The Washington herald., 1909-01-31

important water front 70 the City OF the
Golden Gate but the officers IL every
way gave assistance 10 the unfortunate
victims. Wherever now relief work calls
che Red Cross into relation with the off,
GERS OF our army and navy. il receives
their heartiest support and cooperation.
and I am glad OF this opportunity 20 ex-
press the gratitude or the Red Cross for
/ their assistance.
Il am tempted here to relate a uttls
personal incident, and crave the forgive
ness Of the officer present. When this
officer left the feet he bad commanded
! on its great voyage from cur eastern 70
/ our western coast. he made his farewell
speech to the men Of his command On
bis return to the East, a phonOgraphic
company requested 2 record OF this
speech, and this request was granted.
but when they wished 10 send in return
/ a generous check, the admiral refused 70
receive K, and requested that It he sent
70 the American Red Cross.
Aids worthy Cause
The other day, when was selling ths
Christmas stamps at the post-Oftiee. a
rosy-cheeked. bright t-eyed Jackie came
along and asked for what the stamps
were intended When their purpose was
explained. he exclaimed. That's a good
thing I want 10 help that Give me
this much worth pulling out handful
I OF uncounted change from his pocket.
Do you wonder that the Red Cross loves
the Eenerous-SOUlCd navy. from the al
mlraI 70 the sailor b0y2
/ IF the terrible misfortune OF war falls
upon US. may our army and our navy
know that the Red Cross OF America
stands ready and prepared, with strong
armies of human aid and sympathy. 20
fight for them against suffering and
death May Ii be ever ready. Ike some
! benehcent angel TO move amidst the car
mage Of war. unsecured. on its mission OF
love and mercy Remember this. The
! wounded soldier lies watching and wait
/ ing not for the flag Of his own dear ccun-
try. but for that other flag, whose COM
/ ing may mean life 10 him. whose emblem
I is the symbol Of loves sacrifce-the flag
/ Of the Red Cross-and may We be its
I standard bearers"
Not 50 very long ago the Red Cross
/ Society was badly disorganized. Created
I IN 1sS2. II accomplished much good IN
/ Ger the leadership OF Cara Barton Put
70 the test during the Spanish war. Il
proved unequal 70 the burden. Il vas
aimless in its efferts. lacking II eo-ordfna-
/ ton. loose and incompetent. Since 1865.
when IL was reorganized. when Mss
/ Barton stepped aside and the society be
/ came an Official adjunct Of the govern
ment. It has steadily progressed, has been
/ systematized and made Efficient: has
/ grown and developed and IS now aD-
! parentIy 10 become an unqualified success.
/ Mss Bcardman has been one OF the
most tireless of those working 10 bring
order and system out Of the chaos which
/ previously existed. and no history Of
the new Red Cross could be complete
without large mention OF her.
Takes an Active Part
n 1896. when the new organization was
1 incorporated under the act OF Congress.
Miss Boardman. whP uD 10 that time
( had had 10 interest in the society, BE-
came one Of the incorporators al the
solicitation OF friends who wished some
one in Washington to take al active
/ part in the movement. She threw herself
/ into the work with the spirit and en-
thusiasm for which she is famous in
I Washington. obtained a grasp OF the bust
ness OF the organization. and took a deep
/ interest in It's achievements. an interest
t which has never tagged
/ President-elect Taft IS president OF the
Red Cross. and men OF affairs IN the
government, including army and navy
officers Of high rank. are its officers.
Mss Boardman, a member Of the cen
trsI committee. not only lives in Wash
! fngton. Where the headquarters are Iocat-
! Cd. but. being a woman. had much more
time at, her disposal than the other Of
ficers OF the Red Cross. who are also
burdened with their various Official duties.
I and gradually a greater and greater share
OF the work was shifted 70 her shoulders
Now she gives up all her mornings. lays
aside her social duties, for the sake 0t
the great clarity Of which she IS one
/ Of the heads. and each weekday IS at her
desk in the War Department until noon
I She is 'businesslike. There IS about her
nothing Of the typical frivolous society
woman. On her desk Is q typewriter
at her elbow q. telephone She receives
and answers dispatches with quick busi-
ness judgment News OF a great disaster
on Lake Superior reaches her BY tele-
graph. and almost before the instruments
have ceased clicking she has quietly
issued half a dozen orders which set
/ In motion the entire relief system OF the
organization. Supplies and nurses are
/ being rushed to the scene. and steps are
being taken. i the disaster be large
enough 70 warrant. for the collection
throughout the country OF a relief fund.
Since the reorganization more than 81
0o030o has been diSbuTsed by the Red
Cross in relief work, and in this dis
bursement Miss BOardman has taken an
active and practical part
OaIy Woman officer.
While Miss Boardman is the only wom-
an among the officers OF the Red Cross.
she does not occupy the position heId BY
Miss Barton. The old Red Cross So
ciety wss wrecked on the rocks o. too
much "one man power. The scheme
Of the new society is 10 get as far away
as possible from the old plan, 10 make
the Red Cross a compact. business!iks
organization. In this Miss Boardman
plays a conspicuous part Perhaps Miss
Helen Gould, Of New York. Is the only
other woman in America VINO occupies a
position similar to that held by tie
Washington woman. with the exception.
Of course. that Miss Boardman's member
ship on the central committee OF the Red
Cross is official. She works under the
War Department
At present she is taking ND a cornpre-
hensive scheme with Gen. Bell for relief
work in Washington during the inaugura-
ton. and while she was giving an inter-
view 10 The Washington Herald she was
busy with the details Of this work. Re
lief stations. hospitals. with corps OF
doctors and nurses. wiz be established
in the Union Station and throughout the
city. Ambuisnces win be stationed at
convenient points. and there VIII be every
facility for handling emergency cases
In the streets. The District hospitals viii
be entirely inadequate to handle the thou
sands OF cases which experience has
taught may be anticipated
Miss BoardDan has been appointed a
committee OF one by the inaugural COM
mittee to take charge Of the details Of