New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-03
Haskell Sails
o-day to Feed
Starving Reds
slief Work Leader Says
Neither p olitics Nor
Racial Activities Will En-
ter Into Famine Program
Assistants in Party
xperts in Transportation,
r a do Operators and
Physicians to Make Trip

II
II a lilo Operators and
Physicians to Make Trip
Political or racial activities will have
part in work of the commission Of
American Relief Administration,
aich leaves New York to-day on the
Ter Olympic. under the direction Of
s'onel William N. Haskell, to take
, its task of feeding a million starv-
ng Russian children.
Colonel Haskell made this plain yes
rday at the Offices of the administra-
on, ~ Broadway, when he discussed
is plans for relieving the famine in
ne Soviet republic.
I'm his final instructions to me the
sher day." he said, "Mr. Hoover said
saat the service which we are able to
crform must be in the true spirit Of
charity. There must be no discrimi-
E.ation as to politics, race or creed.
Charity can take no interest in inter
;.ational politics and any individual
syho does not so conceive his work
hall Immediately be withdrawn upon
,ay initiative.
II intellectually subscribe to
hose instructions. am not poll
tician. don't know anything about
:,olitics, and don't want to know any
hing about politics. have staff
trained for and experienced in just
such work and devoid of political or
religious bias. We have jointly ac-
septed the responsibility of delivering
one meal a day to one million children
who otherwise might die, or, perhaps
worse, might mature into deformed,
backward and unfit men and women.
Would Withdraw Partisans
sTf In such work man among as
should develop political or racial activ-
tiles, will have him withdrawn at
once. We wish nothing to obscure the
eloquence Of Americas gifts to chill
lren."
Colonel Haskell added that he
wouldn't permit any member of my
commission to carry so much as let
ter or a package into Russia"
The chief of the commission and his
associates will 60 into Russia prepared
to carry out in full the agreement made
agreed to feed one million children and
to provide adequate medical attention
for both children and aged men and
women. There will be no deviation
from this course, Colonel Haskell said.
The relief work will he directly under
his supervision and any effort to inter
fere with him will be met with drastic
action.
In his dealings with Soviet officials,
Colonel Haskell will act through Pro-
lessor Archibald Carey Coolidge, of
Harvard University, who has had vast
experience in relief work. Later he
will have former Governor Goodrich, of
Indiana as an adviser. He said he
anticipated no trouble with the Soviet
authorities. Other members of the
commission who will sail with him to-
day are:
the expedition; DR.. Walter Paul Daven-
port, Of the Walter Reed Hospital,
Washington, assistant medical direc-
tor; Paul S. Clapp, a wireless expert
OF Montclair, N. j.; Edward Fox, Potts
VILE, Pa; David Barton Kline, Engle-
wood, N. j.; Denis insolvency, Bev-
erly, Mass; John Joseph Mangan, a
Perry Street, this city; Major Charles
Telford, United States Army; T. E.
Longehghan, John A. Sellards, secre-
tary to Colonel Haskell, and S. M.
Saunders.
Organization Comes First
Colonel Haskell will thoroughly or
eanize the famine district before he
begins the distribution of food at
schedule. His field workers will be
given certain districts over which they
will have supervision, and they Will
have the assistance of local commit
tees, made up of Russian men and
women of responsibility. These com
mittees will be charged solely with the
proper distribution of the food and,
should they fail to function properly,
will be reorganized.
The most difficult problem antici-
pated by Colonel Haskell is, that OF
Transportation. The Volga basin is be-
lieved by him to be the most seriously
stricken of the affected territory, and
the transportation facilities in that
region are inadequate. However, he
will ask the organizations cooperating
with him for motor trucks, and be-
lieves the food will be moved in sui
hcient quantity to carry out the pro-
gram. =,
Included in the personel Of the
commission are experts in communica-
tions, transportation, warehouse stor-
age and shipping. All of them have
had experience in similar work in Ar.
menia, Rumania and the central Euro
pean countries, and are expected to or
ganize with little difficulty.
When Colonel Haskell was asked
whether the relief administration WOULD
permit any other organizations to feed
the Russians he replied afirmatively
but insisted that all such work woule
be under the supervision of his body.
"There is room in Russia for every
one" he said, "and while we will take
orders from no one, we will welcome
any cooperation. We are prepared tt
take care Of 100000 children for one
year. There are others who need care
and we hope to get assistance in pro
viding for them"
No Women in Party
No women will accompany the com
mission. The head Of the Organization
believes conditions too unsettled t.
rSrnait Of their appearance in Russia
&c this time. He considers it mans
job.
The suggestion that ii might be
necessary to conduct drive for funds
with which to carry on the relief worl
was tabooed by the director. He was
confident the funds on hand would BIZ
ample.
0rha oronnp,ic condition ~ thf