The Tomahawk., 1918-12-19
RED CROSS POLICY
Chairman Dawson Tells Of Work
Which the Organization Plans
- to Accomplish.
NATION IS ASKED TO ENROLL

Week Preceding Christmas Will Ne
Devoted to Adding to the Member
ship-Problems Of Reconstruc-
tion Are Gigantic.
Washington, Dec. 4.-Henry P. Davi-
son, chairman Of the war council OF
the Red Cross. today issued to the
1854 chapters and the 22,OOO.OOO men,
bers the following statement outlip-
ing the future policy Of the American
Red Cross: ,,A,5 -.
1.-THE whole American people will be
invited in the week preceding Christ
mas to enroll as members of the Red
Cross. It is confidently believed there
need be no further campaigns for Red
Cross funds, but instead the annual
roll call will constitute the foundation
of the Red Cross. The people should,
therefore, know as definitely as pos
sible the plans of this their national
humanitarian society.
''Wherever our soldiers and sailors
may be, the Red Cross will stay with
them until they are demohilized.
Nothing which we may do will be left
undone, either for the men in the war
zone, for those returning, for those in
the camps and hospitals or for their
families at home to whom will cor
tinue to be devoted the ministrations
of the Red Cross home service.
1.-THE problems Of reconstruction, in
volving feeding and caring for the dis
tressed civilian populations Of Europe,
are of such magnitude, that necessar-
lily they must be met very largely by
the governments of our allies, with
whom our own government will COOP
crate.
1.-The war program of the American
Red Cross will thus steadily and rapid
iy merge itself into q peace program.
While the plans In this direction can
not be formulated specifically, In ad-
vance of the general relief program OF
the allied governments, the American
Red Cross is nevertheless planning to
develop it's permanent organization IN
this country upon scale never before
contemplated in time Of peace. The
commissions which are now conduct
ing the activities of the American Red
Cross in foreign countries, as well as
the temporary. war organization In this
country, will as a matter of course ul-
timately merge their energies with
those Of the permanent organization
of the Red Cross.
'There may be, therefore, perfect
confidence that the peace activities Of
the Red Cross viii be conducted un-
der able and inspiring leadership. The
chapters win maintain their organiza-
tious upon q scale adequate to the
new demands to be made upon them.
Local committees will indeed appreci-
ate more and more the value Of having
in their midst strong and efficient Red
Cross chapters. The divisional organ
izations, with honorary and permanent
stafts, will be MISUNDERSTANDING
ready for service; and national head
quarters will have large and efficient
personnel to direct the activities OF the
organization as a whole.
"Study is being given by the ma
tional organization not alone to prob
lens of International relief, but to
plans In this country for enlarged
home service, the promotion Of public
health education, development of nur-
sing, the care and prevention Of acci'
dents, and other correlated lines, which
may contribute to the health and hap
piness of men, women and children.
Such plans when developed will, it IS
believed, provide both for world relief
and for home copmunity service, and
thus constitute q channel for the con-
tinued and useful expression by Red
Cross workers and members Of those
qualities Of sympathy and love which
our whole people have poured out 50
unstintedly> during the war.
For the completion Of its war work
and for the institution Of its peace
program, the Red Cross IS fortunately
IN q healthy financial condition. Album.
dant occasion for the use of large
funds Of money and great quantities
Of garments and other supplies will
continue to arise, but Il Is believed
that there will be no further need for
intensive campaigns for funds. The
work Of supplementing governmental
activities, which the Red Cross will
be called upon to do In all parts Of
the world, will be upon a great scale,
but II will call for human service rath.
er than for large expenditures.
"What. the American Red Cross
needs now Is not 80 much contributions
Of money. as the continued devotion
snd loyalty Of its members. This Is
peculiarly true at this moment OF
transition from war to peace. Annual
membership involves the payment Of
only one dollar. The moneys thus re
ceived not only defray all the admins
trative expenses Of the organization
but leave q substantial balance. which
together with all funds subscribed di
rectly for relief. are devoted solely tt
"a ~