Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1917-08-15
IN BEHALF OF THE RED CROSS.

We have found that half of our diff
Guilty in getting people interested in
the Red Cross arises from the fact that
many persons are ignorant of what
the society really is working for
what it's aim as an organization.
The Red Cross was used as far back
as the time of the Crusades as an en-
blem of mercy, or as one of yalor or
especial bravery.
Since then it is the badge or flag
the care of the sick or wounded in
time of war, and in time of peace to
give aid and comfort during any
storm, fire, flood or great disaster
We have an example of the great
work done by the American Red Cross
at the time of the tragedy at San
Francisco.
Clara Barton was the first president
of this society in the United States,
and represented our country at the in
ternatiOnal conference held in 1868 at
Geneva Switzerland where represen-
tatives from fourteen governments
met and drew up a code of laws or a
treaty by which this society is gov
erned in all countries.
One important thing decided upon
then was the adoption Of a red cross
upon a white ground as the official
sign Of the society in all countries.
The neutrality of this official sign to
~ oh
Since then nearly every civilized
country has signed the treaty and
each one has Red Cross society of
it's own, Japan having the largest and
Germany next
From 1863 up until the~present time
our country has been trying to raise
the American Red Cross society to
favorable footing with that of other
nations.
When war was declared in April,
1917, Japan had a membership of
100000; Germany, 100000, and so
on down thel list to United States with
$500 members
Now we are steadily increasing in
size but have not yet reached the mil
lion mark.
We are engaged in a terrible war
and are going to send hundreds OF
thousands of our men and boys across
the seas to foreign fighting line
1t is our duty as American citizens
to see that those boys are cared for.
France and England, as we'll as the
other allies, have enough to do to look
after their own wounded men.
No matter how opposed you may be
to this war in itself, no matter wheth-
er you think it right or wrong has
nothing whatever to do with the care
of our wounded and dying soldier boys
who will be sent whether we like it
or not.
The Red Cross does not desire war.
1t is as society not in any way con-
nected with making war it is simply
remedy in case of war.
We have formed an auxiliary of our
Grant county chapter, located in
Platteyille, here in Potosi. This means
that every man, woman and child in
this township will be called upon to
do his part in obtaining nurses to care
for the boys We are sending across the
ocean.
We want to do our part and do it
we'll; we do not want it said that one
Of the oldest and most historic towns
in Wisconsin failed to come up to
standard in this great work Surely,
no mother in Potosi township who is
giving boy to her country would be
backward in helping out the Red Cross
society.
Would not that mother like to think
that the dollar she gave to the Amer
lean Red Cross fund was the means
by which her boy received a cool drink
as he lay in Red Cross hospital?
Would not any wife or sister, like
to think that if her brother or hus-
band lay wounded some kind-hearted
Red Cross nurse sent by this society
bound up his wounds with bandages
she, perhaps, helped to make?
Our work rooms will be open from
2 until 5 every Wednesday and Thurs
day afternoons. Come in and see the
work being done
AH0 hn4CCl1AS Atot1 uCClOHS, yarn, eCc.,
will be given out every Saturday af-
ternoon from the work rooms between
the hours Of 2 and 5. Perhaps you
would like to take some knitting home
to do in spare moments
Although no Red Cross worker re-
ceives pay you will have the compen-
sation of knowing you have done
good deed in very worthy cause.
Mrs. J. B. Key,
Chairman of POtosi Auxiliary.