Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-11-01

executive officers of the Red Cross, but
the services rendered are just the sort
that great corporations pay salaries of
$4,000 and $4,000 a year to secure.
There is initiative, efficiency, wisdom,
experience and capa bility in those serv-
ices. not a whit diminished by calendar
age. Gen. Davis works now in the huge
task the war has thrust upon him pri-
marily for love of the cause in viii n
he Is engaged, but also because the
restlessness and vigor of the man de-
mands employment.
Since Miss Boardman reorganized the
Red Cross it has become a gigantic
business concern. its business being to
organize relief work on worldwide
scale Business principles are just as
applicab BILE to humanitarian organize
ton as to commercial affairs; they, in
fact, are more applicable, in order to
prevent wasting the product of self
sacrifice and generosity proffered for a
noble cause. And Gen. Davis Is the
man who applies modern system and
business methods to the interior organ
ization of the Red Cross
Curiously qualified for the service is
this grizzled old soldier Fighting in
the line through two of the nation
great wars, and always with credit, he
knows what soldiers need in war
knows from personal, practical expe-
rience their wants which the Red Cross
can supply. Not only that, but wide
travel has given him knowledge of the
Years-in fact. generation-of serv-
ice in the stafr. which is the business
organization of the army, taught him
business methods. A period of service
as assistant engineer in the construc-
tion of the Washington Monument
broadened his experience.
The opening of the Spanish-American
l., In
fantry, that famous regiment that has
served in more regions beyond the seas
than any other regiment of the Ameri-
can army. Quickly he became a lieu
tenant colonel, and then. almost at
once. a brigadier general of volunteers.
When peace came he was found in
stalled as military governor of Porto
Rico, in which capacity he served for
year and established the government.
Good work." said Uncle Sam. I'VE
need an executive like you in the Phil
ippines." so away he went thither as
provost marshal general of the islands.
Another year passed. and then came a
year in command of the departments
of Mindanao and Luzon. following
which he served q year in command OF
the entire division of the Philippines.
Here is a total of five years of sweep
ing authority, the evolving of huge
problems, the doing OF Work WHICH
only born executive can master.
Retirement came, but not inactivity.
Already Gen. Davis had served FOR
several years as general manager OF
the Nicaragua Canal Construction
Company, and was familiar with the
isthmian canal problems. Promptly on
retirement the President made him a
member of the isthmian canal commits
sion, and from 1904 to 1905 he was
governor of the Panama Canal Zone in
the early stages of the canal construc-
tion work. From 1905 to 1906 he was
chairman of the board Of consulting
engineers on the type of canal to be
constructed.
The quality of the man, as estimated
by the government he served. can be
judged by the character Of the work
delegated to him.
But all of these experiences were not
enough. In 1907 he was sent as an