The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-11-03
LIBERIA MUST
INDUSTRIALIzE
FOR DEMOCRACY
BY CHARLES J. WARTMAN

A soft spoken, intelligent young
man Of 80 with Sl,shuy foreign
accent stopped over this week IN
Detroit on his way 20 Akron, Ohio
20 see the Frrestune people
The young man MAS Harry
Morris Of Liberia. one Of the
largest Liberian rubber piantz-
tion owners. whose company dur
Ing the war shipped 500 tons Of
rubber To the United States a
year 10 aid in the war effort.
Young MORRIS comes from a
long line Of lluStrioaS lJberianS
who have played an important part
tn the development Of that com
try which tins year IS celebrating
. hundred years Of national life
Born i'm Iberia in 1918. the son
Of John /. Morris. a man who held
many public Offices IN the country
curing his life time. and grandson
DIR. Ernest LYONS. former Recorder
in the United States Treasury, ana
an early immigrant IN Liberia.
States and in Liberia
In 1895 when his father died,
Harry took over the 2000-acrs
rubber plantation. which pro-
vides employment for rs people
and on which 600 acres Of rubber
trees are now being tapped"
IN THE NEXT two years we
expect 10 be tapping the entire
1000 acres" Morris said
Morris told the Chronicle that
his visit 10 the United States also
includes some arrangements for the
Iiberian Centennial celebration
which will run from l947 10 l949
While here he is also visiting his
lister. Maude, who is studying 10
be q Certified Public Accountant al
Columbia university and his broth
or. Richelieu. who is studying
diplomacy al Tufts college in Bos-
ton. Another sister. Adelaide. rs
now back in Liberia with the u. 5.
Public Health project after secur-
ing her masters at Columbia.
Commenting on the labor sit
uation I'm the United States Nor
ris said. ~ feel that both capital
and labor must work out their
problems II the peace is TO mean
anything. A prosperous United
States Is necessary for . pros
Porous Liberia"
Mr.. Morris said further that he
thought that the policy OF Liberia
- - hn
United States where II does not
conflict with the national interest
OF his nation in making the United
Nations charter a working organ.
ization.
II have seen considerable change
In Liberia in the last Ave years
toward a more progressive outlook.
Our present administration is do
ing Its best 10 carry out ideas that
the world has come 10 accept"
Morris said.
Declaring that his country has
received q great deal OF unfavor-
able criticism in this country on
the question Of class distinctions,
the Liberian plantation owner said
"There are no class distinctions in
Liberia. There may be a reason
why certain groups in the United
States have made so much Of polit-
zeal social and economic differences
in my country because they want
TO attack our constitution which
states that no person not of African
descent may own property in
Liberia"
Queried as 10 the position of the
Firestone Rubber company in Lii
IBERIA. Morris said that the Fire
stone company did not own land in
Liberia but that il was leased 10
them on a 99-year basis. The
terms OF this lease have been re-
viewed at least three times since
Firestone came 10 Liberia" he
aaid and 7 feel cprtain that when