The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-11-02
DISTRICT CONVENTION
WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS
HELD ON THURSDAY


Woman's Relief Corps, composed oil
the towns of Columbus, Fall River
Lowell and Watertown, which was
held in the Eagles hall Thursday was
attended by SIS members. Members
from Fort Atkinson, Jefferson and
Milwaukee chapters were also pres
ent. The following officers were elect
ed for the coming year:
District President Mrs Emma
Bailey. Watertown.
Senior Vice President-Mrs. Madge
Everson, Columbus.
Junior Vice President-Mrs Emo
gene Wright, Lowell
Secretary-Mrs. Elizabeth Wurtz-
Ter, Watertown
Treasurer-Mrs. Minnie Hunt Fall
River.
Chaplain-Mrs. Henrietta Pease,
Lowell
During the morning session the Col
umbus corps exemplified the ritual
Their work was highly commended in
that it was executed in a fine manner
and showed excellent training and
perfect understanding of it's princi-
piles.
The afternoon session was devoted
to the election of officers and an en-
tertainment for the visitors.
The entertainment was very pleas
ing. The Misses Helen Hoeffner and
Marion Jacobson delighted their aud
fence in rendering "Solong Mother"
in an artistic manner. Misses Gather
inc Williams and Pauline Mckinney
were especially good in their duet Of
fering Keep the Home Light Burn
ing" Miss Florence Amadon offered a
piano solo that was enjoyed immense
ly by her audience
Mrs. Davenport of Fort Atkinson
and Mrs. Herbert of Fall River re-
cited patriotic poems which were ap-
prOpriate and timely
Two character dancing sketches
ended the light side of the program.
Mrs. F. E. Person spoke on Red
Cross work as it related to the activi-
ties of the Corps in it's work. She
stated that even though all were doing
what they could for the Red Cross an
added effort should be made by the
local chapter to do more than they
were now doing for it should be re-
membered that the Woman's Relief
Corps was the shining light of the
Red Cross in the person of Clara Bar
ton during the Civil war and helped to
establish it firmly.
Mrs. Mary L. DAILY, department pres
ident, of Milwaukee, spoke to the
members on the work of the Relief
Corps. Her speech, though short, was
brilliant and full of facts, relating to
the relationship of the corps to the
Red Cross society. She quoted the ia
nous Clara Barton of the Woman's
Relief Corps as having had a great
deal to do with the inception of the
Red Cross in this country. The speak
er told of her activities during the
Civil war when in 1862 she followed
McClellan's army and turned over to
surgeons dressings and helped make
Cruel for the wounded During the
siege of Fort Wayne in 1868 with a few
men to aid her she boiled water to
wash wounds and prepared food for
them. The speaker then told of how
Miss Barton attended a meeting of
the Red Cross in 1869 in Switzerland
and at which she heard regrets that
the United States did not recognize
the Red Cross. She also told Of her
witnessing the war of 1870 In 1877 af-
ter her return to America a special
letter was addressed to Miss Barton
from Monsieur Meynier, president of
the International Red Cross commit
tee, to deliver to President Hayes. He
referred it to the state department
but did not get any further. Another
appeal in 1881 was made to President
Garfield, which was favorably report
ed and with this assurance a Red
Cross organization was incorporated
in the District of Columbia in July
1881, OF which Miss Barton was made
president
President Garfield did not live tt
see its adoption, but President Arthur
secured its adoption without a dis
senting vote in 1882
Under her direction work was car.
ried on in relieving the Mississippi
flood sufferers and many other calam.
tiles which happened after its organi
cation.
The speaker told of the work up tt
| the present time Of the national asso
| citation and of it's present work fol
the relief Of war victims.