The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-01-19
RED CROSS CHIEF ANSWERS
CRITICS FOR EVERY DOLLAR
RECEIVED 1T SPENDS MORE
THAN A DOLLAR TO HELP OUR
SOLDIERS AND TO RELIEVE OUR
ALLIES AT THE FRONT.

SOLDIERS AND TO RELIEVE OUR
ALLIES AT THE FRONT.
The following graphic account of
the American Red Cross work and
methods was contained in a speech
made in New York by Henry P. DaVi-
son, the banker whom war called into
service as active head of the organiza.
ton.
When $100,O00,OO0 was raised for
the Red Cross by voluntary contribu-
tions in this country it thrilled the
allies. They were amazed. Nothing
of the kind had been known in the
world before. They were delighted.
When that news reached Germany
through the transformer it read some
thing like this: 1T is reported that
some fund, said to be $100,000,000, has
been contributed to the Red Cross"
There is propaganda going forth
in this country and it is very prev
alent and fervent in the East; more
so than in the West, and it goes much
like this: did you know that Mr..
So and So told me last night and Mrs.
So-and4So said that Mr. Se-and-So had
been told by Mrs. So-and-So such and
such a thing about the Red Cross? OF
is what he said"
Do not make any mistake about it
the Red Cross not only permits, but
urges criticism when it is constructive
and honest. But this idle talk going
on is harmful, and it must be stopped.
Let me quote here, to illustrate some
of the criticisms, letter / had from
a United States senator saying: "It
grieves me greatly that you will not
take Roman Catholics into responsible
positions in your organization"
handed the letter to member of the
war council sitting at my side, John
Ryan, and he handed it back. hand
ed it to my assistant on my left, Mar
tin Egan, and he handed it back. Then
handed it to my little Irish Catholic
secretary, Foley, saying: ''I will with
draw from the room and you will tele-
phone for the senator
/ had letter from very distin-
guished Jew, friend of mine, who
wrote: Il am sorry you don't see fit
to take important Jews into the organ
ization of the Red Cross. 1t seems to
me that many of them could be used"
He named five men. / replied that
was exceedingly sorry that, as to
those five, we could not take them;
first, because we already had three of
them, and then because we did not
know the other two.
We can show you in the Red Cross
as fine collection OF Baptists, Meth
odists, colered people and every other
kind of people there is on the face of
the earth.
/ want to. say this: If you will
show me a man or woman born in
Germany, or born of parents born in
Germany, who is as loyal and pa
triotic as we are, will show you a
man or woman that has severed home
heartstrings that we have not had to
sever, and my hat is off to him or her.
AS to whether we help the Germans or
not, the answer is "No!" but if a
wounded German or a wounded Turk
falls within our lines he is treated just
as tenderly and carefully as an Amer
lean boy.
Red Cross Expenses.
l can best give an idea of the ex-
penses of the Red Cross by making
this statement, and l make it with a
great deal of pleasure. It is this:
That for every dollar given to the Red
Cross for relief, little more than a
dollar goes for relief. There may be
some who won't understand that, and
so | will explain. Our overhead ex-
panses are so low that we are able to
pay them all from our membership
dues and still have left out of that
fund enough to carry on relief work.
The funds which were provided from
tho Red Cross for Halifax had not
come out of the war relief fund, but
out of membership dues. The contri
button for work in China, $250,000
comes from that fund.
When we get money for the war
fund we take it to the bank. When
we withdraw it to spend, there is at
tached to it the interest which has
accrued 10 IL WHiIe IL was III tIle DdHh
For every dollar we get for relie
about a dollar and two cents goes fol
relief. The reason we are able to dt
this is because we get such wonderful
voluntary service.
We have a wonderful organization
due to the fact that we have the fines
spirit put at our service that there il
in the country. We have never sum
moned man or woman who has no
responded to do his part.
want Co mention one matter, jus
for a second, and l emphasize it be
cause Of its great Importance, and i
is this: The first obligation of th'
war council of the American Red Cros
is to make every possible provision fo
our army and navy in this country ant
wherever it may be found. We ar
only supplemental to the army am
navy. but we believe we have mad
every necessary provision. We hav
organized what is known as our hom
service, which, though less spectacr
lar. will some day be recognized a
one Of the most important works don
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