The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1918-02-01
BY James L. Fieser.

organizing and Training 10000 Home
Service Committeeman
BY James L. Fieser.
Director. Civilian Relief. Lake Divi-
sion. American Red Cross.
Two new words--Home Service
are taking important places in the
vocabulary and activity of the S56
American Red Cross chapters in Ohio.
Indiana and Kentucky.
At wars outbreak ten months ago
to the few chapters then organized
Red Cross work and popular knowl-
edge of IL centered only around prep
arstion of hospital supplies. equip
ment OF base hospitals and supplying
their personnel, and provisions Of re-
lief in times of disaster.
Then came the unfolding OF a null
titude OF other chapter obligations
solicitation of war funds. driving for
increased membership, organization OF
school auxiliaries, turning out huge
quotas of knitted articles, surgical
dressings and Christmas packets.
Among these obligations-model OF
Service committees, better known in
some communities as civilian relief
committees. Frequently the activi-
ties of the Home Service committees
were belittled by other chapter com
mittees. This because importance of
Home Service had not been clearly
defined. Now. through the efforts Of
~ II
Lake Division, headquarters at Cleve-
land. chapters have come TO clear
underst anding Of the vitalness of Red
Cross Home Service In relation to war
and complete victory.
But to the general public. notabl.
in the so-called rural communities.
Home Service is little better under
stood than it was by the chapters q
matter of five months back.
So. what is Red Cross Home Service
and why?
Home Service must be the nations
assurance that the enlisted and CON
scripted mans family shall not suffer
for want of any essential thing within
the power of the nation to give.
ne Public'S conception.
eyes" says Mr.. Average Citizen, |
"but isn't the government providing 1
war risk insurance. and will It not pro
vide separation allowance where !
necessary? Isn't It a fact that but
few men with dependents have been
called to arms?"
Mr.. Average Citizen is correct, bu: |
he is thinking only in terms OF money |
relief And it is to convince him that
OF money relief is only |
one of many features of Home Serv- |
ice that this series OF articles on the |
rudiments of Home Service have been |
prepared.
confronting Home Service |
in your county and you !
will agree that the opportunities have !
become the duty and privilege of an |
outstanding. patriotic. American citi-
zenship.
1. Conservation by service OF hu. |
man resources wherever deterioration !
is threatened in soldiers or sail
or's home.
9. Temporary relief of families in !
which there has been a delay in pay /,
ments. or in which there is an erner- I,
gency.
8. Responsibility for regular and
continued assistance in cases not
covered by government allowance
this includes families in need and res
ident in the Uhited States of men who !
are in the service of our allies.
4. Personal service to the returned !
soldier or sailor, especially when he
Ia disabled.
8. An information service which !
will save time, trouble.and anxiety for |
lonely relatives OF enlisted men.
s. Advancement OF home standards |
wherever possible, but especially |
when the lack OF help is likely &c |
cause family disintegration.
Sustains Soldiers Morale.
"Men may be the best soldiers in |
the world Il quote you from the
Manual OF Home Service issued by
American Red Cross headquarters. |
Washington, but IL things are not
well with their families at home. they |
lose efficiency through worry, and tha
morale of the army-that all inn
portant factor-begins to fail
$50 II is the patriotic duty as well
as the humanitarian opportunity OF
Home Service workers OF the Ameri- !
can Red Cross to care for lonely fam
lilies of our fightieg men. II Is to be
remembered that they soon will be
fighting men In real earnest. Not !
only our enemies. but our allies, and
the American people as well, will be
watching them.
Every report from the training
camps and from the French front I
mentions the excellent spirit Of our ,
troops. VIII they maintain this
morale while thousands OF miles from I
home. through trench life and battle. /
TO the victorious ondf
THE ANSWER WILL BE De
TERMINED LARGELY BY THE
HOME SERVICE OF THE AMHR-
GAN RED CHOS8"