Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1917-12-27
RED CROSS SERVICE
is Fob VOLUNTEERS
GOVERNMENT DOESN'T DO IT
MIR. WHITE OF KANSAS
TELLS WHY.

Over and over again, the Red Cross
solicitor, in a drive for Red Cross
funds meets this question: "Why
doesn't the government do it?o Or,
"Nhy are we asked to pay for some
thing the government should pay
for?"
Considering Red Cross work in terms
of socks and sweaters and chloroform
and sweet faced nurses bending over
wounded young men, or surgical band
ages, the question is pertinent. But th.
medical aid or the surgical dressings
or the hospital work, or the sweaters
socks and wristlets of the Red Cross
form altogether but small part OF its
activities. And, of course, the gov
I'ernment could do that part of the Red
Cross work easily enough, merely BY
addin~ another extensive bureau to
! the national administration. and paw
ing men and women bv the thousands
for the work that thcv are now doing
for nothing. Naturally it would in
crease the taxes greatly. and it woui...
nut into roltics something that now is
kept hirh and beautiful in i.Ie-ai-
most in the field of religion; but the
government doubt ,; could do it.
But could the government look after
the families of soldiers who need help;
look afte~ them orictlv. without rub
licity, without politics, giving them the
benefit of advice, encouragement, sv-n-
nathy and fellowship as well as Tie
financial aid suited for their needs?
French Soldiers Eelp:d.
Could the government spend $780,
900 buiidinr canteens at the railroad
functions all over France. where
French soldiers coming back from the
| trenches on furlourhs might have
! lodging, food, baths and rest place
all but free, and thus return home
clean and rested and hanpy and ready
to go back. instead of returning home
wet and hungry, and lousy and sullen
could the American government dc
that?
! Could the American government re,
from the commandcr-in-ch of the
French army the names of all the
French soldiers whose families are in
want, suffering this winter from cold
and hunger and disease, and look each
family un all over France and see that
that family is sunnlied with fuel and
food and shelter in plenty so that the
soldier fighting in the trenches will
feel that his family is cared for and
will k-stick-stick to the end
full of courage and ginger--could the
American government do that work
which the Red Cross is doing ar'
spending American monv bv tho mil.
lions in the doing? W., .r
Before the work wcs -: w =, Iol.
some pro-G German -acif'st -"ould ''~'-''
an Injunction in the federal cout
stop it, claiming it is unlolst do.
and with some show c. III. IS
ness in his contention.
Quick Aid for Italians.
Less than week after the Italiar
breakdown the American Red Cross
was in Italv with long lines of freight
cars loaded with SURGICAL sum
food and clothing for civilians, and dis
tributing this aid to the hospitals an,
to the hundreds Of thousands Of refu
gees. men, women and children. fleeing
before the German invaders. and max
i ing America felt for brotherhood il
northern Italy as no other countr,
ever was able to make itself felt il
the world before Could the govern
ment have done that with paid work
ers. and salaried politicians for tn
job?
Within 10 days after the Germans
were on Italian soil. three unnait
workers of the American Red Cros
were going through Italy with thous
ands of dollars in cash. not in check
but in cash-on their persons, distrib
uting emergency aid to the stricken
populations of Genoa. Milan. Bologna
Ravenna and dozen smaller Italian
towns Just what American polit;
clans arnointed by political pull woul'
you like TO have trusted with tina
mission-say Tammany men, me,
from the Philadelphia machine or from
the Chicago contingent of Bath Hous
John? Politics is politics, and Will
80 political appointments out Of 10
are honest. one man doing Red Cros
work incompetent'y or dishonestl
could discredit this government an
squander its funds outragcously.
Reunit,s People and Homes.
A~ain the Red Cross is helDin~ t
build up French and Belgian VILLAGES
A corns of skilled engineers is sunccr
, intending the actual physical work
Hundreds of workers all over Euron
of all countries arc aiding the Amer
: can Red Cross, which is the clearin
house Of European benevolence, to fin
the former owners of these broke
: villare homes-refnree scattered t
, the four winds bv the German inva
sion. American Red Cross monev
: bringing these people back. lendin
, them r,oney to buv furniture. thei
, frst stores of food, and their frs
, start in agriculture. Farm machir
, ei'v IS hein~ BOUGHT for these reoD!
to be paid for on the installment MIA,
ard to be used sociallv--a great tre,
tor for an entire neichborhood Of fa,
mers ard seed whnat for whole con
: munitv under dozen different kint
of credit A government has TO hav
' rules. The Red Cross makes n di
! ferent rule for everv case if commc
: sense on the spot REQUIRES a differe,
rule. How would the government q