The sun., 1917-05-11
DAWSON HEADS
.REDCROSSWORK
Named by Wilson to Raise
Organization to Real
War Efficiency.
PLANS GREAT CAMPAIGN
Millions Needed to Make Best
Use of Facilities Here
and Abroad.
PLANS GREAT CAMPAIGN

of its activities and help win the war
President Wilson created to-day a Red
Cross War Council and placed at Its head
Henry r. Dawson of J. p. Morgan & Co.
Mr.. Dawson. who was in Washington
when his appointment was announced
took hold at once aad outlined the plans
he has in mind for stimulating the work
of the organization and increasing ita
effectiveness. Mr.. Dawson Is to devote
practically his entire time 10 the work
of the Red Cross. and the entire ma
chinery and resources Of J. P. Morgan
& Co. are to be placed at its disposal.
Other members of the council appointed
to-day by the President are Charles d,
Norton. Cornelius n. Bliss, Jr.. and
Grayson NJ. =. Murphy Of New York;
Edwin n. Hurley of Chicago and Eliot
Wadsworth of Boston. Mr.. Wadsworth
is the present vice-chairman of the
Central Committee. Of which former
President Taft is the head. The an
nouncement OF the President was;
have to-day created within the Red
Cross a War Council. to which will be
iilStA usNtu bHc uulg VI "
the extraordinary demands which the
present war will make upon the ser
vices of the Red Cross both in the
field and in civilian relief. The best
way in which to impart the greatest
efficiency and energy to the relief
work which this war will entail will
be to concentrate II in the hands of n
single experienced organization which
has been recognized by law and by
international convention as the public
instrumentality for such purposes.
Indeed. such "A concentration OF ad-
ministrative action in this matter
seems to me absolutely necessary. and
| hereby earnestly call upon all those
who can contribute either great sums
or small to the alienation Of the suf.
fering and distress which must inevi-
tably arise out of this fight for human
ity and democracy to contribute to the
Red Cross.
1t will be the first and most
necessary task of the new War Coun-
ell of the Red Cross to raise great
sums of money for the support OF the
work TO be done and done upon n great
scale. / hope that the response to their
efforts will be demonstration of the
generosity of America and the power
OF genuine practical sympathy among
our people that will command the ad-
miration of the whole world
In asking Mr.. Dawson to serve al
chairman OF the Red Cross War Coun
Gil. President Wilson made public thu
following letter:
Mr DEAR DAyIsoN-After consulta-
ton with my active associates in the
American Red Cross it has been
thought wise to create a Red Cross
War Council OF seven members. in
cluding the chairman and the vice.
chairman of the executive committee.
| have to-day created the council. This
letter Is to ask you TO accept the chair
manship, n patriotic service which l
trust it Will be possible for YOU to
perform
The close cooperation between the
American National Red Cross and the
military branch of the Government has
already sugg. sted neWavenucs of help
fulncss In the immediate business of
our organization for war, but tho pres
ent crisis is larger than that. and there
are unlimited opportunities Of broad
humanitarian service In view for the
American National Red Cross.
Battlefield relief will be effected
through Red Cross agencies operating
under the supervision OF the War De-
part'nent. but civilian relief will pre-
sent 4 field of increasing opportunity
In which the Red Cross organization
Is especially adapted to serve. and
am hopeful that our people will real
ize that there is probably no other
agency with which they can associate
themselves which can respond so ef-
fectively and universally to allay suf-
fering and relieve distress Cordially
yours. WOODROW WILSON.
Dawson Outlines Plans.
As outlined tonight by Mr. Dawson
the plans for putting the Red Cross a
once upon war footing have the follow
ing features:
A tremendous countrywide money
raising campaign to be begun early In
June and to last for the coming sum-
mer.
The sending abroad at once Of q
special committee to study the situa-
ton. particularly in France. with .
view to relieving the people in the re-
conquered districts who are now with
out means Of support
4 similar study to be made subse-
quently OF the needs in other ally
alone with a view to rendering mate
rial aid. but also for the psychological
influence 1t will have upon these coun-
tries and upon the Germans.
Surrounded by the other members q
the council this evening. Mr.. Davlso
talked to tho newspaper correspondent
Of the war plans OF the Red Cross an
laid particular emphasis upon the fac
that the consummation Of these plan
would depend entirely uron the Coonnrs
ton Of the country and particularly @
the newspapers The present org, liza
tion of the Red Crosg. he said, was ina
to be changed. but merely supplemented
by work Of the council.
we iutend," he said "to organize IN
council at once and to go to the countr
as soon az possible and ask the peopI
20 put funds at our disposal that will on
able US to carry out our plans. The Re
Cross can be- not only an agency for tn
alienation OF suffering on the battlefield
hut II can exert great psychological! In
nuence and can Increase the man powe
of tho Allies. In other words, the re-
enforcement Of the organization whic
we have In mind, II supported by In
public, will be an important step in win
ming the war
Many MiIiions Needed.
The situation is very extraordinar,
The amount Of money that can be spen