The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1917-02-12
The AMERICAN
RED CROSS

rNr~ -A ~ NAAAt 1*""t - - - NA-AN- ----
70 the Heroic Women Of the Civil
War" Is one or the handsomest OF the
many notg~aTihy public structures in
the nations capital Its completion
Offered occasion for an article by Ed
ward Aibes. on The American Nation
e Red Cross" which appeared 80
both the Spanish and Engiish editions
of the Bulletin OF the Pan-Amercan
Union. In which the writer ailudes 70
the building as "A majestic monument
consecreated 10 the memory OF the wo-
men OF the Northern and Southern
states. those women who lived and
suffered during that terrible fratricidal
strife which Tor four years divided a
great nation. That monument stands
today a completed thing Of beauty. a
perpetual reminder Of those who sui
ferad worse than death in their help
Jess anguish-the women who snrren-
dered their fathers. brothers. husbands
and sons to the pitiless monster of
war. Not only in its architectural
beauty is this monument appropriate;
The utilitanan purpose for which i is
destined adds 70 its worth and fitness
IS a testimonial to the heroic woman
hood OF the nation. il Is dedicated
IN perpetuity 10 the uses OF the Ameri-
can National Red Cross. and IS 70 be
the headquarters Of its administration.
surely 10 better. no holier office could
be- assigned to 81 than that OF being
the home Of the greatest and most ef-
ncient Organization for the alienation
Of suffering and want that human love
and mercy have yet been able to de-
wise"
In dealing with the history Of the or
ganization the writer explains that the
original purpose Of Red Cross societies
was 70 supplement the medical servie-
es OF armies in t!mes OF war. but that
the great need OF a thoroughly trained
nationwide IN scope and
in character, to render as
sistance aud afford relief after great
in times Of peace became so
manifest that many OF these societies
have extended their functions. and iu
no country has this phase Of their
work been so systematically developed
and perfected as III the United States
In regard 70 the importance ot this
work he writes: 'some idea OF the
magnitude Of the work Of the American
Red Cross in times OF peace. from its
re-incorporation in 1905 to June, 1915,
may be had when it is stated that dur
ing this ten-year period it conducted
over rs relief operations following
earthquakes. volcanic eruptions, fires,
floods, famines, mine explosions, and
incidentally some wars in foreign coun-
tries and that the total amount receiy-
ed and expended, including donated
supplies, was not less than sl5.5OO,000
OF the various service departments
active in times Of peace, perhaps none
is OF gerater utility than the first aid
department. 1t is undSr the direction
of an officer Of the medical corps of
the United States army, and has a staff
of physicians who are available, on
railroads. and in other industries lum-
Der camps. telephone and electric
works on railroads, and in other indus
tries peculiarly subject to serious acci-
dents. The scope Of this department
was recently enlarged by the organiza-
tion Of a life-saving corps, employed
in minimizing the dangers from drown
ing. teaching the best methods OF saw
ing drowning persons, and the utiliza.
tlom 81 preventive measures against
accidents at sea. etc. The first aid de-
parement maintains two instruction
ears on the railroads Of the United
states, one east ond the other west Of
Tie Mississippi river. and instruction
Is given to the employees by the physi-
clans ia charge Of each car. The an
nuai death rate due to accidents on
railroads. in mines. and other indus
.ries has been very great. and this !
work is doing much toward minimiz-
ng the dangers.
Another important feature is the
Red Cross nursing service, with which
he American Nursers association has
leen affiliated This service is now
.omposed OF a national committee, IS
tate committees, and SO local commit
ees, on which a total Of coo nurses are
erving without pay. and 5000 nurses
ave been enrolled for service under
be Red Cross. Through this service
mother great work is being carried on.
his consists in carrying into the
ONES Of the people a better knowl-
dge Of the principles OF health and