The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1917-12-28

membership dues and still have left
out of that fund enough to carry on
relief work The funds which may
be provided from the Red Cross for
Halifax will not come out of the War
Relief Fund, but out of the member
ship dues. The contribution for work
in China, $250,000. comes from that
fund.
When we get money for the War
Fund we take it to the bank. When
we withdraw it to spend, there is at
tached to it the interest, which has ac-
crued to it while it was in the bank.
For every dollar we get for relief
a out a dollar and two cents goes for
relief. The reason we are able to do
this is because we get such wonderful
voluntary service.
We have a wonderful organization.
due to the fact that we have the finest
spirit put at our service that there
moned a man or woman who has not
responded to do his part
I want to mention one matter. just
for a second. and | emphasize it be-
cause of its great Importance. and it is
this: The first obligation of the War
| Council of the American Red Cross is
to make every possible provision for
our army and navy in this country and
wherever it may be found. We are
only supplemental to the army and
navy. but we believe we have made
every necessary provision. We have
organized what is known as our Home
Service, which. though less spectacu-
| lar. will some day be recognized as
one of the most important works done
| in America by an organization.
The War Council was appointed on
the 10th day of May. On the 31st we
sent to France seventeen men as a
commission, headed by Major Muir
ply. These men we're leaders in med
icine. surgery, bacteriology, typhus,
house building. construction. trans
portatOn, and in many other lines of
work which we believe we might be
called upon to do.
We have sent thus far in France
! $21 900 900, and have appropriated
within three days $21 100000 more.
We have sent commissions to Russia,
to Rumania, to Italy, and to Serbia.
We are working behind the lines in
Turkey. through the Syrian and Ar
menfan Relief, and we are working
behind the lines in Poland
But we are asked. Why does not the
Government do our work? This is a
very natural question, and frequently
asked. There are two answers. The
! first is that this is a work Of emer-
gency. No one can tell when or whence
the call will come. 1t requires imme-
diate action. immediate response with
out red tape Governments tried for
years to do this kind of work, but
found they could not do it. Another
reason is this-that the war is not
alone a war of armies and navies but
war of peoples.
! I want to illustrate the fact that the
Government cannot do the work in this
way. If 7 were delegated to under
take to do this service of the Red
Cross with the idea of rendering the
greatest service to the greatest mum
ber of people in the world, and if
had the alternative of choosing be
tween check of $500, 100000 from the
United States Government and a vol
untary contribution Of 100000 .OOC
from the people of the United States
plus the women. 7 would not look at
the Government check
Now why are we doing this work
Why are the American people dOine
this? The reason the American people
are doing this is because we are al
war We have been at war since Aug
=. 1914. though we did not know it un
til April &, 1917, and, 7 saying that,
do not for one moment mean to imply
that we should have gone to war be
fore we did But | do say that. having
gone into that war on the same issues
with no new principles involved, OuI
very act of going into the war was ar
admission on our part that that wal
had been our war for thirty-tWC
months. during which time those
people around those 1000 miles OF
hellish front had been fighting for us
as we'll as for themselves.
What are we accomplishing by do
ing all this? In the first place, we
are carrying on the greatest humani-
tartan work the world eyer knew. In
the next place. we 20 directly saving
the lives of American soldiers. How
are we doing that? wish | had the
| power to paint the picture so that you
could see for yourselves. All 7 can dc
is to give you few sketches and from
them you may get some idea.
On the arrival of General Pershing
we went to him and said What can
we do for you?" He said, Thank you
vn- much. If you really want to dc
something for me, for Gods sake buck
Un the French. They have been fight
! ing for three years and are gettin"
ready for their fourth Winter, and If
they are not taken care of nobody can
tell what will happen to us
| A French soldier of the devastated
region. after being in the war zone for
! four months. comes out for his ten
days leave. His clothes are covered
with vermin and torn; his shoes are
out of repair. and his spirits are low.
| He came out to go to his home. But
he had no home: his home had been
swept from the earth as clean as that
, floor, and his mother or his wife or
his children had gOne-he did not
know where, any more than you know.
That Frenchman comes out Of that
trench, and he is met by your Red
! Cross representative and he is taken
to a structure you have arranged; his
clothes are taken from him and Steri-
! lized and mended. A bath and hair
cut are given to him, and shave it
he needs it; If he has Whiskers and
wants them trimmed, they are trim
med. He gets three hours. or three
days rest Then he is taken to the
place where his home was, and there
he finds a structure temporary in
character which you have built for
him, and within that structure he finds
his mother or his wife or children,
whom YOU have found for him.