The Washington times., 1912-05-14
RED CROSS ENJOYS
AVOID DECISION ON
REBEL AID QUESTION
Joshua r. Clark Wins
Through Speech Attacking
RusSia's Position.

.os is left open for the future action of
national Red Cross societies or for the
next international conference, as a re-
suit of speech made by Joshua X.
Clark, solicitor for the Department OF
State, today, in which he directly at
tackled the stand taken yesterday by
General Yermoloff, of Russia.
This is a virtual victory for the pro-
posal advanced by Mr.. Clark although
1t does not meet his resolution that
the international committee frame the
procedure by which aid shall be ex-
tended to rebels. Had the question been
forced to a vote yesterday, 1t would
have been defeated. This was not done,
nOr was it attempted today. The ques-
ton remains open.
MI. Clarh's speech was well received,
despite the fact that 1t was a direct
attack on the position of a majority of
the, committee having the question
under consideration, and shattered the
arguments by General Yermoloff.
Held to Be Criminals.
The Russian delegate said that under
the laws of his country Insurgents o.
revolutionists were criminals, and that
the Red Cross frankly had no business
in considering the question of extending
aid to such outcaGts.
Mr. Clark said that there was once
q time when prisoners of war were kill
ed, that this practice was no longer IN
vogue, and that similar progress was
TO be observed in the attitude of civil
ized nations toward insurrtCtos.
General Ycrmclnff said tEat the offer
CT aid to insGrSents GOULD only be re-
gaide as an "unfriendly act" To this
MIR. Clark replied that the Red Cross is
g private suciriy. that unfriendv acts.
us the term is Used between nations,
are pnli;ical ats that can be done only
tN political governments. The Russian
delegate Il a:s,'rtrl that he was acting as
d dele gats num his government. To
this Mr.. Clark replied that the Red
C,osa conference is distnctiVe!v not
congress- IF powers. but conference
OF private individuals.
The solicitor :or he Department of
State made It plain that H. did not re-
paId any act Of III" Red Cross as an act
jmvolVlnC governments, and that, there
fore the international political sEnIh-
Cu!lCC which sCrrr Of the foreign dele
EHics have attached to its proceedings
dm not exist.
The Russian attitude was most ex-
treme of those presented: there sedition
embraces all acts of protest and armed
opposition to the powers that be is a
q imlnal act General Ferrero, for
Italy, took a position somewhat more
Milo, but asserted that the extension
o. i;ed Cross aid TO insurgents Is a
lU. al question: and not properly within
the view of an international conference
Gains In Popularity.
Although the American proposal gain
ed in popularity and the morning result
Ell in virtual victory for the Clark
proposition, one feature of the Red
Cross organization was brought promi
ncntly into view. That is the predomi-
nance of governmental representatives
In tn machinery" Of the organization.
it is stated, however, that the members
! OF the society will take good care that
the policy of the organization does not
1sI entirely into the hands Of govern
mental representatives.
Or lon. of Greece has supported the
Clark proposal, and with the increasing
fa,Cr accorded him It is believed that
eventually the Red Cross Will adopt
with the approval of all governments.
q policy of aiding the sick and wound,
ed among rebels as we'll as the SICK and
wounded of the established govern
mem.
E. T. Devine Speaks.
Edward T. Devne, professor of social
economics In Columbia University. de-
livered an address late this afternoon
on the principles of giving relief in dis
aster and the important OF trained
personnel to carry on relief work.
Speaking OF the amount of money con-
tributed Mr. Devine said that the size
of the fund does not as rule, consul
tute an obstacle in the way of realizing
its purpose. The difficult question Is
how to spend the money.
THE trained worker is not overWhem'
ed by the suffering with which ne j
br ought face to face. HIS attentlon Is
tbrrCfore, apt to fly itself on the en
coura ging features of the situation, an!
this has a tonic effect on all concerned
The greatest advantage the trained
worker has to Offer Is mis- f2miliarlt!
viii the essentials of normal family
life"
Practice has shown, declared Mr. De
vine. that trained workers are neces
sary to carry or relief work adequate
jy. and that with the rise OF socla
science trained service mas become
fact in American life.
Ernest p BiCkncll national director
OF the American Red Cross, MADE de'
tailed report on the employment or
system OF pensions In relief work. Ate
tie immediate effects of disaster ar'
met the problem of providing aid fol
the families of those who were killed
remains, no SAYS.
or the American Red Cross" said Mr.
Pickncll. have conceived that the dut!
Of the society goes, beyond the simpl!
funGs among the sufferers from dis
aster. They have held that the Rec
Cross as far as possible, should stud!
the circumstances and abilities OF eacl
wise plan for each, so adapted to IT.
Own conditions and peculiarities as t
assure 1t the largest and most perma
nent good from the efforts in Its be
half"
Referring to the Cherry mine disas
ter in 1909. Mr.. BiCknell said that lG
women were left widows, 1856 of ther
mothers of children under fourtee
years of age. More than half of ther
were wholly ignorant of English an
none of them knew anything abou
business methods.
"A very generous relief fund was con
tributed by the public" said Mr. BiCk
nell. This fund, distributed to tn
families according to the number c
members and their ages and conditions
was sufficient to provide for eac
family an amount varying from $500 I
5000. 1t was obvious that to pay I
these ignorant, inexperienced wome
such large amounts of money withol
restriction would lead inevitably to dii
astrous results
Pension System.
A pension system was devised, as
result. widows having children beir
placed in one class, and those withol
children in another. Members of II
latter class were given their money
a lump sum, while the widows vii
young children were paid a pension of