New-York tribune., 1920-02-19
Gold Medal Is
Given Hoover
By Civic Forum
Token Designed to Reward
Most Distinguished Pub
lie Service Presented bv
Charles Evans Hughes
Called s'Man of the Hour''
Recipient, Embarrassed Un-
der Broad Compliments,
Gives Credit to Helpers

The New York Civic Forum presented
a gold medal to Herbert C. Hoover last
night at Carnegie Hall. The award
was made to him as the American who
has performed the most distinguished
public service in the last two years
Previous awards of the medal have
gone to Alexander Graham Bell. Cen
eral George Goethals and Thomas A.
Edison.
Charles Evans Hughes, in making the
presentation, said:
I'VE have met to pay deserved trib-
ute to an American of rare distinction.
The nature of the tribute is in itself
most unusual. 1t is our happy priv
llege to express our appreciation of
the service of a living personality, one
who is with us in the vigor of middle
life rich in the promise of future use
fulness
when the ruthless invasion of Bel
glum at the outbreak of the war Gre
ated an unparalleled exigency there
was one man in Europe who had the
talent, the experience, the character
and the enterprise to meet the emer-
Hoover. 1t is to the lasting honor of
our country that this man, born and
trained 70 meet this crisis, was an
American. His whole performance, in
its alertness, it's speed, its adequacy,
was typically American. He had the
complete confidence Of foreign govern
ments, who intrusted to him vast sums
without audit or supervision of ex-
penditure.
World Admired Efficiency
ellis administration of relief on this
colossal scale for the benefit Of the
people of Belgium was conducted not
only without reproach but with such
efficiency that it challenged the admira-
ton Of the world. For years millions
found their daily sustcnance only
through his organized administration
Long before America realized her duty
in the great struggle she was pro-
foundly gratifed that in the ] erson of
Hoover her humane sentiment was
finding expression in an organization
of unsurpassed effectiveness for the
relief of Belgium.
Hoover, as administrator of relief
was at once financier, diplomat and
statesman. He came into contact with
the governments of the Allies and with
the despotsm of the Central, Powers
At all points he was ready equipped
firm, fearless and adequate.
w men we entered Lne war 1T soon
became apparent that back of the or
ganization of man power must be the
organization of equipment and sup
plies, and back of these the correla-
tion, development and control of the
food resources of the country There
was but one man in sight for this most
difficult of undertakings, and that man
was Hoover. 1t would have been i'm
possible for any human being, or any
conceivable group, to have handled this
gigantic undertaking to the satisfaction
of every one. But no one doubted that
20 that task Hoover brought the hest
ability anywhere available
Europe Recognized Ability
"And, later. Europe recognized his
preeminence as an organizer in select
ing him to administer the vast sum ap-
propriated for feeding the war-stricken
peoples and as member of the Su-
preme Economic Council of the Allies.
His record prior to the war was that
of successful enterprise in many lands.
When the hour struck the man was
ready.
"The Americanism of Hoover is
shown in every deed. IN every utter