The National tribune., 1908-08-20
A SPLENDID PHILANTHROPY.
The InternatfSnal Red Cross Association
ship in Ameflca.in

greatest humanitarian organization in
the world. thare are millions, especially
In the United States. who know very
little about this organization. They are
doubtless aware that in times of great
disaster the Red Gross to the
front as a channel thru which relief
shall flow.- They are not apprised of
the fact that ting American National
form the International organization,
and that the Bnitef States, while it has
spent more money since its reorganiza-
| ton In 1905 than any of the others, is,
so far as membership and resources are
| concerned. lamentably behind its cog
nate societies in all the civilized nations
| of the world.
AS an example of this 1t may be point
ed out that the American Red Cross has
| a paying membership of less than TO-
600, with resources for emergencies
at practically nothing, while Japan has
,300, 600 members and resources Of
$5,000,000, France 5000 members
and 25,0O0,000 francs in resources; Ger
many 100000 and resources equal to
those of France, Russia 1000, 600, Italy
100000, and smaller countries, like
Switzerland, Sweden and Norway, large
memberships and notable resources in
money, hospitals and the like.
1t is hardly necessary to say that this
is a condition of things that should be,
and must be, altered, especially in view
of the fact that the Quadrennial Con-
vention of the International Red Cross
will probably be held in Washington in
1912.
Chartered by the Government.
While it is true that the American
Red Cross is chartered by the United
States Government by act of Congress
passed in 1905, and that its officers are
largely constituted by appointment of
President Roosevelt, or by selection
from Federal and other prominent Off
Gals, it is also true that no Government
support is afforded. The officers, for
the most part, receive no salary. The
Red Cross does not even have the
franking privilege. 1t is dependent
solely upon the good will of the Ameri-
can people for its subsistence. 1t badly
needs large membership, which would
bring with it an emergency fund for in
slant use in times of general disaster.
1t is also true that some preparation
should be made for a possible state of
war. We know that in the Spanish
American War the microbe was more
deadly than the Mauser, and that if
Manila was glorious Montauk Point
was very much the reverse.
One thing the Government does for
the Red Cross: 1t demands an ac-
counting yearly of every dollar received
and expended and it exercises super
vision over the executive. which is in
the nature of a surety to all who be-
long.
Reasons for the Disqualification.
The reasons for the Red Cross are
best set forth by paragraphs four and
five in the charter, contained in the en-
abling act of Congress passed in Feb
ruary, 1905. They are as follows:
ITO act in matters of voluntary relief
and in accord with the military and ma
yol authorities a a nf
Immigration between the people of the
United Statess Of America and their
Army and Navy, and to act in such
matters between similar National socie-
ties of othef] governments thru the
'Comite International de Secours,' and
the Government and the people and the
Army and Navy offthe United States of
ITO continue and carry on a system
of national and International relief in
time of peace anu apply the same in
mitigating the1sufferipgs caused by pes
thence, famine. FIRE, floods and other
great national calamities. and to devise
and carry on measures for preventing
the same.'',1I r. z..dou4-. asia .if ,9s,.,.i
This much for an introduction to the
remedy, the adequate remedy, proposed
to bring the American Red Cross to its
proper standard. ~
Every respectable American, no mat
ter what age or sex, is entitled to be-,
come a member of the American Ma
tional Red Cross upon sending 81 to
Hon. w. II. Taft, 341 War Department.
This pays admission and the first years
dues (the annual dues are 80, and Sc
cures National enrolment, a pin or but
ton, and the Red Cross Quarterly Bull
letin, a magazine devoted to the inter-
ests of the organization.
The Officers.
follows: 9.tzt-s.,ss
President, Hon. William II. Taft.
Treasurer, Hon. Beekman Winthrop.
Counsellor, Hon. Afford w. Cooley.
Secretary, Charles l.. Magee.
Board of Consultation.
Brig. Gen. Rob't NJ O'Reilly. Sur
geon-General, U. s. Army; Rear-Admi-
raj Presly NJ. Rixey, Surgeon-General,
U. S. Navy; Surgeon-Gen. Walter Wy
man. U. S. Public Health and Marine
Hospital Service; Rear-Admiral Charles
d. Sigsbee, U. S. Navy; Edward r.
tombstone, National Registrar.
Executive Committee.
Hon. Robert Bacon, Brig Gen. Rob't
NJ. O'Reilly, Hon. Afford w. Cooley,
Hon. James Tanner, Hon. James X.
Garfield, Miss Mabel r. Boardman,
Medical Director John c. Wise. U. S.
Navy.
Maj.-Gen. George w. Davis, u. S. a.,
Chairman of Central Committee.
On file at National Headquarters are
scores of letters co:nmending the new
propaganda for promotion of member
ship in the Red Cross, of which an out
line is given above. One from Presi-
dent Roosevelt and one from William
Jennings Bryan are selected as samples.
1.-The White House, Washington.
pa Feb. 4, 1908.
II am glad to learn that our National
Red Cross is to make determined eff
fort to place itself on the same plane
in regard to membership and efficiency
with the great societies of Europe and
Japan. I hope that all the patriotic
and humane men, Wcmen and children
of the United States, who are able to
do so, will give it their support by be-
coming members of cur national organ
ization. Sincerely yours,
Theodore Roosevelt"
New York, Feb. z, 1908.
IT am glad to commend the work of
the Red Cross Society. 1t has already
done a great deal TO relieve the distress
connected with war and to supply help
in great emergencies, and trust that
the people WILL by generous support,
enable it to 10 AM even larger work in
the future. u,T-fomrs truly,
wv. ]. Bryan"
Gen. doubleday.