Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-05-20
CLARA BARTON.
She Issues Statement to the Ameri-
 can People.

Red Cross, have never once felt that 1t was the desire of the American peo- pie that I should personally enter with in the circle of disturbance, and have consequently remained a silent and sorrowful spectator of controversy that appeared to me to be leading where no true, loyal friend of the Red Cross would care to follow.
 Every effort I have ever made on behalf of the people of the United States during the long years of my work has been met with friendly ap- proval or thoughtful response. These efforts have been always made on be half of suffering humanity, in times of dire distress and peril, and I have administered with free but careful hand the benefciaries of whatever na- ture have been intrusted to me, and as freely have given of all that possessed of strength, health and pri- vate means.
 Never once have I made suggestion on behalf of myself or my difficulties, and have therefore had the confidence to feel that nothing was expected of me but a straightforward advance along natural path of my life work. So certain have I been of this, and so confident in the firm loyalty, safe coun- sel and moral support of the eminent help surrounding me, that 1 have felt free to devote my energies during the past months to perfecting plan for so broadening and strengthening the or ganization of the Red Cross, that it may enter on a new field of useful ac- tivity, on a work that will appeal di- rectly to the people everywhere and prepare them in these times of peace ful we'll being, to meet intelligently and, successfully any emergency or dis aster that may occur, either nationally or Individually.
 It is my desire that this new work shall be the means of creating ample funds to meet any great national ca lamity, and that the Red Cross may hereafter enter the field fully equipped at the instant the call may come.
 In times past urgent calls have come to us and precious time has been lost through lack of funds and suitable equipment. It is most desirable that this condition should be remedied, and it is to this end that am making an appeal to the American people, not for their money nor their substance, but that they cooperate with me earnestly in this new work, this effort to benefit themselves, that I am fendeavoring to inaugurate.
 It will be borne in mind that in the twenty years of its existence the American National Red Cross has never appealed, never asked for nor sought the control of a dollar even for relief, but has, as it seeks to do in this movement, left the people free in the exercise of their own choice and intel ligence. The only apparent suspension of this method took place during the active service of the Spanish-American war, when the great committees, formed at the instance of President McKinIsy, raised money for relief in the name of the Red Cross and applied l it, the society itself holding its normal l position under the attorneyship of the noble Cuban relief committee, which did honor to itself and the. nation. Gan it be too much to expect that l this one appeal will meet ready re- 1 spOnse at the hands of the people? We are actively organizing new branch of the Red Cross, to be known l as the first aid department of the 1 American National Red Cross, which department will be largely educational, l and will concern itself in instructing l the people everywhere throughout the l United States in the best modern meth of first aid treatment, in all cases of accident and emergency
 ] There will be two distinct branches of this work. For the first, an emer- 1 gency case similar to that in use in England, Germany and other Red 1 Cross treaty nations. This has been adapted to American needs and meth ods, under the direct supervision of l the medical board of the Red Cross hospital, and contains material and surgical dressings of the best class
 known to modern surgery. A most valuable part of the permanent equip
 ment of this emergency case is a series l of emergency charts, arranged for in stantaneous reference, giving simple
 brief instructions for dealing witt every conceivable case of accident
 pending the arrival of the doctor. This l chart is the combined work of com mittee of eminent physicians and sur geons, and apart from the admirable manner of it's arrangement may be re l garded as the highest standard of au
 thority upon first aid methods of treat
 ment known to the world.
 Most perfect arrangements have beer l made for the manufacture of these eemrgency cases, ard an organization
 is created to introduce them to railroad
 corporations, mills, factories, stores |,schools, private houses, etc. They vii
 be sold at nominal price and what
 ever of profit is realized will go tc meet the needful expenses of the organ
 ization, for which there has hitherto
 been only personal provision, and th'
 creation of a fund for meeting grea
 national calamities.
 The other branch of the departmen
 will undertake the formation of frs
 aid emergency classes in every city il
 the country. Ambulance corps will b,
 formed among the employees of mill
 and factories, industrial corporations
 railroad employees, the police and em
 ployes of public departments. Thes,
 employees will be drilled and instructed
 in first aid methods, and apart iron
 the value of the knowledge they will
 obtain for local use and service, the,
 will form an efficient force to drav |