The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-01-25
CHARITY OVERTAXED
Repeated Cries for Relief
Daunt American ArdOr.
RED CROSS IN NEED OF FUNDS
Officials Claim That Despite Presi-
dent ROOsevelt's Stirring Appeal,
Sufferers Are SmnII-VOIuntary Do
nations, Generally, Have Fallen on.

That great disasters and calamIties in
different parts of the world have oc-
CURED with such unusual frequence with
in the past year as TO rather Overtax the
charitable and humanitarian spirit Of the
American people. in responding to cries
for relief. is the opinion Of officials Of the
American Branch of the National Red
Cross, as expressed yesterday.
This view is formulated in the face
Of the fact that notwithstanding that
II has been a month ago since the Presi-
dent issued his stirring appeal to the
American people TO contribute to the re-
lief Of 100000 starving people in China,
only $1,000 in contributions have been re-
ceived so far, and nearly all of this came
in within the first two weeks. notwith-
standing that there has been a dreadful
calamity at Kingston, in which many
Americans suffered, no contributions have
been volunteered for relief work there,
Notwithstanding that certain sections Of
Russia are experiencing the worst famine
ever known in the history Of that EN-
pire, and millions Of people are officially
reported as facing starvation, only Two
contributions have been volunteered for
relief work there.
Last winter within a few weeks after
the call Of the Red Cross. without the
aid Of a proclamation from the Presi-
dent, for contributions % relieve suffer-
ers OF the famine in Japan, several times
the sum Of $4,000 had been contributed;
contributions came In more literally for
relief Of the sufferers from the eruption
OF Vesuvius last spring. The San Fran
cisco horror was different. Of course. be-
ing nearer at home. and contributions
for that cause rapidly ran UP into the
hundreds Of thousands Of dollars
DreEs of Funds Reached.
The Red Cross did not appeal for con-
tributions to aid the sufferers Of the fam
disaster In Kingston. It is well that they
did not. for It would have brought little
response, as the American people seem 10
have reached the dregs Of their funds for
such humanitarian relief work IN different
parts Of the world. Even the religious
peoples of the country, who are always
the first TO come forward with their con
tTibuti0us, have reached a halt. for the
religious papers that are appealing weekly
and daily for aid arr meeting with little
Qr no response; clergymen who appeal
personally from the pulpit TO their conere-
cations are receiving less encouragement
than ordinarily they would for funds 10
aid the mission work in "enlightening the
heather Of interior China, Just where the
famine and food have wrought their
worst fearful devastation.
The Red Cross. having undertaken 10 af-
ford relief, is determined not TO give up.
Aside from the Presidents proclamation
and the appeal issued from the national
headquarters and the State branches Of
the society. Miss Mabel Boardman. mem
Der Of the executive committee directly
in charge OF relief work, has issued a
public appeal to the country through the
press with little result Following this
appeals have been sent to the editors OF
nearly half hundred sectarian papers in
different parts Of the country. and the re-
suit of this is being anXiously awaited
In States where there IS no branch of the
society, editors Of the larger papers have
been designated within the past few days
by the officials 70 conduct a campaign for
funds and transmit them 10 the national
Offices