The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-04-14

X w. t.tudes OF Belgium
= an d occupied
" MIhEkfij' France, rot with
~ CA..l.u.,~ loaves and fishes
but with S1.400,
100000 that his
semi cfficA! commission raised IN
America and other countries. AS
y. S. food administrator IN 1917, he
introduced "Meafless Tuesday" and
"Nheatless Wednesdays To a ma
ton Of 10000, 900 people who had
never been used to d.ctation - and
made them like it.
The war work of this man. now
q presidential candidate, stands out
as one Of the greatest lndlv!dua!
achievements in the history Of the
world.
In London When War Started
The outbreak Of the war IN 1914
found Herbert Hoover N London,
ore Of tho hlgheSt paid mining en-
eiaeers in the world and well on the
way toward the anlasslng OF trerlen--
deus wealth: When the armies OF
Europe swung into action, that part
Of Hoover's life ended and a new
epoch in his career began-an epoch
that was to carry him to worldwide
service ard worldwide fame.
In the early days Of August, 1914,
there were 10000 Americans, home
ward bound, stranded in London.
Gold disappeared from correlation;
checks, drafts and letters Of credit
suddenly lost their value. The Amer
lean consulate was swamped with
appeals for aid.
Hoover plunged into this situa'
ton. With fellow Americans liv-
mr. in London, he raised S250,0OO
cash for loans. The American en-
bassy got 5000 900 more from Wash
.ngton. Soon the stranded wander
ers were safely on their way home.
Eat that lob was only prelude.
Belgium, overrun by German armies.
was in grave danger Of starvation.
An American living in Brussels went
to London and appealed to Hoover
fo- aid. At the same time. the
Ealgian ambassador in London ap-
pea!ed to the American ambassador,
who likewise suggested Hoover
Hoover accepted; he chucked his
private business affairs and went ia
work for humanity.
Appeals to Allies
BY October, 1914, he had skele.
ton organization set up and recelv.
ing contributions, we'll on the way
toward the gigantic task Of feeding
100000 hungry people. Then he
appealed to the allied governments
and enlisted their contributions.
Before long the Belgian Relief
Commission was spending $17,0O0.-
600 month, SlO,000,00O Of which
came from France and England ana
the rest from private contributors
mostly IN the United States. The
commission had a fleet Of 20 cargo
ships, flew its own flag. insured its
own passports ard maintained ar
organization Of $4,000 workers II
Belgium and occupied France.
In those days, Hoover was the one
man in the world who could come
and go wherever he pleased, withou'
asking anyone's permission, ever
through the German lines.
It was tremendous job. Hoover
after the war, admitted It.
There was never time hs
said. when our finances We're Ger
tain for so days ahead. or when gu,
contracts did not exceed our asset:
by anywhere from S5,000,000 tt
$4,000, 0O0'
In its four years Of existence
Hoover's commission spent upwards
Of S1,400, 100000. The adr.inlstra
ton expense never averaged naor'
than one-half Of one per cent.
Wilson Calls Him
The record that he had made j.
Belgium caused President Wilson
in 1917, to summon Hoover to Wash
ington to become food adnainistrato
Of the United States. Food was need
ed for the allies and needed badly
the Argentine wheat crop Of 49,
had failed and with II went los
Of 20O,00O,000 potential bushel;
Sinking Of cargo ships by Sub
marines complicated the problem,
So there came that well-remen,
bered period when posters, news
papers and magazines dinned Ii
American ear on every hand tia
food must not be wasted; when j
was drilled into children in til
schools, hurled at theatre audi
ences by four-mirute speaker:
preached from the pulpits by pa;
tors. There were "Meat!ess Tue:
days" "Wheatless Wednesdays an
the like. And directing all thl
great work Of organization was on
man who sat at desk in Washing
ton and occasionally went out in til
late afternoons to build dams wit
his two boys in the tiny streams 9
Rock Greek park.
Well, it worked. The 100000
bushels. saved at American table!
went forward fortexport accordin
to schedule. Countless other ca,
goes Of food followed across tn
Atlantic and the flow continued unit
the war ended.
Hoover Faces Bigger Task
The war came to . close, bt
H00ver's job did not. Instead
faced even = bigger task.
The war left Europe practical
bankrupt, without food and withou
money. Countless millions were fa.
ing starvation il the General chsn
~ disorgenized misery that naarke
~ wake 81 the great conflict. Muc
a Europe tottered on the edge {
8olohevi6m and ruin.
y ynan was needed-a man VII
1E6s oqu4l 70 the gigantic task
III that man was Hoover. An
u G3 pR1nshn0t YHilann cent him I