The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-18
APPEAL TO PUBLIC
FOR PROMPT AID
Governor Mann Tells People OF
Virginia of Flood District
Conditions.
MANY THOUSANDS HELPLESS
Need Is Great and Urgent.
TAFT Urges Virginia
to Help.
MANY THOUSANDS HELPLESS

At the request OF President Tnff,
Governor William Hodges Mnnn issued
last night IN appeal to the people OF
Virginia to contribute promptly aud
literally to the needs of the people In
the Hood did ricts of The lower MissIs-
slrpi. FULLY $4,000 persons. he snys, nrc
homeless and dependent upon others.
MIR. Taft. who Is president Of the
American Red Cross Society, issues his
appeal through the press 10 c.e coun-
Try III the name of that organization.
lie calls attention to tn. situation as
IL VIII be when the waters recedc, and
the families return 10 their homes TO
md all their personal belongings and
all their means OF making q living
from the land, destroyed
Text of Proclamation.
Following is the Governors procla-
nation:
10 the People of Virginia.:
have just received a telegram from
his ENcellency. William ii. Taft.
president OF the American Red Cross.
stating that conditions OF distress re-
sulting from the Hood in the lower
mississippi Valley have assumed such
intensity and magnitude as to require
nm TO give information of the facts
10 the people of the United states. TO
the end that their sympathy may be
expressed in substantial form.
luily $4,000 of our people are now
homeless and dependent upon their
more fortunate fellow citizens for
shelter and food. and while the re-
sources OF the army are being freely
used, they viii not be more than ade-
quate for present needs
Many thousands Will return to their
farms TO find their homes, furniture,
farrn animals and TODD supply swept
away, and be confronted with condi-
mn ~
meet and remove these conditions is
task beyond the resources now at
the command of the Red cross.
therefore. as president oil the Vir-
ginia Red Cross. earnestly request
the people OF Virginia to contribute
at once and Literally. in order that III.
needs Of our suffering fellow citizens
may be met the threatened danger TO
their health overcome and they be
able to make "a crop for the support
Of themselves ana their families
Constitutions should be sent to Col
onel Thomas y. AicAdams. treasurer
of Virginia Red Cross. richmond
WILLIAM HODGES MANN.
President. Virginia red Cross
Presidents Appeal.
The appeal made hy the President.
addressed 10 the Governor, is as fol-
lows:
CONDITIONS OF d!strcss resulting
from the Hood ia the lover MisslSsipp!
Valley have assumed such intensity
and magnitude that il has become my
duty as president OF the American Red
cross 10 make known the facts as
given to the press to-day In order tina 1
the people OF the United States may
express their sympathy in substantial
:orrn.
Fully $4,000 persons arc now home,
less and dependent on the generosity
OF the country for food and shelter, and
the number Is steadily increasing. Tho
army is doing everything possible to
provide shelter and food 10 meet the
immediate emergency. But the equally
important task Of conducting the re-
lief camps. maintaining health and re-
storing the Hood refugees 10 their
homes under conditions which will en-
able them to return 10 normal condi-
tons OF life rests upon the local au-
thorities and the Red Cross"
Referring To the probability OF the
spread Of conta Sidus diseases. President
Taft concludes: If YOU, as resident
OF your state Red Cross Board. see tit
to supplement this publication by pro-
clamation to the people of your State.
the force of the appeal viii be greatly
strengthened"