Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1917-05-26
help him in the work

M. Dunant's appeals resulted IN q
preliminary conference held at Gene
va in 1868 which, in turn, led TO an
off4c a. International conference held
at Geneva, Switzerland, in 1864. Dur
ing this second conference the dele
gates from the United States made a
valuable contribution by showing That
Tue Uniled States SANITARY commls-
SION, by actual relief operations, had
ALREADY solved problems which were
truA Ylng the conference and were
making ITS success matter oil doubt.
The Geneva convention, adopted at
chat Time, revised In 1906 aud given
addd 4onal force by the Hague Con-
ferences, was the formal beginning
of the Red Cross and LOT that reason
LIS sometimes 10 called the Red Cross
Treaty"
The name Red Cross comes
from the insignia adopted by the
conference--a Greek cross in red On
white ground
1t was not until 1882 that the gov
ernmant OF the United States ratified
the Geneva convention OF 1864. But
self-appo4nted committee 10 further
one interests Of the Red Cross move
ment was formed In Washington; In
1854 the committee was enlarged and
incorporated under the name OF the
American Association OF the Red
Cross" IN 1888 1t was reincorpOrated
as the American National Red
Cross in 1900 the Congress OF the
United States gave to this organlza-
ton a national charter and in 1906, by
act OF congress, the existing organi-
Zatlon was dissolved and new as
ISOLATION incorporated under the nam
OF the American National Red Cross.
From 1906 to 1917 The American
Red Cross Society has expended for
the relief OF sufferers from epidemics.
flood, etc $l0,967, O61.63.
ALI this in times OF peace! How
much greater 10 the necessity for
Red Cross assistance now, when the
Allies are fighting our own battles.
American soldiers will soon be La the
trenches in Europe. 1t 10 up to US,
who can not go, TO do our part to
alleviate the sufferings OF the sol
diers and care for families who are
left dependent. Join the Red Cross
now. No other agency provides 30
practical am opportunity for helping
humanity in time Of great crisis when
the need ia urgent and the measures
of relief must be prompt and ade-
quate.
The purposes OF the American Red
Cross are to furnish volunteer add to
the sick and wounded Of the army
and navy in time of war; to act In
| matters of volunteer relief and, In &C
cord with the naval and military au-
thorties, to serve as medium OF
communication between the United
States and their army and navy.
The Red Cross 10 not an organiza-
ton for women only. The great work
1t Is doing Is worthy of the best eff
forts of every patriotic man and child
In America. President Wilson is
president of the Red Cross and Elk
President Taft lis chairman OF the
Grand Central Committee. The work
Of the Red Cross 10 under the direct
supervision OF Congress and its &C.
counts are audited by the War De-
partment.
President Wilson says: "A large
wellorganized and efficient Red Cross
is essential. 1t is both a patriotic
and humane service that Is rendered
by every citizen who becomes a mem
Der of the American Red Cross"
Ex-President Roosevelt expressed
the hope that all the patriotic and
humane men, women and children of
the United States will give the Red
Cross their support by becoming
members of our national organization.
Membership imposes no obligation
of personal service either In time Of
war or peace. 1t Is not to be con-
fused with enrolment for special ser
vice, such as the nursing seivice, hos
pital cnits, etc, which have special
requirements and duties. Joining the
local Red Cross organization does not
bind you to work at making garments
surgical dressings etc. Auxiliares
will soon be formed to do this work
and your help will be greatly appre-
ciated, but is not compulsory.
Comparatively few persons can
serve the Red Cross In the field, but
everyone can serve at home by be-
coming a member and getting his
friends to join.