The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-08-25
NEW RED CROSS MOVE
Object Of a Society With a Big
!. Permanent Fund.
PLANNED BY MISS CLARA BARTor

tress Without Waiting For Ma
to BE Set Up-Wants Her
Scheme to Develop into a Great
National Movement.
J1siss Clara Barton, founder and pres
ident of the Red Cross. who is visiting
her native town, Oxford, Mass, has
prepared an address to the American
people, In which she outlines a plan for
the collection Of a million dollar fund
with which something permanent for
the aid Of humanity can be established
in anticipation Of the time when she
must necessarily lay down her work,
says the New York Herald.
1t Is assumed that the new organiza.
ton will be an annex of the Red Cross,
but some persons say it will be a rival.
This fund, she proposes, shall be
backed by an organization to be known
as the National Society Of Red Cross
and be at the ready command of a
finance committee of men of national
reputation when calamity breaks upon
the country. or, as one of her associates
describes it, "a fund that may be used
without waiting for the slow organiza-
ton of relief committees and the cree
ton of elaborate machinery for passing
every dollar to be distributed through
a cash register"
Miss Barton has SEN invitations to
leading men in all the states to be-
cone members Of the national advisory
board Of the Red Cross, and she says
the favorable responses are general.
"a time must come" says Miss Bar
ton in her address to the public, when
I will be compelled to lay down my
work. Out of the many years l have
given to this work has grown one dear
ambition, If | may call 1t such, a great
desire to leave the Red Cross a great
national institution in the hands Of the
people, supported by the people, for
their mutual help and strength In the
face Of disaster.
ut is proposed that any reputable
person in the United States may be-
come a subscribing member Of the Red
Cross upon the payment OF 81 a year,
which Is the full membership dues.
Upon the payment Of so cents addi-
tional the Red Cross badge, in the
form of a pin or button, may be pro-
cured, and so cents will procure a d.
ploma Of membership for framing.
II want this idea to spread and grow
until 1t develops into n great national
Red Cross movement. Then my hope
will be realized, and when my cal;
shall come | can lay the burden Of my
work tenderly and lovingly into the
lap Of the whole people with whom l
have labored SO many years, who will
keep it and cherish it always, because
1t Is the great sacred cause of human
tty which they hold.
"Out of the great national fund so
created ! want first to have erected
permanent executive offices, which
shall be the peoples home Of the Red
Cross. This will contain a permanent
organization for administering Red
Cross relief not only on the immediate
field of disaster, but relief of all the
suffering and distress growing out of a
great calamity.
"From these central executive offices
of the Red Cross will be directed the
new educational movement in the di-
rection of popular instruction in first
aid methods of treatment Of the in
jured, needed more and more as our
population and dangers increase.
I'm addition l am organizing a inan-
cia1 committee. composed Of men of
national reputation and experience,
who will stand as a warranty to the
nation that the funds Of the people are
being administered with careful integ-
rity."
Friends Of the new society say it is
an elaboration Of the Red Cross.
"First aid department, branch No.
J." of the new society has been organ
lied at Oxford, Mass. with Alfred III.
Chaffee as chairman and r. O. Bixby
as secretary. 1t is the intention to have
similar branches everywhere.
To Revive "a Great Educator's Fame.