The Topeka state journal., 1906-04-25
TURNS IT over.
President Roosevelt Issues a
Relief Proclamation.
Directs That Aid Be Sent to
Local Committee.
THE NEED HAS PASSED.
Red Cross Now Necessary Only
as an Auxiliary.
President Also Telegraphs to
Mayor Schmitz.

Washington, April 25.-Tn procla-
nation issued today President Roose-
velt urges the American people now to
send their contributions for the allevia
ton Of the distress IN san Francisco d.
rectly to former Mayor James D. Phe-
Ian, chairman of the finance committee,
in San Francisco, instead Of to the
American Red Cross.
The president pays a high tribute to
the work accomplished by the citizens
committee of San Francisco and indi
Gates that the necessity for working
through the Red Cross exclusively has
passed.
The text of the proclamation follows:
ITO the Public:
When the news OF the dreadful dis
aster at San Francisco first came ii
was necessary to take immediate steps
to provide in some way for the receipt
and the distribution Of the sums OF
money which at once poured in for the
relief of the people Of San Francisco.
At the moment no one could foretell
how soon it would be possible for the
people of San Francisco themselves to
organize and to tide over the interval
the American National Red Cross as
soeiation was designated to receive ant
disburse the funds
But the people of san Francisco
with an energy and self reliant cour-
age, cool resourcefuIness and a ca
pacity for organized and orderly en-
! Geavcr which are beyond all nra{se
| have already met the need through
/ committees appointed by the mayor Of
! the city, ex-Mayor James n Phelan
being chairman Of the finance com
miitee- The work Of these committees
4 has been astonishing in its range.
4 promptness and efficiency. As I am
J informed by Ma jor General Greelv. al
! though all local transportation was
4 destroyed. as we'll as practically every
supply store in the city, these local
/ committees, with the help Of the army
/ nave succeeded in caring for 800 900
homeless people in the last five days.
Thanks to their efforts no Individual
| IS now suffering severely for food wa
/ ter or temporary seelter. This work
has been done vita the minimum of
waste and under conditions which
would have appalled, men less trained
/ IN business methods. endowed with
less ability or inspired with any but
/ the highest motives of humanity. and
helptulness. The need Of annlovjnss
the Red Cross, save as an auxiliary.
has passed, and I urge that hereafter
ali contributions from any source be
sePt direct to James D. Phelan chair
man of the finance committee. san
/ Francisco. Mr.. Devine. of the Red
] Cross. will disburse any contributions
1 sent TO him through ex-Mayor Pneia1
and will work in accord with him in
all ways.
(Signed)
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
The White House, April 25. 1906"
In connection with the procIana-
/ ton the president auth orized the pub
lication of a telegram which he had
sent to Mayor Schmitz of San Francisco
| acknowledging the receipt of a tele-
gram signed by the mayor, Judge Nor
row, ex-Mayor Phelan and others. In
| the telegram the president quotes the
/ proclamation he has issued and then
| adds to it as follows.
There was of course absolutely nc
| question that every sufferer would be
committees as soon as they were or
ganized, and action through the Red
| Cross was simply to fill the gap until
your organization was perfected. and
| it would of course have been a derelic-
ton of duty on our part if we had not
at once taken steps to see that the gap
was filled at a time when 1t was Inn
possible for US to know how soon you
would be organized have sent a
| message to congress today urging ar
immediate appropriation for the work
at Mare Island navy yard and for an
| appropriation for the buildings asked
for by the war department In few
days I shall send in a further COM
! munication for the rebuilding of other
public buildings, but I am not vet able
to get details as to the amount needed
for these.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"