The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-10-02
The RED CROSS
TIRE TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
INFORMATION BUREAU
BY Frederic J. Haskin. Director,
Washington, ID. O.

of the most gigantic philanthropies
the world has ever seen. 1t asked the
American people for a hundred mil
lion dollars, and it has gotten it. With
this tremendous fund, made up or
contributions from the whole people
from millionaires who gave thousands
and never knew the difference, and
workmen who gave a days wages and
felt the pinch-the American Red
Cross is now getting ready to play its
part in the great war.
Just what is this part? How are
the hundred million dollars of the
American people going to be spent?
These questions are often asked, and
few persons can give more than a
general answer.
The American Red Cross originated
in treaty signed by number of the
powers at Geneva, Switzerland, in
1864, by which they agreed to main
tain organizations to mitigate the hor-
rors of war and cooperate with the
hospital services of armies. This
treaty was ratified by forty-one pow
ers in all, including the United States
and the American Red Cross is now
one of the lustiest and most success
full of the philanthropies which result
ed from this agreement. 1t has been
Incorporated under an act of CON
gress, and is a semi-off1cial organiza-
ton, altho independent of govern
ment supervision in the management
of its affairs
The Red Cross at all times main
tains certain educational features in
Guiding its course in Red Cross nurs-
ing, its first aid course, it's home
dieteticS course, town and country
nursing course, and it's home service
department; The educational value of
these courses is generally known and
appreciated The United States govern
ment depends largely upon the Red
Cross for its supply of army and navy
nurses.
The Marble Building at Washington.
The Red Cross has recently complet-
ed a palatial marble building in Wash
ington which is now the home and
center of its activities. These actiVi-
ties at present consist chiefly in per-
fecting its organization, and laying
plans for the expenditure of the fund
which the people have placed in its
hands Here in Washington alone it
has about six hundred employees and
volunteer workers who fill its com
modious building to overflowing. These
workers include many young men and
women who receive no COMPENSATION
except the satisfaction of serving their
country.
In addition to this great Washing
ton headquarters, the Red Cross is
organized into thirteen district head
quarters, each of which has a volun-
teer executive a tbs head, with all the
department of the main headquarters.
These district organizations, in town
have supervision of the Red Cross
chapters, of which there are 1000
The Red Cross magazine has a circula-
ton of 700, O00-it goes to every mem
Der who contributes two dollars or
more The present membership is esti-
mated at four million, and at least ten
million women are cooperating with
| it.
In the way of work in the field, the
Red Cross expects to put into opera
! ton fOrty-fiVe ambulance corps and
forty-seven base hospitals, but most
/ OF these have not yet organized. A
| irefreshment. unit is already on its
| way to Europe under the auspices of
| the Red Cross. This is financed or
ganized and led by Mrs. Larz Ander-
son. Its purpose is to serve hot cof-
fee and sandwiches from field kitchens
! to soldiers at railway stations
The Red Cross plans to organize
rest stations in France, and number
| OF organizers are already on their way
! to Europe in connection with this en-
| terprise. These stations will furnish
| soldiers places to write letters, read
and rest when they are at leisure
! The Activity of Knitting Campaign.
! The most advanced and successful
/ activity of the Red Cross to date is
the knitting campaign. 1t has pur-
| chased a million pounds of wool, and
]
| gagged in making this wool into knit
| ting yarn There will be enough of
! this yarn TO make millions of pairs of
| socks, mufflers, sweaters, wristlets
/ washcloths and other articles needed
| by the men of our fighting forces on
| both land and sea- The women of
| America are asked to do this work
/ and millions of them are responding
/ to the call
| These are the principal activities Of
q Tod
| ton. Individual chapters are doing
! great many things on their own initia-
| tive and with their own funds. The
District of Columbia chapter, for ex-
ample, has organized several auto
| mobile corps to follow the movements
of troops in this vicinity and render
| aid to any who are fatigued or in
| jured. Each unit consists of one sin
! gle woman and one married woman
as a chaperon. The women wear
uniforms of gray with long coats and
| riding breeches. Another Organiza-
! ton of the district chapter serves hot
| coffee and sandwiches to soldiers At
| the Union station here in Washington
| The Red Cross magazine is pub
! lished by the pational headquarters
! 1t was originally sort of house or
gan, but has Recently been taken over
by a New York publishing house,
= which pays all profits to the Red
| Cross, furnishing editor, contribu-
| lions and all. merely submitting the
work to the Washington headquarters
for approval. Under this manage
ment the publication has become a
' typical popular magazine, illustrated
in color and carrying the work of
/ leading magazine writer's, cartOonists
and illustrators. In the months Of
July a profit of eight thousand dol
| lars was realized upon the publication
I of this magazine.
In general, the idea of Red Cross
service is to supplement that of the
! belligerent governments. Thus its
hospitals and ambulance corps will
! serve wherever they are most need ed
where the regular army facilities
are not able to meet the situation. In
the same way. its knitting campaign
is carefully planned to supply the
soldiers with things they need, but