Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-06-04
l593. FAMILY RELIEF WORK
C-23

C.ZO
May 10, 1917.
, 70 Chapters and Supervising Directors
Of Family Relief Work:
A very natural question that is be-
ing raised both within and outside of
Red Cross chapters has to do with
the probable amount of need among
families of soldiers and sailors.
Commanding officers have been in
structed to discharge from the Ma
tional Guard those men having de-
pendents. and recruiting officers to re-
ject such men for that service. If this
order Is rigidly enforced, the volume
of relief work will be reduced, but it
would be quite wrong to suppose that
there will be nothing to do. The fol-
lowing are some reasons for believing
that there will be much to be done:
LIST: 1t is generally recognized that
the rule cannot entirely prevent de-
pendence among the families of enlist
ed men. The provision which the War
Department Is recommending for Fed
eral aid for families is evidence of
! this. Another item of evidence is to
be found in the present regular army
where. although the general policy is
| to recruit only from the ranks of sin
gle men, there are still found to be
4 among the enlisted men approximate
lily 10 per cent. who have parents and
other relatives dependent upon them,
kwhile about per cent. more actually
have wives and children dependent
lupon them.
and: In the navy there is no such
krule against men with dependents.
Srd: Some men who wish to enlist.
Aconceal the facts In regard to depend
Ionts. In the patriotic enthusiasm
kayoused by the declaration of war by
1.-THE United States, and by the appeals
LOT the press and patriotic societies
(which are fervently urging upon young
linen the duty of joining the colors. the
Temptation to enlist and conceal or
Isloss over the existence Of dependents
lie naturally very great
9TH: Others have relatives who are
mot dependent at the time of enlist
kment but who later become dependent
lfor any one or more of many possible
reasons.
5th: Another factor which must be
ireekoned with is the reluctance Of men
In the ranks to apply for discharge on
1.-THE ground that they have dependents.
They fear that their. motives will be
misunderstood and that they will be
~oxuord or unjftorc
/, 6th: 1t is well known also that COM
lmanding officers are usually opposed
Ito seeing their ranks depleted by such
discharges and are not inclined to en-
courage men to apply for release.
! 7th: Reports from chapters recent
Sly received at National headquarters
indicate that already considerable re-
lief work is being done.
/, In the case of dependent families of
men called to the Mexican border in
tine summer of 1916. it was found that
many soldiers failed to report to their
commanding officers the existence of
dependents although by reporting
them they would have obtained for
their families the generous allowance
provided by the government. Prior to
the congressional appropriation for
the relief of dependents, the rule had
prevailed that men with dependents
should be given an honorable diss
charge.
Notwithstanding this rule as t. hon
orable discharge. and later as to Fed
eral aid for dependents, the Red Cross
found itself required to care for the
dependents Of several thousand soldiers
and expended for the purpose approx
mately two hundred thousand dollars.
while many local relief agencies ex-
pended in the aggregate possibly an
equal amount.
In view Of these facts. there is every
reason to believe that the Red Cross
will be confronted with a large and
growing responsibility for the care of
dependents Of soldiers and sailors dur
ing the continuance OF the war.
II IL to be noted further that this
responsibility will not be dependent on
the time or place or duration of actual
military operations. 1t will begin
when the men are called into training
camps
Then there IL the work Of the reha-
Utilization OF men who for any reason
whatever are discharged for disability.
Even though they do not take part IN
actual warfare. disability may be caus-
ed by illness or accidents In camp.
making discharge necessary. On the
other hand. there VIII be the many
otheS disabled men who will be sent
back from the battle front
Many Of these will need convalescent
care and later help In securing employ
msnt, training for new occupations.
etc. Until these men are pensioned by
the government. many II their families
will need relief and other friendly serV-
ices by the Red Cross.
II must be emphasized that our pro
cram includes not only activity on the
side OF material assistance for these
families, but also socisI service of
constructive character th6t VIII make
for their general we'll being, protection
OF their interests. syoidsnee Of health
and moral dangers. and msinteRshes
of standards Of living.
Obviously In the broad plan ~ The
Red Cross for the present emergency.
ample and careful provision must be
made for this relief and aid work
among families. Plans must lie 50 de-
vised A. to permit Of quick and sum
Client expansion to meet any eohtih.