Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-31
WORK. OF RED CROSS
MEETING IN INTEREST OF So
CIETY AT BELAsCo THEATER.

1t was a distinguished audience which
gathered yesterday afternoon in the Belasco
Theater to learn about the work of the Ma
tional Society of the American Red Cross
and why 1t lies within the scope of its
work to assist the Japanese in their day OF
desolation and suffering because of the war
with Russia. The carriages lined up around
Lafayette Park made the scene like that OF
New Year day reception at the White
House. Among them were to be found
those belonging to half the diplomatic corps
and the resident official society.
Secretary Taft. president of the American
National Red Cross Society, presided. Upon
the platform were seated twenty registered
Red Cross nurses, designated by their white
caps and aprons. Others upon the plat
form were Mr.. H. B. F. mcfarland, Dis
trtct Commissioner; Miss Mabel T. Board
man, Representative De Almond of Mis-
souri,, Col. Valery Harvard. assistant sur
geon general. and Capt. Charles Lynch as
sistant surgeon, U. 8. A. The main floor Of
the theater was comfortably filled when the
sentative and Mrs Nicholas Longworth, Jus
tice Brewer of the United States Supreme
Court, Capt. and Mrs. w. 8. Cowles, Sur
geon General O'Re1liy of the army. Sur
geOn General RiXey OF the navy, and Sur
geon General Walter Wyman of the United
States public health and marine hospital
service.
Mr.. mcfarland opened the proceedings In
a brief address, saying:
THE national capital congratulates the
American National Red Cross. Regener-
ated, 1t has started upon new career OF
greater usefulness, showing the world that
we not given over to SeifshnesS, but
that the heart OF the nation Is still re-
sponsive to every cry of need. Tie late
gifts through the Red Cross to our Japa-
nese brothers and sisters show the new
/ oNv,A6 In he q "a q no
spirit Of helpfulness. Not only In war,
when the army that saves marches with the
army that Stays, but In peace, when great
calamities come the Red Cross, like
Greatheart. that gallant Red Cross knight,
advances quickly to the help of the help
less and the rescue of the distressed. It
has a right to our unqualified sympathy
and support.
Secretary Taft's Address
In opening his remarks Secretary Taft
said this country had probably not seen
its last war.
THE history of the United States" said
Secretary Taft lis not such that we can
count on not having another war, and. as
Congress Is unwilling to appropriate enough
money to supply the army with surgeons
and nurses In time of peace, the necessity
for organizations which will render assist
ance In time of war is apparent"
The Secretary then commented upon Cne
manner In which the Red Cross work Is
rising In the estimation of the people since
its reorganization and gave much praise
TO Miss Boardnau. who, he said, had been
the dominating power In eneeting changes
in the society which he declared, would
enable it to command public confidence and
to flourish as the Red Cross has done In
Japan and the leading European countries.
where they have government appropria-
lions He thought there was a splendid
future before the society and that there
would be magnificent opportunities Tor the
National Society of the American Red Cross
to show to the world what 1t could do IN
times Of direst distress.
Review of the Work.
Miss Boardman reviewed the work ac-
complished by the japanese Red Cross,
practically a government institution, as are
all the foreign Red Cross societies, which
now has membership of over 100000 per-
sons. and asked the cooperation of all
philosophical Americans in assisting the
American society She explained that all
funds are now administered through the
War Department, and sad the coatribu-
tons which have been received TO relieve
the famine in Japan show that confidence
In the American Red Cross is restored.
Miss Boardman expressed tie belief that
If the work of the Red Cross Soeiety were
only understood it would appeal TO every
American heart, for its aims are so entirely
hilanthropic, helpful and patriotic. She
urged organization Of local societies and
cooperation with tie national society IN
the plans which they are organizing to
carry out. She spoke hopefully of what
had been accomplished, aEd painted glow
ing picture of the immense value of the
trained Red Cross nurses III he service.
Other Addresses.
Representative De Almond spoke espe-
cially of the work OF the 7. I'd Cross IN time
of peace, and pointed GU, tn. good a we'll
equipped organization can do in case of
floods and other disasters.
Col Valery Harvard and Capt Charles
Lynch spoke Of the effective worl: done by
the Russian and japanese Red Cross go
ceties IN the recent war, ana Illustrated
their addresses with some very tine pictures
they took OF hospital operations in Man
chura.
The audience expressed its interest in the
program by well-timed and enthusiastic ap-
plause and remained till after the einner
hour in close attention.
Mrs Marietta Chaplin Pearsons died at