Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-12-28
DAWSON APPEALS
FOR BIG ROLL CALL
Pead OF Red Cross War Coun-
Gil Sends Stirring Message
to the Public.
Visit PROBLEMS ARE AHEAD
Sees No Necessity for Further Cam.
psi3ns for Funds If People Re-
spond Properly to Christ.
mas Drive.

Washington. u. c., Dec. 4.-Henry
/. Dawson, chairman of the war coun.
ell Of the Red Cross, today issued TO
the 3,H5i chapters and the 22.OO0 900
members the following statement out.
lining the future policy Of the Ameri.
can Red Gross:
The whole American people will be
invited In the week preceding Christ.
mas 10 enroll as members of the Red
cross. Ii 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 us posi-
bic the plans of this, their national
humanitarian society.
Since the armiStice was signed /
have had an opportunity to confer In
inr!S with the heads of all American
Rec Cross commissions in Europe. and
laEsr in Washington with the presi.
dent of the United States, the war
council Of the Red Cross, the managers
Of the fourteen Red Cross divisions OF
the United States, and with the heads
of our department at national head-
quarters. | am, therefore. able to
speak now with knowledge and asSur-
ance in saying that the benetcent work
OF the American Red Cross is to go
forward on great scale--not alone,
as heretofore, for purposes of relief Of
war, but as an agency Of Eeace and
permanent human service.
Since Americas entry into the war
the purpose OF our Red Cross has been
primarily to aid our army and navy in
the care of our men under arms. and,
secondly, to extend relief to the sol
diers, sailors and civilians of those ma.
tions which were fighting our battles
along with their own. With the funds
which have been so generously CON
tributed by the American people this
war work OF the Red Cross will con-
unue and be completed with all posi-
bic sympathy and energy.
Wherever our soldiers and sailors
may be the Red Cross will stay with
them until they are demobillzed. Moth.
Ing which we may do will be left I'M
done, 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 con-
tinue to be devoted the minIstrations
Of the Red Cross home service. In
this latter effort $1,000 trained Red
Cross workers are now engaged at
$500 different places throughout the
land.
''The problems Of reconstruction. in
yolvlng feeding and caring for the dis
tressed civilian populations Of Europe,
are OF such magnitude that necessa-
rily they must be met very largely by
the governments Of our allies, with
whom our own government will coop
crate.
"1'he great tasks Of fighting tubercu-
losis, promoting child welfare, and car
ing for refugees. with which the Amer.
lean Red Cross has concerned itself so
effectively In France Italy and Bel
gan, WITH at an early date be assumed
by the governments, the Red Cross or
gnnizations, and the relief societies OF
those countries, which, now that they
are released from the terrible burden
Of vGging war, naturally desire TO take
care az far as they can, Of their own
people
1.-THE war problem Of the American
Red Cross Will thus steadily and rap
idly merge itself into a peace program.
The wake Of the war will, however,
reveal the prevalence Of disease, and
give rise to epidemlcs and emergen-
cles which In all parts Of the world
will call for unlimited voluntary ef-
fort the cutting Of red tape and mani
festnton Of those qualities OF human
sympathy which government action
cannot display. Here will be the op-
portunlty for the American Red Cross.
But even our Red Cross must not act
and cannot act most effectively alone
we must labor In cooperation with the
National Red Cross and relief societies
OF other nations, to the end that not
alone the heart Of America but the