Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-06-14
100000 RED CROSS AIM
Vermont's Apportionment of
Hundred Million Dollar
War Fund.
Delegates from Various Units Come to
Burlington for Conference as to
Method Of Conducting Campaign
in the State.

About 200 delegates, representing the
various branches and units OF the YER
mont Chapter of the American Red Cross,
met on the roof garden of the Hotel YER
mont Tuesday afternoon to receive IN
structions preliminary to TIE opening of
the campaign in this State to raise $780,
900, which amount is Vermont's appor-
tionment of the 500, 900 which it is
hoped will be raised in the United States
as war fund for the Red Cross.
The meeting was an enthusiastic one,
presided over by Redfeld Proctor of
Proctor, chairman of the Vermont chap
ter. There were several speakers, includ-
ing Governor Horace F. Graham, j.
Bayard Backus. field director for the Red
Cross war council in New England, A.
L. Squier. a lecturer, who comes from
Red Cross headquarters in Boston. the
meeting being followed by a general dis
cussion in which all Of the delegates took
part. From remarks made by a number
Of the delegates present it was shown
that the task before the members of the
Vermont Chapter was not a light one,
for with the numerous calls now being
made for funds for various emergency
cases, the sale of Liberty loan bonds and
the recent membership campaign con-
Quoted for an increased membership of
the Red Cross. there is a feeling among
many that the campaign to be begun
Monday will have to be hard fought
one If Vermont is to appropriate her full
apportionment. However. resolution
was passed by those at Tuesdays ses-
sion that they pledged themselves to
return to their homes and exert their
greatest efforts to bring Vermont to her
usual position in such enterprises at the
front
The American Red Cross has three
well-dehned purposes in its conduct:
First, increased membership; second,
supplies for base hospital; third, the
present movement for the relief Of fam
lilies Of soldiers needing help, both in this
country and at the front, but more
particularly for the families Of those
soldiers who are engaged in actual con-
fiict abroad, and to aid those in the de-
vastated sections of France and Bel
GUM.
II is the latter purpose Of the Red
Cross that concerns Vermont, at the
present time.
In opening the meeting Mr.. Proctor said
in connection with this final campaign
that the subscriptions which are made
now are not required to be paid in until
such time as may be convenient to the
subscriber. up to the first Of October II
is suggested the payments be made ir
TENDER and October AS Vermonts share
in this nationwide campaign we have
been assigned $2Ooooo and this is the mari
we must strive for next week.
This fund.- said Mr.. Proctor, lis fol
relief work of varied kinds which may oc
cur in connection with assembling larg'
army In addition the Red Cross mus
take care of our men in Europe for it ha
been demonstrated conclusvely, that II
order to prevent insanity, the men hav'
to be taken away from the field of activ
operations and relieved from the sight
and sounds of war. The English ant
French troops have an opportunity to b.
taken to their own homes, but the Cana
dian and Australian and South AFRICAN
troops have to have recreation camps pro
vided. 1t will be harder for our men II
some ways, because if they are taken II
in France they will be in a country wher
probably nine out of ten can not speal
the language.
THE Red Cross has undertaken also t
do a tremendous work in connection wit
the rehabilitation OF the country whic
has been taken from the Germans, not
permanent, but a temporary shelter. tools
clothing. seed. etc. We are all prone t
underestimate the strength and resource
of our enemy and too little inclined t
face the tremendous drain that the re
sources of our allies have been subject tC
Our enemy has the strength of despera
ton.
There is not time for US to plan State
wide campaign, but each delegate Shout
take back the information and inspratio
received here and inject II into others. w
will do all we can in the way of puSlicit
through the newspapers. Speakers
very limited numbers can be furnished
Best results in this financial campaig
can be obtained by carrying on. throug
supplemented. personal campaig
covering the territory in the varot
branches"
Mr.. Proctor made a plea for ever
delegate to return home and do his {
her part in the coming campaign, tn
being the only manner in which Vel
mont can possibly hope to do her shal
in the national campaign. He held h
audience when he repeated the answt
given by a German governor-gener;
in Belgium in answer to the questio
as to what the Germans would do
the Americans withdrew The repl
was 1--WE are going to take, in from
to so days, these people who will
starving and in a state of mind to q
the skilled mechanics in factories an
relieve Germans for the trenches, ar
the unskilled, abled bodied men "
will put into territories where we ha,
planned extensive irrigation work: II