The Washington herald., 1921-01-07
REED FMTERS
AS HITCHCOCK
LAUDS RELIEF
Silenced in Charges of
Misuse of Funds Prom.
ises More Facts.
u. S. AID CALLED
BOON TO EUROPE
Herbert Hoover Charac'
terized as "Humanity's
Greatest Benefactor."
CPubIc Ledger service.D

While Republican Seha'oIo 9o'
silent, Senator Gilbert NJ. Hitchcock
Democrat, of Nebraska, yesterday
entered a vigorous defense Of Her
bert Hoover against the critical in
timations of a few days ago by SEN
ator James A. Reed, Democrat Of
Missouri, bearing upon the admins
tration of the 800, 100000 European
relief fund voted by Congress.
Hitchcock described Hoover as the
greatest benefactor of humanity in
the world. He submitted detailed
statistics to establish the error OF
Senator Reeds attack and painted a
graphic picture of the plight of
Europeon children who are the bene-
ficiaries of the CalifOrnian's reIlet
aCtivitIC'.
Reed. somewhat abusive in his re-
ny, failed to substantiate ms
charge that S4O,OOO,OO0 of the Con-
gressional relief funds had gone to
keep the Polish army in the held.
He prUfessed inability to obtain the
necessary facts and promised fUi-
thcr statement in the near future
Quotes Hoover Testimany.
Senator Reed, Missouri, undertook
to establish from HoOver's testimony
before the House Committee on
Ways and Means, that relief work
among the civil population Of Po-
hand at the time of the BolsheVlst
invasion was equivalent to sustain
ing the army engaged in making
war on a power friendly to the
United States" He held there was
no distinction between relieving A
nation of providing for the civilians
than in actual and direct contribu-
tions to the military forces.
Senator Hitchcock read - the SEN
ate Hoovers report made to Presi-
dent Wilson. The statement set
forth that approximately $4,000, 0O0
OF the fund had been sNpeaaed; OF
that amount a'sout Fs4.0o0,0o0 was
advanced to European governments
for food and other life sustaining
purposes in behalf of women and
children, notes being accepted for re-
payment Of the money. About $40
600. 900 was used for relief of chill
dren in Poland, the Baltic provinces,
parts OF non Bolshevist Russia, and
Central Europe.
Wants Fairness to Hoover.
Il am speaking in the interest Of
fairness and Justice Hitchcock
said. in order that this man (HOov-
Cr) who has carried out the man
date of Congress to bring relief to
these children OF Europe should not
be misrepresented There never has
been in the history of the world a
more careful organization and there
| has been a prompt report of what
has been done Those who have
confused the use of American sup
plies by the Polish armies and the
Iolish government have made the
mistake of assuming that these sup
plies came from this relief appro-
priation, whereas they came from
certain surplus military supplies
which the War Department sold to
! Poland"
Hitchcock closed with a number
| of incidents illustrative of the plight
of the little children of Europe S
war stricken states. He declared
| that no less than 3.45o.o0O children
owe their lives to the work of the
Hoover relief administration.
| Hitchcock urged adoption of resO-
| pN oChdNOl III an
! land. Republican, of West Virginia,
providing for official Endorsement Of
( the European relief work now pro-
! Gee ding under Hoover's direction.
| Passage of the resolution was
blocked by Senator Reed, who spoke
until the close Of the morning
hour"
Reed Attacks Relief Report.
Senator Reed said he had been un-
able to find any detailed report by
Hoover on che expenditure of the
SlOO,O00,OeO fund. Hitchcock insist
| ed he had just read one. The Sen
ator from Missouri wanted to know
where it had been obtained.
The Nebraskan replied 1t had oeen
brought to his office. That prompted
Reed to say 'if you look Tor Yindi-
cation of Mr.. Hoover you VIII nave
to look in his private files. Hltch-
cock reminded him 1t had been sent
to the President. Reed INDUCED IN
further sarcastic references 10
Hoover's alleged "self-advertising
and Hitchcock's readiness TO &C
cept anything with an odor oi
sanctity and a proper British ac-
cent" Hitchcock left the chamber
| so far as the expenditure VI IHLs
500, ,OOo, 900 fund is concerned" Sen
ator Reed argued, all we have is
the statement before me. From
that we can tell no more what they
/ have done with this money, We can
no more check them up, than
could be checked up If 1 had 500,
OOO,0 of your property and told
you l had spent a part Of it for
beans, and another part for corn
and for cattle, another part for
something else and another part
for advertising myself. l am in
sisting upon an itemized accounting
within the meaning Of the require
ments of Congress"
| Senator Frank B. Kellogg, Re
publican, of Minnesota, wanted to
know IL the Senator from Missouri
believed it possible to render an &C
tcountt>SIS how every pound Of
To-. .,,... " Poland was distributed.
Reed replied he did not insist upon
the name of every child who re-
ceived food, but he wanted details,