out by Mr. HAYES.
who is senior vice-president of the First
National Bank in st. Louis. he says
TThe present occasion is taken to re-
affirm in the strongest possible manner
the associations Endorsement OF the
food drafts i'm accordance with the sys-
tenn conducted by the American Relief
Administration warehouses as an emf
nently practical and businesslike method
OF affordng relief, under unquestionably
efficient American management. to
needy peoples abroad. Association mem
bers selling the drafts are urged to
continue the sale. and other members
not yet selling these drafts are urged
to do so.
"The extension of the food draft plan
through the coming months undoubtedly
will avert much misery. IT offers a re-
markable opportunity for American
friends and relatives of needy Europeans
to supply them with essential food at
reasonable prices"
The American Bankers Association,
when the plan was first presented to il
last winter for Endorsement. was quick
IN IN, ha fa1g nf
thoroughgoing, far-reaching business
mans system of relief which from the
vast scale of its operations. would re-
duce administrative expense TO mini
mum and provide "A definite and syste-
inatlc means D.. alleviating distress. at
The same time preventing any tendency
toward the pauperization Of the ben
hciaries
The executive committee OF the as
yociations committee on commerce and
marine, of which John McHugh. vice.
president of the Mechanics and Metals
sational Bank. New York city. is chair
IAN. gave the plan the most careful
consideration and indorsed il. Through
. president. the association stated that
would cooperate in all feasible ways
The heartiness OF that cooperation in
ltested by the fact that In numerous
distances banks on their own initiative
ndyertised the drafts and took many
uflier steps TO further the sales. State
ankers' associations also were helpful
, bringing to the attention Of their
1embers the merits OF the plan and
contributing generally 10 its success.
The food draft plan has afforded
uick and practical method for friends
nd relatives I'm this country Of Aus
Mans. Czecho-Slovaks. Germans, Hun
rarians and Poles 20 send TO needy peo-
zee In those countries staple foods tuffs
x caloriflc value. and forming a well
danced ration.
The fact that the food covered by the
cd drafts Is free from all import du-
-. is not subject TO governmental
equisition and is exempt from all ra-
oning regulations In the countries 10
hich Il Is sent adds 20 the workability
y the plan. As the food called for by
he drafts e already IN Europe in the
american Relief Administration ware
0uses all transportation delays are
voided and the proceeds OF the draft
cc ONE Immediately availab bic upon it's
eceipt BY the person in whose favor II
drawn.
Meals supplied to Millions.
The American Relief Administration
uropean Children's Fund, which also
as Instituted al Mr.. Hoover's sugges-
on and which has been administered
under his guidance. received the balance
remaining from the sale OF the drafts
sffer all operating expenses had been
aid up 70 August l. 1920. and a suit
bic reserve set aside The fund last
eer furnished one meal daily TO some
100000 children In war stricken coun-
tries.
The new crop has somewhat improved