The Parker post., 1917-06-16
Sl00,000,000
FOR RED CROSS
THIS ORGANIZATION PERFORM
ING GREAT WORK FOR HUMAN
! ITY-HOW THE SOCIETY GOT
= ITS START-WHAT IT IS DOING.

ue n0u CfOSS war council wants
one hundred million dollars for mil
ltary and civilian relief at home and
abroad during the present war
President Wilson, in formal proc
lamation, has set aside the week from
June 18th to 25th as Red Cross
Week, and has made strong appeal
TO the nation to rally to this call, and
the means by which this single, ex-
perienced organization, recognized
by law and international convention
as the public instrumentality for
this purpose, may carry on it's tre-
mendous task.
A definite program for the canvass
is now being worked out. Teams
are being organized in all cities, and
the drive" will be just as thorough
as experienced direction can make it.
That the huge sum will be raised
without difficulty seems assured. Of
the hundred million, the west is ask
ed to raised fifteen millions, and
those in charge of the campaign are
confident the end of Red Cross Week
will see the entire sum subscribed.
1t was the sight of thousands of
wounded men, ,agonizing on the battle
field of Solferino because the regular
surgical units of the French and Aus
trian armies could not cope with the
forces of destruction, ,thatmoved Juan
Henri Dunant, fifty-eight years ago
this month, to agitate society
whose efforts might lessen the fright
full suffering of the sick and wound
ed in war.
Out of this came the memorable
Geneva convention, which mothered
the International Red Cross society.
Not until 1881, however, was the
American branch formed by Clara
Barton. And twelve years ago that
organization was dissolved and re-
placed by the present American Red
Cross officially headed always by the
president of the United States and
carried on under government super
vision
We thus briefly review the devel-
opment of Dunant's dream of mercy
because today, with war conditions as
completely changed as if Solferino
had been fought in the ninth instead
OF the nineteenth century, the Red
Cross in general and the American
Red Cross in particular will play a
new and momentous part in the final
settlement of the issues at stake in
this titan struggle.
Already our own organization has
contributed effectively to field relief
in the fighting zones. The war was
not month old when hospital sup
plies were ready for shipment to the
beligerent armies. With that. same
spirit of generosity which poured
workers and funds into San Francisco
after the earthquake; Japan and Chi
ma during famines, and Ohio, when
flooded, and which has made possible
the alleviation of sickness and suffer-
ing wherever the need arose, volun-
teers gathered in every part of the
land to roll bandages and fold dress
ings.
Meantime, the fields of France were
dotted with American ambulances
bearing this sign which only the Ger
mans have failed to hold inviolate,
and Red Cross nurses and doctors
answered the calls for help. And,
meantime, the new conditions brought
about by war of this magnitude
have given rise to the new sorts of
Red Cross relief
The experience Of all the battling
nations has shown that field and base
hospitals and the stanching of
wounds and the treatment of disease
constitute only a part of the great
work of reconstruction which must
he carried On under the Red Gross.
While nothing can minimize the
Importance of this first aid, condi-
tions in the homes behind the armies
have evidenced the equal Importance
of reconstructive work in that still
wider field-the field where every
war is fought in terms of the next
generation.