The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-01-29
DR. ARSON SPEAKS ON JUNIOR BRANCH OF RED CROSS WORK Educating Children for Hu- man Service Leads to
 Higher Citizenship FINANCIAL FEATURE OF SLIGHT IMPORTANCE Director Leppert Gives Interesting Facts in Connection With
 Red Cross Activities
 by Juniors

Dr. Stockton Axson, national secre- tary of the American Red Cross. made a splendid impression in his address before capacity audience in the ballroom of the Tutwiler yesterday afternoon. Among those seated on the stage with Dr. Axson were Robert Jemison, Jr., state chairman of the Red Cross; pr. J. H. Phillips, super intendent of public schools, and ". J. Leppert of New Orleans, director or the gulf division. Mir. Jemison in few remarks told about Dr. Axson's self sacrifice in giving up his educational work for tbe duration of the war in order to devote his time and talents to the Red Cross. He thought Birming- ham was fortunate, indeed, in being able to hear the distinguished visitor { discuss the Red Cross in general and tho junior membership branch in par ticular. He then presented pr. Phil lips, who would take charge of the meeting The latter gentleman made short address on the value of educa- tion in the junior campaign.
 U u A<1OG
 Dr. Axson on being introduced to the audience said he would begin by relating something personal to him. self. q was born in Rome, Ga, and in my boyhood days heard much Of this wonderful place called Birming- ham. It was small town then, but everybody in Rome had learned of It's rich mineral resources and expected It to become great city,
 Coming to the main theme of his speech Dr. Axson was modest enough to say that while he was filling the position of national secretary the divi- sion directors were better acquainted with the Red Cross work-were better able to handle the details than he. But his heart was in the cause and he was in a position to observe the needs of the Red Cross and to assist in the work of coordination.
 "Every day" said Dr. Axson. "a large batch of cablegrams are placed , on my desk for my information. Our society, as you know, is not only prepared for war work, but to give succor to the suffering in disaster stricken cities like Halifax and Guate- mala. It Is the most perfectly organ ized society in the world and is rem dering humanity service that no oth- CT organization could render.
 "The junior membership as an auSs Hilary of the senior body will perform a service of incalculable benefit It is to develop this junior branch that the present campaign, which is now receiving our attention, was started few months ago.
 FINANCE AND EDUCATION
 'There arc three things in this con- nection that must be discussed finance, production and education. Finance being the least of them can be dismissed with few words. The membership fee for the children is 25 cents This money will be kept in the schools to meet local expenses; not cent of it will go to headquar- ters. When it comes to the question of notwithstanding useful articles to be sent to the Red Cross hospitals my friend Leppert thinks this is of prime importance. We'll, the matter of production is important and must not be underrated. But I cannot agree | with him in placing 1t first. In my view education comes first. In edu- | eating the children along the lines of ! patriotism and human service we are 1 [ ship after this terrible war is over
 we now hear great deal about l internationalism Some ask, Will not internationalism destroy nationalism? It will not We must always love our country, but there is no reason why we should be filled with bitter ness toward another country. We must | educate our children to become true patriots without indulging in hymns of hate.
 My homo is in Texas and I can | say that what Houston thinks of Dal- | las wouldn't be fit to print, and Dal- | las reciprocates the feeling. But when | something affecting the state comes 1 :. up Houston and Dallas stand side by | side in loyal support of Texas. In the | world sphere there should be no room l for hate. We must educate our youth l to think and feel that way. For in the last analysis education is psycho- | logical; it is spiritual"
 GLOWING TRIBUTE
 In the course of his address Dr. Ak son paid a glowing tribute to Dr. Phillips, who, he said, had presented the part that education must play in Red Cross activities more clearly than any one he had listened to, and more ably than any writer that he had read !. pr. Axson, besides having a mag llnetic personality. is endowed with a wonderfully rich voice. Few orators equal him in eloquent expression. His style is convincing, and when he plays upon the heart strings the eyes of his hearers begin to moisten. Dr. Ak son spoke about an hour and quar- ter but he held his audience spell bound from first to last.
 MT. Jemison announced that lunch con would be given in honor of Dr. Axson in the ballroom of the Tutwiler today at o'clock under the auspices of the Red Cross association and the Cham