The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-04-25
SIS EEInl Ter
FLOOD VICTIMS
FOLLOWING SUGGESTION OF THE
PRESIDENT, GOVERNOR
ISSUES APPEAL

president william Howard Taft, OF
tne national Red Cross Society has
issued an appeal TO all the people
OF the United States to come to the
immediate aid of $4,000 homeless and
destitute citizens along the line of the
mississippi River, which, tor nearly
q month, has been over own, It's
banks, breaking levees and carr54n-
death, destruction and dismay In its
wake.
President Taft teIegraphed the an
peal TO Governor Mann, who is pres-
dent OF the Virginia Red Cross So
ciety, and the Virginia executive in
turn issued the following:
To the People OF Virginia:
have just received a telegram
from His ENcellency, William III. TAFT.
president OF the American Red Cross.
stating that conditions of distress re-
sulting from the flood in the lower
Mississippi Valley have assumed such
intensity and magnitude as to require
him 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.
Fully $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 will not be more than ade-
Quate for present needs.
Many thousands will return TO their
farms 70 find their homes. furniture,
farm animals and food supply swept
away. and 2v confronted With condi-
tions threatening health and life To
meet and remove these conditions is
n task beyond the resources now at
the command of the Red Cross.
Therefore. as president of the Nir-
Einia REQ Cross. i earnestly request
the people of Virginia TO contribute
ut oncesand literally. in order that the
needs OF our suffering felOw-citizens
may be met the threatened danger to
their health overcome, and they be
able TO make crop for the support
of themselves and their families.
Contributions should he sent TO
Colonel Thomas Is. McAdams treas
urer Of Virginia Red Cross, Rich
mond.
WILLIAM HODGES MANN,
President. Virginia Red Cross.
From President Taft.
The appeal 10y the President, adj
dressed TO Governor Mann, is as fol-
lows:
Conditions Of distress resulting
from the flood in the lower Mississippi
Valley have assumed such intensity
and magnitude that il has become
my duty as president OF the American
Red Cross TO make known the facts
as given 10 the press toda. in order
that the people of the United States
stantial form.
Fully $4,000 persons are now
homeless and dependent on the gen
crosby Of the country for food and
shelter. and the number is steadily
increasing. The army is doing every
thinS possible TO provide shelter and
food TO meet the immediate emergen-
cy. But the equally important task
of conducting the relief camps. main
tanning health and restoring the flood
refugees 10 their homes under condi-
lions which will enable them to re-
turn To- normal conditions of life rests
upon the local authorities and the Red
Cross
Referring to the probability of the
spread of contagious diseases, Presi-
dent Tart concludes:
If YOU, as president Of your State
Red Cross Board. see fit 20 supple
mept this publication by proclamation
10 the people OF your state. the force
OF the appeal viii be greatly strength
ened"