The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-04-26
PAYS HIGH TRIBUTE
TO 'FR|SC0'5 CITIZENS
President Directs That Con-
tributiOns Be Sent to For
mer Mayor Phelan.

WASHINGTON, April 25.-In procla-
nation issued today President Roosevelt
urges the American people now to send
their contributions for the allevlation OF
the distress In San Francisco directly to
former Mayor James d Phelan, chairman
OF the finance committee. in San Fran
cisco, instead of to the American Rcd
Cross
Pays High Tribute.
The President pays high tribute to the
work accomplished by the citizens COM
mittee OF San Francisco and indicates
that the necessity for working through
the Red Cross exclusively has passed.
The text OF the proclamation follows
Quick Action Required.
ITO the Public:
When the news OF the dreadful disaster
at San Francisco first came II was neces-
sary to take immediate steps to provide
in some way for the receipt and distrbu-
poured in for the relief of the people OF
San Francisco, AT the moment no one
could forctell how soon 1t would be pos
sble for the people OF San Francisco
themselves to organize; and to tide over
the interval the American National Red
Cross association was designated to re-
ceiye and dlsburse the funds.
Met the Situation.
But the people of San Francisco. with
an energy and self-relant courage, a cool
ganized and orderly endeavor which are
beyond all praise. have already met the
need through committees appointed by
the mayor OF the city, eX-Aayor James
ID. Phelan being chairman of the finance
committee.
Minimum of Loss.
"The work OF these committees has been
astonishing In It's range, promptness and
efficiency. AS / am informed by Major
General Greedy, although all local trans
porteton was destroyed. as well as prac-
tically every supply store In the city,
these local committees. with the help OF
3l0 900 homeless people in the last five
days Thanks TO their efforts no individ-
ual is now suffering severely for food.
water or temporary shelter.
Work Has Been Wonderful.
This work has been done with the min
imum 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 helpful
Cross, save as an auxiliary, has passed
and / urge that hereafter all contributions
from any source be sent direct to James
D. Phelan, chairman of the anauce com
mittec San Francisco, Mr. Devine. OF the
Red Cross VIII disburse any contributions
set TO him through ex-Mayor Phelan and
5
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
Publishes Telegram.
In connection with the proclamation the
President authorized the publication OF
telegram which he had sent to Mayor
Schmitz of San Francisco acknowledging
the receipt of Il telegram signed by the
mayor. Judge Morrow, cx-Mayor Phelau
and others. In the telegram tho Presi-
dent quotes the proclamation he has is
sued and then adds TO II as follows:
Purpose Of Red Cross.
There was OF course absolutely no
question that every sufferer would be
helped simply as a sufferer by your com
mittees as soon as they were organized
and action through the Red Cross was
simply to fill them up until your organlza-
ton was perfected and IL would OF course
have been negligence on our part II we
had not at once taken steps to see that
the gap was filled at time when IL was
impossible for us to know how soon you
would be organized. l have sent mes
sage to Congress today urging an I'm
mediate appropriation for the work at
Mare Island navy yard and for an appro-
priation for the buildings asked for by
the War department In few days i
shall send II a further communication for
the rebuilding OF the public buildings. but
am not yet able TO get details as to the
amount needed for these.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"