New-York tribune., 1909-06-10
GREETING FROM HUGHES
Charities and Corrections Conference
OpenS-Mr. BickneH Speaks.

Buffalo June with nearly one thousand reg
istered delegates and visitors and many more ex-
spected tomorrow the sixtysxth National Confer
ence of Charities and Corrections opened Tonight
under favorable auspices. Ansley Wilcox chairman
Of the local committee, presided at the opening
session in the Central Presbyterian Church He
read a letter from Governor Charles Z. Hughes,
in part, follows:
I greatly regret that my enga agements make IT i'm
possible for TO be present It is difficult over
estimate the advantages of these meetings not sim
ply with respect to the practical suggestions they
bring forth but particularly because of the inspra
ure of present day conditions is not the opportunity
for or zeal and acumen in the pursuit Of individual
the keen desire to extend and perfect charitable
how many are conributfne their thought and work
to this end. and finding through various or
carnations the means of social service ,-..-. =.
~ i wish again to express my deep appreciation OF
these activities and my earnest desire far as
lies IN my power 10 promote their success.
After few words Of welcome from Mayor Adam.
Ernest P. Bicknel of Washington, president Of
the conference. introduced He IS director of
the American National Red Cross. and announced
the new policy of that organization in relation
to the relief problems growing out Of great dis
esters. In the three years ended April l. 1909 the
American Red Cross expended for calamity relief
the sum of A.207o42 10. besides distributing sup
plies OF very great value. All this money and
these supplies derived from private sources,
and in this aspect the Red Cross is private or
ganiZatiOn The Of relief given by this
single agency in the last three years is greater
than given I'm general relief during the same
period by all the general relief societies Of the
ten greatest cities of the United States This re-
lief was occasioned by fifteen calamites namely:
The California earthquake and fire. the Valparaiso
earthquake. Gulf storm. the Chinese famine,
the Kingston earthquake. the Russian famine, the
Calabrian earthquake Of 1907 the Mississippi
cyclone the South Carolina and Georgia foods. the
Texas foods the Chelsea Mass. fire. the Canadian
forest fires, the Monongah mine explosion. the
Michigan forest fires and the Italian earth
quake. an average of FIVE great catastrophes
year. In the last twenty-five years, with
out complete data. II * safe to say that the
amount Of American contributions raised and eX-
pended in this Of relief work amounted TO not
less than s35Oo0GO0 Mr.. Bicknen told many Incl
dents connected with the relief work Of q number
OF the greatest of these disasters. in which work
he has personally been engaged.
The speaker paid his respects to +he army az
an efficient arm of relief work Of this kind. He
told some of the objections which are offered
against this Of soldiers saying that it IS con
tended the soldiers training is for war alone,
his natural emotions Of sympathy and grief being
duced a machine he is the persontfcation of
the iron hand of power. Of oppression OF force;
and then he refuted these arguments out Of his
own experience by saying:
Within the last three years I have had oppor-
tunity observe the extensive employment OF
( lowing two Of the greatest disasters OF history.
viz: those Of California, IN 1905. and Southern
in both Instances was admirable. and showed the
same elements OF human sympathy ev1nced by the
common citizens. with the added efficiency which
comes Of thorough discipline I am not dhe 10
Judge whether this participation in relief work
soldiers. II is. however. not easy TO believe
that this contact with their fellows IN times or
better and better men. and y this be true
one IS reluctant 70 believe II could have made OF