The Washington herald., 1914-10-31
MAKES APPEAL
FOR POOR HERE
Miss Janet Richards Reminds
War Relief Fund Workers
Of Suffering in U. S.
SPEAKS AT LUNCHEON
Nearly $50 Clubwomen at Benefit for
Red Cross-Others Make
Addresses.
SPEAKS AT LUNCHEON

ihQQIcSSeS.
Club women who attended the luncheon
given by the District Federation OF
| Women's Clubs for the benefit OF the Red
Cross war relief fund In the Jardin de
Danse yesterday were reminded by Miss
Janet Richards Of the thousands of suf-
| ferers in this country who have been
| thrown out of employment as a result of
the European war, and were urged to re-
| member them as well as the sufferers OF
Europe in giving donations to the Red
I Cross. Miss Richards explained that she
had no desire to criticise the collection of
| funds for relief work in Europe, but only
wished to remind the peoRe that charity
begins at home.
Nearly $50 club women Of Washington
| attended the luncheon. After luncheon
had been served stirring addresses de-
and the work being done by the Red
Cross Society to mitigate the suffering,
were delivered by Commissioner Fred
rick L. Siddons, Deputy Consul to Swift
zerland Louis Lombard, G. A. Lyon. tr.,
and a number Of prominent club women
of the District. Miss Mabel T. Board
man, chairman OF the war rClief fund OF
the Red Cross, opened the program with
an address of thanks to the federation
Society. The speakers were introduced
by Mrs. Ellis Logan. president Of the
Federation Of Women's Clubs.
Miss Richards took sudden turn from
the European war. which was the sub
ject Of the other speakers. and admon-
ished the women Of America who are
contributing to relief funds for Europe
not to lose sight OF the thousands Of
poor children in this country who will
GIfffpF the M rn1H and hnnUar This
Christmas. In part she said:
Pleads for Destitute Here.
II hope I will not strike n dIscordant
note at this banquet by making an ap-
peal for the thousands OF our ,wn people
who have been thrown out OF work by
this wicked war. yield to no one in
admiration of the splendid work done
by the Red Cross Society. and, while /
have every sympathy with the idea of
the Christmas ship. still think it proper
to ask to remember the many children
in our own country who have been i'm
poverished by this war"
She urged every woman present to con-
tinue to give to the Red Cross and to
the Christmas ship, too, but she pleaded
with them to remember that charity be-
gins at home. She suggested that II the
donors of cash to the Red Cross would
garments for the European war suffer
ers, It would help to keep money cir
culating in this country. As a sign that
her departure from the general subject
had not been offending Miss Richards
was loudly applauded when she ceased
speaking.
History of Red Cross.
Miss Boardman opened her address with
n brief history of the Red Cross Society.
1t was organized fifty years ago, she
said, at the conclusion Of our own dis
astrous war, at an international confer
ence held in Geneva. At that conference
a treaty was made by which the Red
Cross pledged itself to aid the war suffer
ers OF any country. She said that the
Red Cross was an official organization
for national and international relief.
Il am not in favor" she said. "of the
private committees and organizations
that have been recently formed to do
relief work that should properly come
under the Red Cross Society"
Then she gave a detailed description OF
the wonderful work being done by Amer
lean nurses and surgeons on the battle
fields OF Europe. The Red Cross So
ciety." she said, is the one bond be-
tween countries that remain unbroken in
time of war. Suffering has no country"
In referring to the generous efforts OF
the women of America in aiding the
relief OF the sufferers OF Europe, Miss
Boardman read a letter that was re-
ceived recently from the secretary to
Queen Mary OF England. in which the
Queen declared that the English news
papers are full of accounts OF the gen.
erosity OF the women OF America.
Three Kinds of Suffering.
There are three kinds OF suffering in
time of war, said Miss Boardman, There
is the physical suffering which Is en-
dured by the wounded on the battlefield;
of the folks at home, and the moral suf-
fering that degrades men and turns them
into beasts. She declared that atrocities
were committed in time of war because
war itself is an atrocity.
The women OF the world should rise up
with fearless eyes and demand that war
come no more, said Commissioner Sid
dons, who followed Miss Boardman. He
urged the women present to do all in
their power to aid in relieving the suf-
fering and to offer up their prayers that
the peace OF God sweep down upon the
world forever.
Mrs. Lewis Post outlined an elab-
crate plan for universal peace,
or as she termed it, ''the new
or hundred
years" she said. I'VE have been
looking forward to the day when war will
be no more. For the past few years We
seemed to be advancing rapidly toward
our cherished dream. Then suddenly this |
crisis loomed up and apparently wiped out
all our visions OF universal peace. But
only apparently. 1 believe II was the very |
thing needed to open the eyes of the !
world and make them grasp eagerly for |
the new internationalism.
Suggests Disarmament.
Mrs. Post suggested, as a step toward |
peace. the formation of a league |
Of the nations who are willing |
to agree to disarmament Let this !
league have one army" she continued, |
that will equal in strength the combined |
forces Of those countries outside the |
league. When this is done the nations |
which do not belong to the league will |,
be forced, through commercial reasons, |
to abandon their stubbornness and COM |
plete the new internationalism."
She suggested that there be one interna- |
tional arbitral court to which all ma |
tional disputes be taken and settled in a |
peaceful manner. She appealed to the |
women as the greatest factors in bringing |
about this world peace.
Mrs. Post was followed by Louis Lom- |
bard, deputy consular general to Switzer- |
land, who related his experiences in get |
fin0 ont Of vopa TItgtor,, ~ I