The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1918-10-04
Red Cross Can't Be
Used By Politicians

"heiiioefS OF the Nonpartisan
league, who have universally and en-
tnuslastlcally supported the splendid
work of the American Red Cross,
VIII find an added reason for giving
their money and work to this cause
In recent official instructions of
George E. Scott, acting general
manager of the national Red Cross,
to various divisions of the organiza-
ton in America.
Mr.. Scott has sat down on the at
tempted use in some quarters of the
Red Cross for political purposes.
His instructions absolutely bar poll
tics from the Red Cross, which he
truly says is nonsectarian, nonpo-
lltical and nonfactional.
In several instances local or state
Red Cross officials in the past have
taken an active part in the campaign
against the Nonpartisan league and
It's political candidates, in some cases
using their positions in the Red
Cross and Red Cross organization, di-
rectly or indirectly, to further the in
terests of politicians and candidates
opposed to the organized farmers.
This has not interfered with the
League members generously support
ing the Red Cross, for League men,
bers have recognized that these local
officials were misusing their office
and were STOPPING to mean attacks
on the League, contrary to the spirit
Of Red Cross work and in violation
of the wishes of the national officers
of the organization.
In North Dakota a Red Cross Of
fetal used his position in the Red
Cross shamelessly as a cover from
which to attack the farmers organi-
zation, and recently there has been a
report Of a soldier touring South Da-
kota under auspices of the Red
Cross, who is devoting a large part
of his speeches to political attacks
on the League. There have been 9th
er instances.
The announcement of the national
manager of the Red Cross will put
stop to this. In case it does not,
League members should call atten-
ton of Red Cross officials to the fol-
lowing instructions of the national
officers, and if the violation of these
instructions continues, farmer
should appeal the matter by letter to
the national officers of the Red Cross.
Following are the instructions to all
division, state and local officers and
workers in the Red Cross:
"The Red Cross is and must be
maintained strictly nonpartisan,
nonpolitical organization. Member
ship in the Red Cross includes 50
many men of prominence in it's work
that it is not unlikely that many will
be candidates for Office. No matter
how sincerely any Red Cross official
or worker may strive to keep separ-
ate his Red Cross work from political
ambitions he may, and probably will,
be quite unable to prevent his friends
from using his connection with the
Red Cross to gain favor with voters.
"While such action can not be con-
trollcd, all candidates should realize
that they must do all in their power
To prevent the public from gaining
an impression that political prefer
ment can or should directly or indi-
'ccetly be affected by Red Cross
work either at home or abroad. The
text Of Rec Gross service to mankind
is stamped by the approval of the
American people, regardless of poll
tics, race Or religion. No faint of
seifjshness or self-seeking can be al
lowed 10 creei, into the work endan-
gering, and g en- perhaps destroying,
ito great accomplishment.
Accordingly, the Red Cross war
council instructs me to direct that
you l.qLest al. officials CT the Red |
Cross either II chapters or division
headqua7 ters, who are in any posi-
ton Of cxec1li We authority, ant who
at the same time contemplate candi-
dacy g.: f'la:ic office, either TO re-
sign in their official capacity from
The Red Cross OF to refrain from
such candidacy. We ask that You
use every influence to prevent the
use Of the Red Gross or Of it's SER
vices in the political campaign Of any
person"
So passes an almost unbelievable
In Minnesota, thousands
Of dollars of Red Cross contributions
were turned down by small-town Of
ficials who did not like the organized
fa, mers who contributed No League
ne citing was held without a coliec-
tlcn for war relief being taken up.