Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-08
Goldenberg's, ] & k.

| American National Red Cross Association,
| expressed himself as amused at the com
parison of the Red Cross organization
abroad with that Of the United States.
THE open letter written by ex-Secretary
Foster on behalf of the disaffected men,
bers of the Red Cross, in reply to Miss
Barton's generous and dignified effort to
harmonic existing differences he said.
is curious and interesting commentary
upon the weakness and lack Of knowledge
of international Red Cross affairs.
THE dark and threatening clouds OF
revelations and charges which they have
conjured up have apparently evaporated
into the atmosphere out of which they
were created and nothing appears to be
left but an arragnment of the American
National Red Cross, based upon a COM
parison of statistical reports of the Red
Cross societies in other countries with
the financial position of the American Ma
tional Red Cross.
1T cannot be imagined that an ex-Sec-
rotary of State should be totally igno-
rant of the conditions existing in European
countries where Red Cross affairs are ad
ministered to seriously believe that the
array of figures he quotes from statistical
reports have any bearing on the question
of comparison between the methods of the
American Society and Red Cross societies
in other countries
I'm European countries, where the Red
Cross is organized to deal almost wholly
with conditions growing out or wars, the
Red Cross is the foster child of the state
and of the war department. 1t is sup
ported by grants and appropriations and
also by contributions out of funds
trolled and raised by the government for
national philanthropy. In the case of Aus
tria the funded income was derived from
a series Of lotteries which were author
lied by the government for the purpose OF
raising Red Cross funds.
"Mr. Foster must be perfectly aware that
the condition and methods of organization
and means of support of the Red Cross in
foreign nations Is so entirely different from
the methods existing in this country that
there is no more analogy between them
than there Is between the methods of the
political government of those countries and
the government of our own.
HE must be aware too, that the internal
government of the American Red Cross
which has obtained since the act of incor-
poration by Congress is entirely foreign to
the methods governing other Red Cross So
cieties. When the Red Cross was first
planted in this country its plan Of organiza-
ton followed the exact lines existing in
similar societies abroad. Its president was
appointed by the President of the United
States, which appointment was duly con-
firmed by the International central commit
tees aAd its officers were all appointed for
reasons of special fitness and efficiency.
Under this method the society commenced
to grow up and its magnificent record is a
part of the history of this country. Then
came the change in its organization which
was necessary 70 fulfill the conditions of
an organized corporate body. Among these
conditions were the elective system, and
other methods not conducive to the growth
of society of such distinctly peculiar
characteristics as the Red Cross Although
this condition has undoubtedly arrested It's
growth, it is rapidly readjusting Itself. and
the magnificent program of Miss Barton for
its Internal organization and extension into
new fields Of work, we think, should re-
lieve Mr. Fosters mind of the anxious fear
that the American National Red Cross is