Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1917-06-07

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: let your sweethearts, your brothers
: your sons suffer the agony of thes
). gallant Frcnchmen when you can he'll
prevent it," asked Mr.. Leppert. g
>, dnn't believe you will" he replied.
- Inspiring Musical Program.
" The meeting was opened with 9th
> Star Spangled Banner" and close,
: with Coward, Christian Soldiers;
Z, with Mrs. J. ]. Norris at the organ
and the voices of the entire audience
blending in the anthems, as we'll as O.
America" rendered after an address
= by Captain Blakeny, chaplain in the
!, Arkansas guard, who told of the ad
vantages of service in a home compa
,, my as compared with soldering will
strangers. He urged that young mer
! be persuaded to enlist in the organiza.
ton being recruited here by Capt. j
P. Clarke, saying he knew from ex-
perience how much more comfort, care
and aid is found by the individual sol
der when he is with men from his
own community, than when he is as
signed to company recruited from
sections. Captain Blakeny, who serv-
ed on the border recently, praised the
Y. NJ. C. A. for its work among the
soldiers, relating an incident of an oc-
currence in Texas to show the good re-
suits of that work.
DR.. j. l. Norris spoke only briefly,
paying tribute to the Stars and Stripes
which drapcd the front of the organ,
pointing to it as the flag carried by
coward, and never unfurled except
in the cause Of liberty, freedom, hui
| mainly and civilization. i
Compliments Pine Bluff.
In beginning his address, Mr.. Lep-
pert, who served with the First Lou
lisiana in 1898, and who was rejected
for service this tine because of af-
lection of the eyes. due to improper
conditions at Miami, Fla, where his
regiment was encamped at that time. |
warmly conlplimented the Pine Bluff
chapter for the interest displayed. He
declared the conviction that this chap
ter. the youngest, "is certain from the
industry of it's officers, to be the best
and most efficient of any in Arkansas.
Not only because you have the finest
type of women, but because you have
risen to the occasion, and elected men
to go on your committees" He then
pointed out that it is a mistake to
think the Red Cross is women's work,
asserting that "the leading business,
ecclesiastical and professional men
deem it high honor to be Of assistance
in this great work"
A brief history Of the Red Cross was
given, and the speaker explained why
the government has placed all relief !;
in the hand Of the Red Cross, saying
it is to promote efficiency and avoid
duplication Of effort. He pointed out,
however, that all organizations can as
sist, either by going to the Red Cross !,
in body, or by doing and forwarding
work thru the Red Cross. Tho Lou
isiana Daughters of che Confederacy,
arefollowing the later plan, he said,
and are knitting socks, forwarded thru
the Red Cross and for which the
u. D. C. receive full credit. He urged
the organization of auxiliary branches,
and suggested that the colored people .
besolicited to aid thru formation of |
branches to work under the direction
Of the local chapter. !
He warned against "individualism" ,
in the chapter, saying Red Cross work
is on too high plane for dscord !
to enter in.
Red Cross Work.
Mr.. Leppert described the organi- .
cation of the Red Cross, headed by !
Woodrow Wilson, as president, and
William H. Taft as vice president.
with H. P. Davidson of the banking
firm Of Morgan E company as heal
of the commission in charge of the
campaign for raising $100,000,00
during RED Cross Week." from June
10 TO Is.
He said a year ago there were only
q 900 members of the Red Cross; on
January / there were $4,000. On May
% there were 100000 members. and
the order was then given to enroll
10 .000,0 members. To facilitate the
work, the country was divided into
eight divisions, with Arkansas, Ala
bama, Mississippi, Louisiana and
Texas in the Gulf division. When Mr..
Leppert took charge As days ago, he
said, there were - Red Cross chap
tiers in this territory, with 1000 men,
bers. There was none in Arkansas
or Mississippi. On May q there were
100 chapters with 125,000 members in
the DIVISION. anu now L ask you 10
help make it million in 80 days. l
believe you will, he said. "In Japan
when babies are born they are en-
rolled as members of the Red Cross"
Mr.. Leppert continued. Germany
has 100000 members, with popula-
tiou only tenth Of ours"
Mr.. Leppert pointed out that there
Is no obligation assumed BY the men,
kers Of tie Red Cross. and they are
1 only asked to contribute time or