Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-06-19
.ELKS DONATE RED
CROSS HEADQUARTERS
Give Entire West Half Of Club House
to Hamilton County Chapter
of the Red Cross.

The Elks have offered the Webster
City and Hamilton county Red Cross
chapter the use of the entire west
half of their club house, and this the
ladies have gladly accepted. For
several weeks past members of the
chapter have been on the lookout for
q room, centrally located, which they
could use in connection with the Red
Cross work. No place could be bet
ter, and the Elks in donating it have
done an act of patriotism which had
been left undone in Webster City and
one which is greatly appreciated by
all Interested in the Red Cross move
ment. The large room in the west
half of the Elks building is we'll
lighted and everything about it is
handy for the business which will be
done in it. There is an outside en-
trance, so those coming and going
will not interfere with the room oc-
cupied by the Elks.
Members Of the various Red Cross
committees began active work
Friday morning, and men and wo-
men all over the county have been
subscribing literally. Some, how
ever, do not know just what the Red
Cross is, in-spite of all that has been
said in the newspapers concerning it.
For the benefit of those people we
will say that the American Red Cross
is chartered by congress. 1t is the
only volunteer agency for relief COM
missioned by the government in case
of war or overwhelming disaster.
The President of the United States
is president of this society. The Red
Cross reports to congress-; its ac-
counts are audited by the war de-
partment; all that 1t does is open
to public scrutiny. Since 1905 the
American Red Cros has rendered
valuable aid In eighty-six disasters.
II has received and expended more
than $l5,O00,0OO in money and re-
lief supplies. Thousands of fami-
lies have been helped and kept to-
gether; suffering has been relieved.
and great misery prevented. No 9TH
er agency provides so practical an
opportunity for helping humanity in
times of great crises, when the need
is urgent, and the measures for re-
lief must, be prompt and adequate.
Because you are an American you
have the right to become member
of the Red Cross. BY the payment of
small annual dues and little unset
fish service, you can help support
your government in it's humanitarian
work. Your circumstances may not
permit you to engage in field work.
few members can-but you can help;
your family and your friends can help
by becoming members Of the society
and by actively supporting your To-
cal Red Cross chapter. Your help is
needed now. To support its field
and base hospitals, its doctors and its
nurses, and to provide the necessities
of military and civilian relief, calls
for at least 100000 members.
The local chapter will open the
rooms in the Elks' club house as soon
as sufficient funds can be raised for
the purchase of material. They have
to buy from the national headquar-
ters all materials needed for the maxi
ing of articles for the relief of SOL
diers, with the contributions, a per
cent of the membership dues and
from money earned through home
talent entertainments, etc. As soon
as the rooms are opened the chapter
will ask for the donation of sewing
machines and other necessary equip
ment. Every town which is support
ing Red Cross chapter has donated
everything needed. and every busi-
ness enterprise has made some sacri-
flee toward the support of the chap
ter.
In q recent statement made public
by Henry p. Dawson. chairman of
the war council of the Red Cross,
the vast needs Of this organization
are enumerated, and among other
things the article states that our first
obligation is to render such service
as comes within the province of the
Red Cross to our soldiers and sail
ors at home and abroad. Then our
endeavor will be to supplement the
efforts of our allies in caring for
their sick and wounded. We shall
help provide the bare necessities of
life for the homeless in devastated
France, and to aid them to rehabili-
tate themselves. We shall strive to
hearten Russia. by providing addi-
tional ambulances and succor the
-