Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-12-13
By Wtnia1n Ahen WHITE.

by william Alien White.
Over and over again. the Red Cross
solicitor, in q drive for Red Cross
FUNDS meets this question: '.VVhy
doesn't h government do it," Or,
Why are We ASKED to pay for some.
t sav 81 ne =, government itself should
Considering Red Cross . work in
terms Of socks and sweaters and
c~hloroform and sweet faced nurses
bending over wounded young men, or
surgical bAndn3es, the question is per-
tineat But the, medical aid or the
surgical dressfngs OF the hospital
Work, 9 the ;sweaters. socks and
WHISTLES Of the Red Cross form alto
Hether but . small part OF its activi-
ties; And, of course the government
could do that part OF the Red Cross
WORK easily enough. merely by adding
another expensive bureau to thu ma
ltionAl administration, ana 3payins men
ana wonen BY the thousands for the
Work that they are now doing for
nothing. Naturally 1t would increase
ltnHiaxes greatly. and II. would put in
TO politics something that now Is. kept
high and beautiful in llte-almost in
the field Of religion; but the govern
mentr doubtless could do it..
But could h government look aft
or the families Of soldiers who need
help: look after them quietly, without
publicity. without politics, giving
them sthe benefit of advice, encour-
9sement: sympathy and Fellowship as
Well as<the financial aid suited to their
needs? So
French Soldiers Helped.
Could the government spend $780,
200 building cAnteens at The. railrbad
functions I'll over France, where
French soldiers coming back from the
trenches on furloughs might have
lodging, food. baths and a rest place,
al. but free, and thus return home
clean and rested and happy and ready
home wei and hungry, and lousy and
sullen-could this American govern
rnent do that (.
.Could the American government get
from the command er-in-chief Of the
French army the names Of all the
French soldiers whose families are in
want. suffering this winter from cold
and hunger and disease, and look
each. family-up a~li&tover France and
see that that family IL supplied with
fuel and food and shelter in plenty SO
that the soldier fighting IN the trench
es will feel that his family Is cared
for and will stick-tick-stick to the
end. fun Of courage ana ginger
could the American government dc
I!ldt woEk WHICH Inc American Iteu
GROSS is doing. and spending Ameri-
can money by the MILLIONS in the dos
ing ?vssWellsssanardiy. Before thaft work
was six weeks old some pro-Gerntan
paciayt would have an Injunction in
the. federal court to stop it, claiming
It IA MISUNDERSTANDING with some
show Of righteousness in his oenten-
tom ~
Quick AID. for italians.
r. 49,. 49,. L. :: .nA.. ~A.--
was In italy with long lines Of freight
cars loaded with surgical supplies,
food and clothing for civilians, and
distributing this aid to- the hospitals,
and to the hundreds of thousands OF
refugees. fnen. women and children,
fleeing before the German invaders,
and making America felt for brother
hood in northern Italy ~ no. other
felt In the world before. Could the
government have done that with paid
workers, and salaried politicians for
the job. =
Within 10 days after the Germans
were on italian soil. three unpaid
workers OF the American Red Cross
were going through italy with thou.
checks but in cash--on their persons
distributing, emergency aid to the
stricken populations Of Genoa, Milan
Bologna. Ravenna and a dozen small.
I er Italian towns. just what American
politicians appointed by political pull
would you like to have trusted with
men from the Philadelphia machine
or from the Chicago contingent Of
Bath House John? Politics IL poll.
ties, and while 80 political appoint.
ments out Of 100 are honest. one mar
doing Red Cross work1-incompetently
or ydishonestly could 0scredit thii
i government and squander It's fund.-
outraSeously. tf.
\ Rennites People and Homes.
Again the Red Cross u helping tc
build up French and Belgian villages
A corps Of skilled engineers is super.
Hundreds OF, workers all over Europe
Of AL countries = aiding the Hmeri.
can Red Cross. which is the clearing
II house OF European benevolence, tc
md the former owners OF those brok-
1hd;village homesrrefugees scattered
70 the four winds by the German in:
vasiof. American Red Cross money
Ting them mon 70 buy furniture
their hrst stores of food, and theil
first Staxt In agriculture Farm ma,
chtnerys ID being bought Tor these PEG.
"A plato be paid for on, the instalmen,
plan, and, to be used soci1fly@as great
tractorifor IN entire neishborhood pl
1Atu1ers and seed wheat for a.whde
6onAfnunity under a dozen -different
kinds OF credit. A government -hAst Il
j kkxS aruleAl The Red Cross makes q
~ dtffAfent rule for every cAAe II com
m6Rs sense on the spot requires . Diff.
fkrent rule. How would kthesEoyAsm,
nniien,t do II: How would fedora
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