The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-04-06

as quickly as possible after the dis
aster SO that the relief resources may
be conserved to meet the primary
need OF rehabilitation. The care used
in emergency expenditures means
much In outstanding resources 80 that
permanent rehabilitation may be ef-
f1cient and thorough.
i s. The need OF establishing CEN
trail bureau OF information to serve
from the beginning Of the relief
work as a clearing house. to prevent
confusion and waste through duplica-
ton OF effort
I. The necessity Of utilizing the
centers of emergency distribution for
the later rehabilitation work Of dis
trict committees and corps OF visitors.
s. The necessity Of incorporation
for any relief organization that has
to deal with so large disaster.
9. The possibility OF strict audit
of all relief in cash sent to a relief
organization. The impossibility of
an equally strict accounting for re-
lief in kind, because of the many
leaks and the difficulties attendant
upon hurried distribution. Care In
this direction Is assured II the Red
Cross is fully utilized.
Nothing can take the place, as the
Relief Survey testifies, Of the spirit
and devotion of the local committees.
At San Francisco the citizens showed
splendid self-reliance and faith In the
future, which enabled them to rebound
from fortunes sudden blow, and show
what sustained and cooperative effort
can achieve. But the most important
factor, especially for permanent reha-
Utilization, in so great and complex
relief problem is trained staff. This
was organized at San Francisco by
Edward I. Devine, who In the emery
ency was called by the American Red
Cross to direct its work. Through the
reorganization of the Red Cross, with
Ernest P. Bicknell as national direc-
tor, that organization is constantly
prepared 10 bring together on very
short notice an efficient staff. Mr..
Bicknell represented the Red Cross at
San Francisco after Dr.. Devine's de-
parture, and was thus unusually we'll
equipped to plan the methods which
the Red Cross has devised for emery
ency use
The largest and most efficient char
! lily organizations throughout the coun-
try agreed to cooperate as "institu-
tional members" OF the Red Cross
When disaster comes in any section
OF the country the nearest of these or
CARNATIONS at once dispatches trained
members Of its staff to the scene.
Each organization has an emergency
box containing, in convenient carry
Ing form, an equipment including in
structions, record cards, Red Cross
flag, expense sheets and vouchers,
etc. The use of this equipment. espec-
tally the uniform record cards which
were prepared with great care, means
that the people who need help are
safeguarded most thoroughly from
waste and inefficiency in method.
In the present disaster Mr. Bicknell
went Immediately from the national
headquarters of the Red Cross to the
scene OF the worst conditions in Ohio
Dr.. Devine, OF the New York charity
organization society, was called to CO
operate with him. James F. jackson,
of the Cleveland Associated Charities,
II. j. Edmonds, of the Cincinnati AS
ISOLATED Charities, and G.. M. Hubbard,
of the st. Louis Provident Association,
all acted quickly on receipt Of direc-
lions to proceed to various points in
the afflicted regions of Ohio and In
diana. Eugene T. Lies, of the Chicago
United Charities, was sent to tornado
stricken Omaha, -whither Mr. Bick-
nell was going when the worse news
from Ohio caused him to turn back
But more important than the close CO.
operation in which all these men and
the others they have rallied are work
ing, is the fact that through the care
full preparation Of the Red Cross In
non-emergency times, and through
such efforts as that of the Sage Foun-
dalton to ascertain and make avail
able the important lessons of the San
Francisco relief work, scientific meth
DDS of relief. all previously and care
fully planned, may be applied on short
notice by STAFF which can be quick
ly mobilized. Only in this way can
rehabilitation-the test OF efficient re-
lief work following disaster-be Sc
cured