Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1917-08-08
RED CROSS ADDRESS
BY ATTY. J. A. NELSON
Inspiring Talk Given by City Attorney
at Big Red Cross Picnic Held
- at City Park.
MANY INTERESTING FACTS
WERE EXPLAINED
Foundation of the Red Cross Society
Was Laid in the Year 1864 in
Switzerland.
Continued from first page)

After the war, she embarked for
Europe-welt to Switzerland, where
She came in contact with the Red
Cross, which was as yet foreign to
the United States. When the Franco
Prussian war broke out, she carried
this favorite emblem, the sign of the
Red Cross, to the camps and battle
fields of the armies, and when she
later returned to this country she
urged upon this government to
pledge itself to this society, which
resulted in the ratification of the
Treaty of the Red Cross by the Unit
ed States in 1882. Our national or
ganization was first operated as a pri-
vate one with Clara Barton at its
head until 1900 when it was placed
under governmental supervision. 1t
is now operated under national
chapter, which was adopted by our
Congress June 5, 1906 and now, as
you know, the President of the Unit
ed States is also President of the
American Red Cross Society. Our
charter is much broader than the
original treaty terms of the Geneva
convention, as that did not contem-
plate more than merely caring for the
wounded soldiers in the field. Our
chapter, in addition, makes the Red
Cross the means of communication
between people at home and the army
and navy in time Of war; and then
too, there is another addition which
is often spoken of as the American
Amendment which provides for car
rying on a system of national and in
ternational relief in time of peace, ap-
plying the same to mitigate suffering
caused by great national calamities,
such as storms, floods, fires, etc.,
which are beyond the control of the
local people and carrying on meas
ures for preventing local disaster.
So that even though, as you will
notice, our country was late in rati-
flying the Red Cross Treaty, it went
home and shaped the national organi-
cation in such way that it might
extend both military and civilian re-
hef and this additional feature which
is distinctly American, is due to the
farsi ghtednSs of that same Clara
Barton. 1t was her purpose, as is
also the purpose of this country, that
the white banner with the red cross
might be unfurled wherever human
fly is in need, whether it be from the
act of God or the act of man. This
feature of the Red Cross is important.
For wherever cyclone, food, fire or
earthquake has brought devastation
and ruin, in fact, in every great Gala
nifty that has befallen our country,
since the beginning of our organiza
ton, the Red Cross worker has gone
out to house, feed, and administer to
those in need.
What a power force for good and
mind you it isn't content with mere
y national service, or service with
in the boundaries of home, but it
reaches out its great helping hand be-
yond the national borders, manifest
ing willingness to serve any people
in any country, that may be in need
of fits help.
Our nation today, is in the midst Of
a great emergency-the greatest that
has befallen it since the days of the
Civil War. We are at war. We are
one of the belligerents in the great
est struggle of all history. Our stall
wart youth are called to arms. They
win come from every city, town, vii
lage and hamlet in the nation. They
will be leaving our own community,
as some have already left, AID posi-
bly, embark for the fighting lines of
Europe, as some have already en-
barked. Should they be called into
battle, as is almost certain, many will
die, others will be mangled, disfigur-
ed and crippled by shot and shell.
There will be suffering from shock
and disease. There will be crying for
help. The aid must come from the
only possible source, the Red Cross.
But that is not ALL Back home,
thousands of needy families of the
men at the front will look to the Red
Cross for comfort and aid. In all this
work both with our soldiers at the
front and the families at home, the
Red Cross will be active day and
night. 1t is the, great humanitarian
arm of our government that admins
tiers unto suffering humanity wherev-
er there is a call for mercy. am not
going to endeavor to point any dark
pictures, as you are we'll able to ina
CINE the consequences OF the situa-
ton that confronts our nation.