Life, 1917-02-22 · page 12 of 42
Life — February 22, 1917 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page discusses Herbert Hoover's role as "Reliever" providing Belgian humanitarian aid during World War I. The text debates Hoover's contributions, claiming Americans (particularly Hoover) deserve credit for Belgian relief efforts, while Hoover himself apparently sought only financial compensation rather than public recognition or naturalization in England. The photograph shows what appears to be a formal gathering or "bowling party" hosted by C. Weir Riche, described as a "Great American" who gave a celebrated event with "nine pins" and "magnums of champagne." The apple illustration is captioned "It looked like a perfectly good apple," likely a visual pun about Hoover's wholesome public image. The satirical thrust critiques Hoover's motivations and credit-taking regarding wartime relief work.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Hoover—Belgium OOVER is here! Hoover; Her- bert C.,, the Reliever. He is here about Belgium and re- lief. He is here with both feet. He wants Belgium relieved at once on a large, continuous scale, and wants us to do it; he says we ought to do it; that it is our job; that the Bel- gians mostly think we are their chief relicvers, whereas the truth is that of 250 million dollars spent for Belgian relief up to January 1, 1917, ¢ nine millions; and Hoover says we made thirty millions on the supplies we sold. . , No doubt these are true figures, but Hoover does not quite do us justice, in that he has omitted to mention our greatest gift to Belgium. We haven't given her much moncy, but we gave her Hoover! So we claim, Maybe Hoover thinks he gave Hoover. He might make out a case for that, but if he does it will leave our case looking very sick, for we have had much credit for Belgian relief and have not given much money. What Hoover has done, and the Americans who have worked with him, is the main part of what the Belgians thank us for. Hoover will protest at this and probably insist that he has not done more than others, and it is true that he has had good helpers; but if you go to the helpers to find out the truth about it, they will tell you, “ Hoover The papers say the British appreciate Hoover and wanted to naturalize him. But he declined. He does not wish to be naturalized in England nor lionized here. What he wants is money; money for Belgium! He thinks we should IT LOOKED LIKE A APPLE ERFECTLY GOop GREAT AMERICANS G. WEIR KICHE, WHO GAVE THE CELEBRATED BOWLING PARTY, WHERE THE NINE- PINS WERE MAGNUMS OF CHAMPAGNE pay in for Belgium at least six millions a month. Fhat w-uld meet about one- third of Belgium’s monthly needs. Send the money to the Belgium Re- lief Commission, 120 Broadv New York. Keep on sending it; a little ata time if more convenient, but preferably a good lat a time, for six millions a month is quite a bit of money. If we get into the war, of which, at this writing there is a cheering prospect, our government may undertake part of this duty, un- less, indeed, the German blockade has the power and the disposition to stop all transportation of relief. Mr. Hoo- ver thinks Belgium relief will not. be affected by the new blockade, as the Commission's ships now have passes from all the belligerents. Anyhow, the Commission's. ships will sail as usual until further notice and money must continue to be provided to load them. So send it in! comicbooks.com