The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-04-22
GOODRICH SAYS RUSS
FAMINE CONDITIONS
ARE UNDER CONTROL

ATL UVULll UUN uOE
WINCHESTER, Ind, April 22.-For- !
mer Governor James P Goodrich re-
turned here today from four months
trip to Russia Just in time to attend !
the funeral of his aunt, Mrs. Mary j.
Semans, who died of apoplexy at the
home of her son, Carl Semans at Indi-
annapolis, Monday Mr.. Goodrich Is in
good health and looks well after his
trip through Russia where he went as
the personal representative of the
United States to investigate the fam
inc conditions and to distribute food
to the starving Russians.
In speaking of that country he said,
THE American Relief Administration
now has the Russian famine under
control in all of the accessible dis
tricts. Mortality among children has
been reduced TO normal and deaths
from acute starvation amongst adults
are rapidly ending The change in APP
pearance and the spirits of the people
in the famine district shows an ex-
traordinary change for the better.
The American Relief Administration
has provided at least 95 per cent OF
all the food that has gone into Russian
relief of the famine. The total funds
modified by Mr.. Hoover comprises
about $40,000,000 in addition to the
$20,000,000 provided by congress. The
ability to continue this control of the
famine until next harvest is purely a
question of railway transportation.
The degenerated administration and
equipment of the railways gives no
certainty from month to month as to
the continued movement of supplies
Large congestion at junction points at
the present moment threatens the con-
tinued movement from the ports.
There are enough supplies enroute
overseas, or stored in ports, to hold
control of the situation until harvest
If they can be delivered into the fam
inc region.
Seed Probably Sufficient
Although it is early to speak with
absolute assurance there is every evil
dence that the seed provision under
the American Relief Administration
will be sufficient to protect foodstuffs
of the population in the famine regions
after the next harvest The work of
the American Relief staff in organiZa-
tion of famine relief in the presence
of totally disorganized communities
and transportation has shown extra
ordinary ability, has required the ut
most courage and devotion and was
accomplished at great hazard to the
health and life of the men engaged
in it.
The American people may be justly
proud of the fine, efficient, truly Amer
lean organization. 1t has met the dis
aster of drought which Threatened
the lives of at least 100000 people. II
has overcome every obstacle and
doubt if the actual loss of life from
starvation will exceed 100000 if the
railways will function.
This number would have been less
had not the railways been demoraliZed
One needs the patience of Job to trave
on the Russian railways, especially in
the winter The Americans have the
whole community-over1 II provinces
organized into committees working
with a devotion and with an efficiency
in distribution that is astonishing tC
anyone who is not familiar with the
work of this organization in other coun
tries. Their background of experience
in handling famine in other countrie:
has contributed materially to the bet
ter success of the American effort il
Russia.
Russian Gratitude Great
"The gratitude of the Russian people
, toward America is unbounded. TIL;
letters or word ARA Gnitials of TIL
American Relief Administration
which is the protective sign on tn
whole distribution machinery, iron
cars to warehouse and kitchens, ha
embraced as a word in the Russian lar
guage expressing the generous actio
of America.
mo doubt poverty will continue i
Russia, more particularly in the cite
and larger towns, for long time
come, but this great disaster of famin
from drought will have been overcom
after the new harvest in August an
except for the amelioration of povert
itself the work of the Americans WI
have been accomplished"
Mr.. Goodrich will remain at HON
for several days, but on Nav II b
will sail from New York for the thir
time TO engage in famine work in Ru
s'a. He will return about Aug. 1, whe
NIrs. Goodrich. who is now in Pari
will accompany him.