New-York tribune., 1921-02-22
Food Job Gaze Hoover
" orId-Wide Prominence
Product Of Leland Stanford
University Had Been Sue
cess as Mining Engineer


Herbert Hoover first came into world
prominence during the war, through
his work as commissioner for relief in
Belgium, then as Food Administrator
in the United States and finally as
food director for the war-torn nations.
He formerly signed himself "Helbe
c. Hoover" but dropped the middle
initial in 1914.
Born in August 10, 1874, Mr. Hoover
had lived life of activity when nj
the age of forty he began relief work
in Belgium. Migrating to California
when a youngster, he was graduated
from Leland Stanford University in
1895 as mining engineer. Befo,e he
finished college he had worked in the
field with the United States Geological
Survey and after his graduation he
spent a year with the survey in the
Sierra Nevada mountains.
Within two years after he had OBJ
tanned his university degree he set sail
for Australia where he became man
ager of mine. After two years there
Mr. Hoover went to China as chief en-
eineer of the Chinese Imperial Bureau
III the interior of China. A year later
he took part in the defense of Tient-
Sin against the Boxer uprising, man
ming a machine gun during the fight
ing.
Developed Chinese Concessions
Mean. line his work had attracted at
tention in the mining world and he
went to London to organize mining
tn - oh,
he held in China. That venture was
successful and before he finally estab-
Dshed headquarters in London as di-
rector of dozen mining companies he
spent several years developing prop
critics in Siberia, the Alps, Asia Minor
and Burma. A brother, Theodore J.
Hoover, was associated with him in his
London office.
Elected trustee of Leland Stanford
University, Mr. Hoover returned to
California almost every year to attend
the annual meetings of the trustees
and to lecture to the class of engineer
ing, In 1889 he married Miss Lou
Henry, of Monterey, Calf, who was a
student at college with him.
The opening of the World War found
Mr.. Hoover in London. His first relief
work in connection with the war was
in setting up a committee to furnish
gold to Americans caught abroad with
credits smashed and transportation diff
ficult. The American Relief Commits
sion, with Mr.. Hoover as chairman,
functioned until stranded Americans
had moved homeward.' Mr.. Hoover
then turned again TO the direction of
his mining interests.
Within a month he was again called
to relief work. With Belgium over
run by the German armies and the
Germans refusing to feed the popula-
tion unless. Great Britain lifted the
blockade, the plight of 100000 Bel
gians became desperate.
A delegation of Belgians visited
London in October, 1917, and laid the
plight of their people before Ambassa-
dor Page. Millard Shaler, an American
mining engineer, went with the dele
cation and it was he who nominated
Hoover for the JOB. Within two days
Hoover had cut loose from his mining
interests and was at work.
Once Slated for Munitions
1t is said that Ambassador Page had
picked Hoover as the man to organize
and direct the output of munitions in
America, but President Wilson had
him slated for another job that of
Food administrator. All Europe was
on rations with cards for meats, tats,
bread and every other essential. Many
favored inauguration of this system
in America, but Hoover chose voIun-
tary Tationing.
Food will win the war" was his
first message TO the American people.
1t was followed with an appeal TO the
American housewife to save food and
TO the farmer TO produce more.
After the war Mr.. Hoover returned
TO Europe as member Of the Supreme
Council, and he began feeding the peo-
Iles of Central and Eastern Europe.
Getting food TO the countries needing
if was easy, but distributing it after
its arrival was difficult Railways had
10 be repaired or rebuilt. Hoover
turned. 10 the mining engineers who
rad been his associates before the war,
fnd under his direction they per-
formed miracles.
After the work was we'll under way
and his system working satisfactorily.
Mr.. Hoover returned, and for the first
time became figure in American poll
ties. Some of the leading Democrats
were inclined TO ad0pt him for THAR