Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-04-27

liam F. Guido. chairman; @. ]. Gockeler
and c. j. Columbus. secretaries.
Committee on Observation-Disclosures IL.
Newbold, chairman; A. NJ. keppel, sec
rotary.
Committee on finance-C. c. Glover.
chairman; John Poole, secretary; Com
missioner Oliver p. Newman, Howard s.
Reside, Charles ]. Bell, Emile Berliner.
John Joy Edison. Arnold Hague. Hennen
Jennings and Henry B. f. Macfarland.
Appeal for Support.
First of the speakers at the meeting
was former Commissioner mcfarland,
whose speech was a tribute to the patriot
ism Of the people of Washington and a
plea for whole-hearted support for the
Red Cross in the event Of actual war in
Mexico.
washington was one of the first cities
to contribute to the permanent endow-
ment of the American National Red
Cross" he said. land we are proud Of the
fact that the National Capital gave more
than its quota
This fact was characteristic of the
national service of the people here since
the day when the original proprietors
gave five-sevenths of the site for the
federal city to the national government
Since 1873 the small resident population
has sustained ons-half of the burden
Of capital making and maintenance ice.
carried only the other half.
1.-THE District people were the first de-
tenders of the National Capital In the
civil war, and they contributed more
men than their quota, and more proper
81 NJ ~
states, in every national war.
III the call for war comes ner men
will 60 to fight and her women will go to
nurse. Those who remain will support
those who go. All organizations and all
individuals will contribute to the Ameri-
meeting the common need"
Conditions to Be Met.
Miss Mabel Boardman, in carefully
prepared address, presented a clear and
concise statement of existing conditions
with which the Red Cross is confronted.
In her address Miss Boardman said:
Hopeful as we may be that the mis-
fortune Of war may be averted in Mexico.
we cannot fail to recognize that the sit
uation there Is serious.
1.-The treaty Of Geneva requires that the
volunteer aid societies which receive it's
by their respective governments. To keep
this agreement Congress created and au-
thorized our American Red Cross to act
under this treaty.
1.-THE American Red Cross is your OFF,
cial organization through which to work.
In time Of war no man nor group of men
are allowed to organize and fight indie
pendently Of their country. Their serv-
ices must be through the regular govern
ment channels-the War or Navy de-
aoptY M t. xuyftJ 10
The Red Cross Is the governments au-
thOrized channel for such relief, whether
1t comes from individuals or associations.
I'm time of war volunteer relief may
Be divided into three classes: funds, ma
terial and trained personnel.
Trained Nurses Only Needed.
''The latter cannot be created in a mo-
ment, and yet there is surprising igno-
rance of this fact. The Red Cross Off
GERS have been almost swamped with
hundreds of offers from women who wish
to go as nurses or in some other capacity
to Mexico. These offers are made in good
faith and with no idea that such I'M
trained service would be not a help, but
q serious hindrance and annoyance to the
Medical Corps Of the army and navy.
What is needed at such times is the
service of the best disciplined and most
efficient nurses in this country.
There is always danger in the excite
ment and emotion of war that a spurious
patriotism may be COMPOUNDED with that
which is real. True love for our country
manifests itself in an unselfish desire to
serve where each can be of the best use.
1t IL not to be COMPOUNDED with that type
which seeks for itself the excitement OF
adventure at the front or in self-glory in
personal achievement.
ITO turn now to the two other classes,
we find in them the means by which we
at home are called upon to fill our patri-
otto duty.
Collection Of Funds Important.
First. there is the all-important one of
the collection of the large funds that will
be necessary to maintain the trained per-
sonnet and aid the army and navy medi-
cal service in many other ways. This
will be intrusted to finance committee
| Of representative men. The chairman
and secretary Of this committee have al
ready been appointed, and other members
will be selected shortly. Secondly we
come to a committee on which our wom-
en- can serve with the greatest efficiency,
| that Is, committee for the collection OF
suitable supplies. Such a committee, of
whom the chairman and secretary have
been appointed. will consist Of representa-
tives of all women's organizations who
desire to cooperate in this work, and
also Of all individuals who may be inter-
ested. 1t is possible that some D rticular
place for the headquarters of this supply
committee may be secured. Already a
house on the Connecticut avenue car line
has been offered.
For the committee on storage rooms
sorting and packing Of supplies, a chair
man and two secretaries have already
been appointed and Its membership will
also be added to later. The duties OF
such committee will be securing, if pos.
sible. by some public spirited citizen of a
properly located large room or unoccu-
pied store. where, upon call, supplies car
be collected properly sorted, packed and
| boxed for transportation. The govern.
ment will pay for the TRANSFORMATION OF