The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-07-23
RED CROSS PUTS
, BAN ON POLITICAL
SELF SEEKERS
Those Holding Execu-
tive Positions in Ma
ton or Local societies
are Warned Against
Using Office to Aid
Party.

Using Office to Aid
Party.
Politicians seeking to advance
their own interests thru the Red
Cross organization were given q
severe setback when the war council
of the society issued an order re-
GENTLY placing ban on candidacy of
persons holding executive Red Cross
positions. The Bulletin, the official
publication of the society, carries
the following announcement under
the heading IAN plaBced on politi-
cal candidacy of all holding executive
positions.
Pursuant to instructions from the
war council, George e. Scott, acting
general manager Of the American
Red Cross, has issued the following
statement addressed to division man
ayers relative to political activity on
the part of Red Cross workers: :
Must be Strictly NOn.Political
1.-THE first general election since
the entrance of the United States in
the war is to take place before long.
The Red Cross is and must be main
tanned strictly non-political organ
Eization. The reasons for this are SO
obvious to everyone that they need
no elaboration.
Membership In the Red Cross in
cludes SO many people and there are
so many men of prominence engaged
in its work either at home or abroad,
that 1t is not at all unlikely that
many of them will be candidates
for office. No matter how sincerely
any Red Cross official or worker
may strive to keep separate his Red
Cross work from any possible politi-
cal ambitions which he may entertain
he may and probably will be quite
unable to prevent his friends from
using his connection with the Red
Cross in order to gain favor with
the voters.
Keep Out Self-seekers
while such action cannot be con-
trolled, all candidates for office who
are at heart sincere well-wishers for
the Red Cross should realize that
they must do all in their power to
prevent the public from gaining an
impression that political preferment
can or should directly or indirectly
be affected by Red Cross work either
at home or abroad. The text of Red
Cross service to mankind is stamped
by the approval of the American peo-
pie, regardless of politics, race or re-
ligiOn. No faint of selfishness or
self-seeking can be allowed to creep
into the work, endangering and even
perhaps destroying it's great accom-
plishment.
a. Accordingly, the Red Cross war
council instructs me to direct that
you request all officials of the Red
Cross either in chapters or division
headquarters, who are in any posi-
tion of executive authority and who
at the same time contemplate candi-,
dacy for public office, either to re-
sign in their official capacity from
the Red Cross or to refrain from such
"At the same time, we ask that
you give this statement the broadcast
publicity and that you use every in
fiuence of your office to prevent, in
Spfar as it is possible, the use of the
Red Cross or of it's services either
directly in advancement or in con-
nection with the political campaign
of any person."
On another page of the same issue
Of the Bulletin was the following
editorial calculating the foregoing
orde:
Beware of Politics
Careful reading and digestion of |
The timely statement regarding the
possible political aspirations of per-
sons occupying positions Of respon-
sibility in the organization of the
American Red Cross, printed in this |
ssue Of the Bulletin, are commended |
% Red Cross workers in general.
The statement issued by the act
ng general manager of the National
American Red Cross has particular
'eference to executives in Red Cross
work who may become candidates
or political office. 1t conveys, how
ever, a warning to all leaders and to
he rank and file with respect to the
Use of Red Cross position or status
or any partisan political purpose,
IL ally hIHu, SHAPE VI lOTu.
Within year the American Red
Cross has grown to such mammoth
proportions that it's greatness and
is prestige might afford field of
to unscruplous persons
)ut there is not much danger-from
hat source. The Red Cross as q
whole can not be exploited politi-
ally. The principal thing to guard
against is the use of the work or
he name to serve the personal ends
# political workers in the relatively
mall political divisions of the coun-
ry.
The Red Cross is omnipresent and
lll-embracing-in term we'll UNDER
food, it is good mixer" But
here is one thing with which it will
lever mix and that is politics.
Therefore, the well-intentioned
worker of the Red Cross who feels
he call to political duty certainly
will follow the advice which has been
in good season. To hesi-
ate will be to tempt fate, which ever
) flirting with ones Jealous friends.
AS for the person, who in a pro-
essional political capacity, deliber-
tely attempts to use the Red Cross
If make caDifal ont of his cOnnec- |