Evening star., 1907-11-19
|RED CROSS SOCIETY
ANNUAL SESSION OF DISTRICT
BRANCH HELD YESTERDAY.

The District of Columbia branch of the
National Society OF the American Red
| Cross met in its annual session yesterday
| afternoon at the home Of one OF its most
earnest and industrious members, Miss
| Mabel T. Boardman. While the attend
ance was not large. the members present
made up in enthusiasm and interest for
the smallness of the gathering. 1t was
explained that the incleme mt weather had
kept great many away.
Mr.. Gist Blair. vice president, in the
absence of the president, Mr.. Arnold
Hague. presided. and the reports of the
officers were read and approved. The re-
port of the treasurer showed the finances
| of the District branch to be In satisfac-
tory condition. while that of the secretary
| showed an increase in membership, and
the following enrolled for medical services
In the Red Cross: Drs Roy D. Adams ans
Frank Briscoe. L. H. Reichelderfer. Cliff
ton Mayf1eld, ]. w. Chappelle. John A
Foote. John A. O'Donoghue, Thomas F.
Fowler Robert G. Sullivan. John Berrie.
Jesse H. Remsburgh. Prentiss Wilson and
| s. Logan Owens.
The discussion of the advisabilty Of or
ganizing relief societies in the District re-
| suited IN the unanimous adoption Of reso-
lutions to that effect. The resignation of
Mr.. Thomas R. Jones as secretary was
also accepted.
Prevention of Tuberculosis.
lengthy and interesting discussion on
| the prevention Of tuberculosis was en-
gagged in by Surgeon General Sternberg,
DR.. Kober and Rev. John Van Schaick.
| Gen. George NJ Sternberg told OF the
! worldwide battle being waged against
| tuberculosis. He said that science had
| found that the fight can be waged sue
| cessfuly. and that now there should be
| instilled into the public mind the methods
| of prevention and cure. He declared that
| there were many dying Of the white
| plague every year in Washington as were
killed in the whole Spanish war. Part of
the prevention" he continued, 'is to cure
| the sick, and the afflicted ought to be sent
| to proper stations and not allowed to min
| gle with those who are not afflicted"
| In the discussion which followed it de-
| veloped that this opinion was shared by
| every one present
| Miss Mabel Boardman spoke at length
| in the interest Of the first aid department
of the Red Cross Society, and the neces-
sity that this department should be ready
| for the sudden emergencies which are al
| ways arising when summoned to mine ex
| plosions, mill accidents and the various
| calamities and catastrophies which are
| always imminent.
| She added that schools should be estab-
lished here in Washington for the instruc-
| 8,
subjects, suoh as hygiene. foods and bath
ing, should be taught. Her motion to that
effect resulted in the appointment Of the
| following committee to report its feast
bility: DR.. Nordhof Jung. chairman:
Miss Nevins, Mrs. Mussey, Mrs. w. J.
Boardman, and the president of the local
| branch eX officio.
! DIR. Kober announced that nineteen new
nurses had been added during the year
making a total of thirty-eight in the Dis
! ri of piyaf on nd h{rfoo IL
tions to the surgeons staff.
Ideal Red Cross System.
Medical Director John c. Wise, U.s.N.
| flung a sort of bomb into the midst of
things when he declared that he thought
the ideal Red Cross system prevailed in
| Russia and Japan, where the lower classes
are carefully instructed in Red Cross
methods and Red Cross work. He added
to the CONSERVATION when he declared:
| ''The American Red Cross Society can
| not achieve its best success until it be-
comes democratic. The personnel of the
| organization must not be confined ex-
clusively to people of the upper social
class, but must embrace members of all
classes. The aim is to benefit humanity
and the lower classes, who are really in a
better position to do the work, must be
given the opportunity"
The American Red Cross Society, under
its reorganization. it is stated. has not
appealed to the common people for mem
| bership. but only when money and sup
plies were needed.
DR.. Wise also gave an entertaining talk
on the international Red Cross conference
held in London recently. He said that
the treatment of the American delegates
had been ''princely."
Maj Charles Lynch, U. S. A.. spoke at
length on the work done by the Red Cross
Society during the Russo-Japanese war.
and gave the American Red Cross jab
when he said the medical branch of the
, Red Cross Society in this country at
:, the present time was wholly insufficient
to render effective service in case of war,
and recommended that the society shot d
prepare for such an emergency. by es-
tablishing relief columns, for service dur
, ing such occasions as the inauguration
ceremonies.
! In fact the general impression given
!, in the meeting by those who have been
abroad in time of war. and who have
seen the working of the Red Cross So
!. cieties there. is that in the United States
the work Is done in sort of dilettante
fashion and the members are not earnest
enough, and do not inform themselves OF
the needs and necessities of the work. 1t
lines suggested by these speakers will
follow the national meeting in December.
The following officers were nominated
by Gen. John Wilson of the nominating
committee, and later elected unani-
nously:
Arnold Hague, president: Gist Blair.
vice president; c. H. Lee, treasurer: W.
A. Slater, secretary, and Mrs. Theodore
North Mclaughlin. assistant secretary
Those officers with the following were
chosen for the executive committee; 81
mon Wolf. Commissioner mcfarland,
Mrs. William H. Bayly and Mrs. w. d.
Boardman.