Evening star., 1915-12-08
Those Serving in Europe
Praised at Annual Meeting
of National Red Cross.
FORMER PRESIDENT TAFT
PRESIDING AT SESSION
President Wilson Is Expected to oc-
cupy Chair During Afternoon.
Vice Chairman to Be Named.

With former President Taft presiding
and President Wilson expected to oc-
cupy the chair for time this AFTER
noon, the eleventh annual meeting OF
the American National Red Cross was
in session today at Rauschers
Tribute to the $50 American nurses
in Europe We'd with business features
for the attention of the large gathering
which crowded the hall. long series
of amendments to the bylaws OF the
Red Cross were approved. subject to
the right of any member to call them
up later for reconsideration, upon mo-
tion of Robert w. de Forest of New
York
The most important amendment was
one authorizing the appointment of a
vice chairman of the central commit
tee, of which Mr.. Taft was recently
appointed chairman by President Will
SON The amendments, while numerous,
it was pointed out, follow mainly one
line. and were proposed chiefly for the
reason that Mr.. Taft cannot be IN
Washington all the time to attend to
the duties of his position as chair
man of the central committee. and that
his very acceptance Of the position
involved a greater degree of concen-
tration of power in this city.
Another amendment provides that
the vice chairman in the absence or
disability of the chairman shall eXer-
else all the functions of the chairman
THE experience gained by the work
of the $50 American nurses IN Europe
should help for constructive work in
this country in case of that greatest
of all disasters-war." declared Miss
Jane A. Delano in her report on the
Red Cross nursing service MISS Del-
,iano asserted that definite standards of
nursing have been established in Eu-
rope. through theaHork of the American
nurses. and that from theiss work will
come many training schools through
Mr.. Taft paid high tribute to the
nurses abroad and to Miss Delano,
through whose skill and devotion. he
said the foreign work had been large
ly organized.
At this point laughter was caused
when James Tanner called out:
"She is almost entitled to vote. Mr
Mr.. Taft smilngly ruled Mr.. Tanner
out Of order.
Gen. c. A. Devol gave the report of
the central committee. which held
were as follows: Treasurer's report,
John Shelton Williams; bureau OF med
icaI service. Maj. Robert L. patterson
town and country nursing service. MRS;
Harriet Blaine Beale, and the Red
Cross Magazine, Austin Cunningham.
Shows Balance on dano.
The American Red Cross had balance
of s554.114 on hand November 80. 1915,
according to the report of the treasurer.
which was s147,140 less than it had on
hand November 80, 1914. Receipts for
the first eleven months Of 1915 totaled
s75s 1sa. -sa,- : - - 80
Tribute to members of the National
Press Club and others who contributed
articles to the Red Cross Magazine was
paid by Mr.. Cunningham. the editor. in
the course of his recital Of the growth OF
the magazine during the year.
This afternoon a series of special pa
pers are being heard. These followed
luncheon to the delegates at ! o'clock.
Among those giving papers are Maj.
Raymond W. Pullman, DR.. Richard +.
Strong. = Charles j. J--.O'Connor. DIR.
Rhoades Fayerweather and Miss Rosa
mond X. Bender. - Il
Tonight Miss Mabel T..4Boardman and
others are scheduled to give papers on-]
various phases of Red Cross work: The
annual meeting closes tonight.