The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-07-01
RED CROSS
HELP OFFERED
TAFT WRITES GOV. MAR
SHALL EXTENDING RELIEF
IN CALAMITIES.
Millions Have Been Expended by
National Organization During
Last Four Years.

Washington, June 29.-W. H. Taft
as president of the American Nation
al Red Cross, has sent a letter TO
Governor Marshall OF Indiana, call
ing his attention 20 the facilities OF
that organization for dealing with
the relief and rehabilitation OF COM
munities devastated by fire, food and
STORM" etc. and inviting him to make
use CT the Red Cross service when
ever in his judgment large and un-
usual relief measures" are required.
The President also incloses a state
ment of relief expenditures OF the
American Red Cross from Jan. 5,
1905. to May 5, 1909, showing a total
disbursement of $4,472,s93.62. The
letter follows:
"Sir-The purpose OF this letter is
to bring to your knowledge the ia
cilities OF the American Red Cross
| for conducting large measures OF en-
Urgency relief or assisting in their
conduct in any part of the United
States
Its national director, Mr.. Ernest
p Bicknell, who devotes his entire
| time to the executive duties OF the
Red Cross has had an extended ex-
perience in the organization and di-
rection OF work of this character. Mr.
Bicknell is prepared to proceed i'm
mediately TO the scene of any great
disaster and confer with the state or
local authorities as well as the local
representatives OF the Red Cross in
regard to the efficient organization OF
relief. This service is wholly free
and is quite apart from any question
OF the source OF the relief funds
The Red Cross is a national or
| ganizatfon, the only one chartered by
he United States and maintained for
the sole purpose OF relieving the sui
ferings caused by war or 10y calam-
tiles in time OF peace In the Unit
ed States, fortunately, the Red Cross
has been almost entirely free from
the demands of war, but has found
an important and growing field in
| the relief and rehabilitation of COM
munites devastated by fire, food
storm or other disaster of an extern,
r magnitude exceeding local relief
resources
Chartered by Congress.
1T operates under a special char.
.er from Congress and is governed
oy central committee appointed b,
he President of the United State.
from the Departments of State, War
Navy. Treasury and Justice, and i:
-equired to submit an annual repor
70 Congress. In the event OF war tn,
Red Cross is the only organization
whose agents in the military encaahp
ments and upon battle fields will bt
officially recognized and authorized
10 maintain hospitals, hospital ships
etc.
Should any calamity occur within
The boundaries OF your state whicf
requires large and unusual relic
measures. you are invited to make The
freest use OF the services of the Rec
lCross or its national director in eth
er an executive or an advisory ca
pacity.
Since the reorganization OF the
Red Cross in 1905 the amounts enum
Grated on the attached sheet have
been raised and expended It rhs
places or for the objects stated. Yer,
especially.
William H. Taft"
\ statement accompanies the lettei
which shows that the American Rex
Cross had extended for relief from
Ian. 5, 1905. 10 May 5, 1909, S4,472,
s93.62. the largest four items being
he California earthquake and fire
S2,s56, SO; the Italian earthquake
1898, S9s6,2s311: Chinese famine
1922. and the Japanese famine
.s245, S65.67. The Red Cross realizet
s13s.O00 from the sale of It's Christ
mas stamps in 1908. the proceeds be
ing used for local anti -tuberc,slosi
work throughout the country. Tn,
total expenditures for administration
and executive work for the same per
.od were $3O.19 5.15-about two-third
of ! per cent OF the funds disbursed