Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-05-25
5S3. Family Relief Work. &C.
23).

SHopteis anu supervising directors
of Family Relief Work:
A very natural question that is being
raised both within and outside Of Red
Cross chapters has to do with the
probable amount of need among fami.
lies of soldiers and sailors.
Commanding officers have been in.
structed to discharge from the Ma
tlonal Guard those men having de-
pendents, and recruiting officers to re-.
Ject such men for that service. II this
order is 'igidly enforced. the volume Of
relief work will be reduced. but 1t
would be quite wrong to suppose that
there will be nothing to do. The fol-
lowing are some reasons for believing
that there will be much to be done:
LIST: 1t is generally recognized that
the rule cannot entirely prevent de-
pendence among the families OF en-
listed men. The provision which the
War Department is recommending for
Federal aid for families is evidence of
this. Another item of evidence is to
be found in the present regular army
where. although the general policy is
to recruit only from the ranks of single
men, there are still found to be among
the enlisted men approximately 10 per
cent who have parents and other rela-
tives dependent upon them, while
about 4 per cent more actually have
wives and children dependent upon
them.
End: In the navy there is no such
rule against men with dependents
3rd: Some men who wish to enlist,
conceal the facts in regard to depen-
dents. In the patriotic enthusiasm
aroused by the declaration of war by
the United States, and by the appeals
OF the press and patriotic societies
which are fervel.tly urging upon young
men the duty OF joining the colors, the
temptation to enlist and conceal or
gloss over the existence of dependents
is naturally very great
4th: Others have relatives who are
not dependent at the time Of enlist
for any one or more of many possible
reasons.
5th: Another factor which must be
reckoned with is the reluctance of men
in the ranks to apply for discharge on
the ground that they have dependents.
They fear that their motives will be
misunderstood and that they will be
regarded as towards or cutters.
9Th: 1t is we'll known also that COM
handing officers are usually opposed
to seeing their ranks depleted by such
discharges and are not inclined to en-
courage men to apply for release.
18th: Reports from chapters recently
received at National Headquarters in
dictate that already considerable relief
work is being done.
In the case of dependent families of
men called to the Mexican border in
the summer Of 1916. it was found that
many soldiers failed to report to their
commanding officers the existence of
dependents although by reporting them
they would have obtained for their
families the generous allowance pro-
vided by the Government. Prior to
the congressional appropriation for the
relief of dependents, the rule had pre-
vailed that men with dependents
should be given an honorable dis
charge.
Notwithstanding this rule as to hon
orable discharge, and later as to Fed
eral aid 70" dependents, the Red Cross
found itself required to care for the
dependents of several thousand SOL
diers, and expended for the purpose
approximately two hundred thousand
dollars, while many local relief agen-
cies expended in the aggregate posi- :
bly, an equal amount.
In view of these facts, there is every
reason to believe that the Red Cross
will be confronted with a large and
growing responsibility for the care of
dependents of soldiers and sailors dur
ing the continuance of the war.
1t is to be noted further that this
responsibility will not be dependent on
the time or place or duration of actual
military operations. II will begin
when the men are called into training
camps.
Then there is the work of the re-
Mobilization of men who for any rea-
son whatever are DISCHARGED for dis
ability. Even though they do not take
part in actual warfare. disability may
be caused by illness or accidents in
camp, making discharge necessary.
On the other hand, there VIII be the
many other disabled men who will be
sent back from the battle front.
Many of these will need convalescent
care and later help in securing en-
ployment. training for new occupa-
tons. etc. Until these men are pen
stoned by the Government. many of
their families will need relief and other
friendly services by the Red Cross
1t must be emphasized that our pro-
gram includes not only activity on the
side of material assistance for these
families. but also social service of a
constructive character that will make
for their general well-being, protection
of their interests, avoidance of health
and moral dangers. and maintenance
of standards Of living.
Obviously in the broad plan Of the
Red Cross for the present emergency.
ample and careful provision must be
made for this relief and aid work
among families. Plans must be so de-
vised as to permit of quick and sur
ficient expansion to meet any con-
tingency.
ERNEST P. BICKNELL,
Director General,
Department Of Civilian Relief.