Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-07
Senator Root Welcomes Dele
gates to Conference.
ALL NATIONS REPRESENTED
Many Prominent Foreign Visitors
Make Responses.
EXHIBIT PROMINENT FEATURE
Session Tomorrow Will Open With
Address by Surgeon General
Torney Of Army.

4oTuey OF Army.
The ninth International Red Cross con-
ference-the first to be held outside Of
Europe-was opened in the Pan
American Union this afternoon in the
presence of a number Of the most prom
inent advocates Of the Red Cross move
ment in the world
Japan, China, Siam. India. South
Africa and all the European countries
were represented by vari-clothed dele
gates assembled in the big white marble
structure erected to perpetuate the fame
of the twenty-one American republics
and everything seemed to point to the
most interesting as we'll as the most COM
plete conference ever held.
At 2:30 o'clock this afternoon the chair
man of the American conference COM
mittee. Ernest P. Bicknell. gave the sig
nal which marked the opening of the
conference. and Senator Elihu Root, in
the absence of President Taft. rose to
deliver the address OF welcome to the
delegates. This was followed by re-
sponses from a number of the most
prominent foreign representatives and the
opening of the exhibition in the new
Red Cross exhibition pavilion near the
Pan-American building.
Tonight the delegates will be received
by the conference committee in the PAN
American building. and the real work of
the conference will commence tomorrow
morning with an address by Surgeon
General George H. Torney, L. S. A.,
on the organization of the American
National Red Cross for services in war.
Surgeon General Torney will be followed
by representatives of the Japanese,
Austrian and Russian societies. all of
whom will speak of the activities OF the
Red Cross in time of war. The after
noon session will be taken up with a dis
cussion of the relations of the navy with
the Red Cross, and Miss Mabel Board
man, who is a member of the executive
and conference committees, Will give
reception to the delegates at her resi-
dence.
Reception at National Museum.
Thursday the Servian, Cuban and Japa-
nese delegates will speak on the recogni-
ton of the Red Cross by their respective
countries and a general discussion as to
the relations which ought to exist be-
tween the society and the various govern
ments will follow. The afternoon will be
taken I'D with views regarding the work
OF the society in time of rebellion or revo-
luton and a reception at the National
Museum will be held at night.
The Hungarian, Swiss, Cuban, japanese
and American societies will discuss FRI
day the measures adopted by each state
for the repression Of the abuse of the in
sigma and the name of the Red Cross in
accordance with the stipulations OF the
conference of Geneva, after which gen.
eral vote will be taken to determine what
is the best method to check this abuse.
In the afternoon the French, Hungarian
and English delegates will speak on pris-
oners of war and sanitation. Mrs. Ga6.
one of tho most prominent local support
ers Of the movement, will receive the del
egates at night.
conference will be taken up with exhibit
tions by Boy Scouts. the United States
Naval Hospital Corps and the United
States bureau of mines rescue corps,
while number Of men prominent in Red
Cross circles will speak on first aid
and kindred subjects.
Work in Time of War.
''The Women of the Red Cross and
Their Duties in Time OF War" will be the
principal topic at the Monday morning
session, while the afternoon will be en-
ployed in making an automobile trip
around the city. concluding with tea at
Mrs. John r. McLean's country resi-
dence, Friendship.
The Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
pied with the discussion Of the enactment
of new laws, the better enforcement OF
those in present use and suggestions for
new methods of dealing with tuberculosis.
typhoid and other contagious diseases.
A visit to Mount Vernon will also be a
part of the entertainment the afternoon
of May 10. Thursday night the delegates
will attend a large banquet at the New
Willard Hotel and the conference will
close Friday afternoon with a garden
party at the White House.
Even before the opening Of the con-
ference this afternoon great interest was
evinced in the exhibition of 200 articles
presented for competition for the 50 900
in prizes. the income Of a fund donated
by the Empress Marie Feodorovna OF
Russia. These articles consist of ambu-
lances, litters. X-ray apparatus for the
battlefield. ETC.. and will be passed on by
an international jury, which will award
the prizes according to merit. The first
two sections Of 81 500 each. and there will
be six third prizes Of $500
Will Auction OF Doll.
In addition to presenting the money for
these prizes-awarded for the appliances
which are adJudged to be of the creates
use on the battlefield and in other places
where the members Of the Red Cross op-
erate-the Empress Marie Feodorovna
also has interested herself In having a
doll dressed in the costume of a Red
Cross nurse of Russia, and has sent 1t to
the conference to be placed on exhibition
and auctioned of. the money to be placed
in the treasury of the society.
The exhibit of the American Red Cross
consists of four booths. The first will be
illustrative of the work of the Red Cross
Christmas seal; the second will be the
booth Of the Red Cross nursing service
and in the third typographical maps will
be exhibited showing the various fields Of
the Red Cross activities. The fourth
booth will be devoted to first aid. Japan,
England, Russia, Cuba, Switzerland and
a number OF other foreign countries also
have booths in the exhibit building. the
attendants being dressed In native cos