Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-12-05
FUTURE PLANS
Continued from FACE One)

the Red Cross will continue and be
completed with all possible sympa-
thy and energy.
Wherever our soldiers and sailors may
be. the Red Cross will stay with them
until they are demobilized. Nothing
which we may do will be left undone
either for the men in the war zone, for
these returning, for those in the camps
and hospitals, or for their families at
home, to whom will continue to be de-
voted the ministrations of Red Cross
home service. In this latter effort 1900
trained Red Cross workers are now en-
gagged at $500 different places throughout
the land. The problems of reconstruc-
ton involving feeding and caring for
the distressed civilian population of
Europe are of such magnitude that me-
cessarily they must be met very largely
by the governments of our allies with
whom our own government will cooper
ate. The great tasks Of fighting tubec-
culosis, promoting child welfare and
caring for refugees, with which the
American Red Cross has concerned it.
self so effectively in France. Italy and
Belgium. will at an early date be as
stunned by the governments. the Red
Cross organizations and the relief So
cieties of those countries which nov
that they are released from the terrific
burden of waging war naturally desire
to take care as far as they can of Their
own people.
THE war program Of the American
Red Cross will thus steadily and rapid
~ merge itself into: q peace program.
The wake Of the war will, however, re-
veal the prevalence of disease. and give
rise to epidemcs and emergencies which
in all parts of the world will call for
unlimited voluntary efferts the cutting
of red tape and the manifestation of
those qualities Of human sympathy
which government action cannot dis
play.
Here will be the opportunity for
he American Red Cross. But even
ur Red Cross mustsnot act and can
not act most effectively alone; we
r,ust labor in cooperating with the
Fed Cross and relief societies of 9TH
er nations, to the end that not alone
the heart of America but the heart
Of all mankind may be mobilized on
behalf or suffering humanity. While
therefore, the plans of the American
Red Cross in this direction cannot be
formulated specifically. in advance of
the general relief program OF the
Allied governments. the American
Red Cross is nevertheless planning
TO develop it's permanent organization
in this country upon a scale never
before contemplated in times of
peace.
THE American commissions which
are now conducting the activities of
the American Red Cross in foreign
countries as well as the temporary
war organizations in this country will
as a matter of course ultimately
merge their energies with those of
tleE permanent organization Of the
Ped Cross. The chapters will main
1 lin their organizations upon scale
adequate to the new demands to be
made upon them. The divisional or
CARNATIONS with honorary and per-
rlanent stats. will be maintained.
always ready for service and national
purposes will have a large and eff
tent uIISCl tHe dItlNiIiSo
CT the organization as a whole.
STUDY is being given by the national
organization not nlone to problems of
relief but to plans in this
country for enlarged home service, the
promotion of public health education.
development of nursing, the care and
prevention of accidents and other core
lated lines which may contribute to the
health and happiness of men. women
and children. For the completion of it's
war work and for the institution of its
peace program the Red Cross is fortu-
nately in a healthy financial condition.
now is not so much contributions of
money as the continued devotion and
loyalty Of its members. Annual men,
bership involves the payment of one
dollar. The money thus received will
not only defray all the executive ex-
penses OF the organization but leave a
balance which, together with
all funds subscribed directly for relief,
are devoted solely to that purpose.
THE roll call of thu nation is thus to
be called at Christmas time, that
through enrolment n their Red Cross
the American people may send a mes
sage to our soldiers still overseas and
to the peoples Of the world that we are
not merely content with seeing our
arms united with our allies in victory
hut that our abiding purpose Is that the
love the sympath.- and the intelliyenc.
~ all America shall be reestabiished to
the permanent service Of mankind"