The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-08-05
]. .RoMANcE o. cHARLTY

n 49, -1l \ \
( E1ARTTY has It's romance no less than war d
claims the Literary Digest in its comment upon
Mr. Herbert Iooyers final report Of the operations 81
his committee in the Belgian Relief work This final
report will be read with utmost interest BY hunded5
OF thousands of Americans who contributed 10. lie
work of Belgian relief during the stringency which
made it imperative
Mr.. Hoover states that tie purchase. Of food and
clothing to save over seven million Belgians and two
and one halt million people Of northern France result
ed in the expenditure of more than 81 800, 900 600.
his great sum expended with such care Thai The
cost Of administration was only 42-l00 Of per cent
OF the whole operation. The principal officers CAV.
their services without salary and in many instances
paid their own incidental and travelling expenses Shin.
ping firms, insurance agencies, buying agencies, and
accountants throughout the world gave their services
without charge other than the mere outof-pocket in
cidentals
There were $4,000 voluntary workers in the dis,
ttibutng committees To these Mr.. Hooyerpays espec-
ial tribute Ii is to their mflaggng devotion that we
are now able to publish exact figures Of accountability
for funds and to trace each ton Of food from the place
Of purchase to the ultimate consumer among The civil
population Of the invaded regions Surrounded by ,errof
and suffering, this multitude had but little concern for
the bookkeepers in the back rooms Of the 1000 branch
offices Of the relief organization Itwas Of the utmost
concern. however to those in official direction, not
only that the work might be effectively performed and
presented 10 the world but that our honor and The
honor Of our country in this huseeshp should never
be challenged"
The Commission, says Mr.. Hoover was bonn a
purely philanthropic enterprise dependent upon The
charity Of Tie world for support, conceived as few
months emergency service TO defend 10000 people
from starvation. II grew TO the proportion mention
ed in the beginning of this article, and its services ex
tended over years Of operation. At no time were lie
people fed to more than the point Of bare subsistence
and several times the Commissions liabilities were in
excess Of It's actual prospective assets But on GER
tain transactions TO meet emergency REIMBURSEMENT out
side Of Belgium and France profit of more than
$9500,000, was earned. the sum being several times
larger than all overhead expenses From these profits
the Commission paid its entire administration and
overhead expenses paid to the Benevolent Department
about $2.600,000 for charitable distribution in the
two countries, and on September the hiriGh held
available for refe and to meet expenses Of liquida-
ton, approximately $3.120,000-smce that date
largely distributed. 81.
It is well that man sees only in part, the paths
Of Ills accomplishment only open with his advancing
footsteps Mr.. Hoover and his work cannot help but
arouse amazemeut al the efficiency and success dis
played in every movement but we believe that even
Mr.. Hoover would have been Bit dashed at tie
scope Of his enormous task had he been permitted to
enyisase it as whole Day By,day, however, was
accomplished and finally finished. So much Of The
impossible was laid upon the shoulders Of men in those
days and carried tziumphanty through and Il Is only
now that we stop to recognize how impossible were
TIE things which were executed, and how when need
full. men may rise, and do rise above human restrc-
lions to super human achievement when the demand
becomes powerful enough ~,