Evening star., 1924-04-05
Vote of slO,OOO,OOO to German
Relief Not Widely Popular

Since 1919 there probably has been
nothing like the generosity OF the
American people in the whole history
of the world. But the action of the
House of Representatives in appro-
priating 3I0.OO0,o00 for German relief
is not being acclaimed with any out
burst of enthusiastic approval on the
part of the nations press. With only
few exceptions. the sentiment eX-
pressed is against it,
This is not due to any unwilling
ness OF the American people to re-
lieve suffering and distress wherever
il exists, according to the Roanoke
Times, which feels "it is due TO a
whether the situation in Germany is
such as to actually warrant this
'handout' from the American govern
ment." The Springfield Union admits
1t is difficult question, because
there is the humanitarian call that
in most circumstances a humanitarian
nation like ours heeds. but in these
circumstances il is "A question wheth-
er Congress is warranted in using
public money and thereby adding to
precedents that have no constitutional
standing and may have unpleasant
consequences. it is a question whether
in all such cases the humanitarian
feeling of the country should not ex-
press Itself in private subscriptions
rather than in public appropriations
Because the money is needed, the
Duluth News Tribune is loath to crit
icize, yet the appropriation is wrong
in principle, and IL follows a danger
Gus precedent which has been set up
since the war" for voting millions
for charity and then collecting ii
from the taxpayers is not the func-
tion of government, and once the
policy is adopted it is difficult to
script also questions the constitution
ality of the action, and declares
there is indeed everything against
this proposition and very little to be
the Senate will be found superior to
the influences that have produced this
vote in the House"
If the Senate concurs in the House
bill, The Star suggested "the Ameri-
can people will not begrudge the gift,
but the effect is likely to be con-
siderable Stiffening OF sentiment in
favor of making the German govern
ment and German industrialists toe
the scratch. 1t would be too much
to expect there will be continued pa
thence with German evasion and
double-dealing" The Chicago Trib-
une points out that Germany is gem
orally recognized among all stu
dents and personal observers of Euro
pean conditions to have ample food
for its children. women and men, if it
will only distribute that food"
The real way to relieve the poor in
Germany, the Detroit Free Press
of that country to disgoree and con-
tribute. That work, however, is pri-
marily a job for the Berlin govern
ment. and afterward for the European
allies" To which the Columbus Dis.
patch adds "a ringing expression of
American indignation at the attitude
of these selfish industriaHsts of the
SHINES type might shake down more
money over there than the congress
sional $1o,ooo,ooo proposed from this
1t should be remembered, the Cleve-
land Plain Dealer maintains, that
with the annual shortage plainly in
sight, the German government has
expended millions of dollars in the
Ruhr to keep the population in idle
ness. In this campaign against full
fllment of treaty obligations enough
money was sQuandered to have pro-
vided abundant food for all the German
people who are now facing several
months of food shortage. If the
House resolution is approved by the
Senate, the United States will be
helping to reimburse Germany for the
subsidies"
The Sioux City Journal, further
more. thinks lit might surprise
American legislators who have sup
ported the German relief appropria-
tions to know that Germany has
spent vast amounts on the building of
new war machine, that stalwart
men in that country have been drill
ing in military maneuvers instead
of working in the fields and produc-
ing the necessities of life-and for
what except to create anew for other
millions at some future time the same
Referring to the reports received
by the United States Department of
Agriculture, which shows an increase
in production in Germany, the Little
Rock Arkansas Gazette insists Amer
ica has no money to lavish upon a
country that is blessed with abun-
dant crops" and "the lawmakers at
least should know what they are do
inE before they do fg The Norfolk