The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1918-04-04

every money gift that is made to it,
and such gifts will be accepted at all
times by Red Cross officers every
where. There is now a Red Cross or
%ganization in practically every city,
village, and town in North Dakota and
individuals attending meetings in any
of these towns, political or otherwise,
and who wish to make a contribution,
large or small, to the Red Cross, can
do so by leaving their gift with the
Red Cross branch officers there, or
with any bank for transmittal, and a
receipt will be issued to them.
It is better, however, that perhaps
a few less dollars come into the Red
Cross treasury than that this great
organization of mercy and humanity
should run the risk of being charged
with affiliating with or looking with
special favor upon any political party
Of faction. It's appeal is to Ameri-
cans. 1t knows no party lines, and
surely if Congress in it's wisdom saw
fit to protect OTIS emblem or name
from misuse in the business world,
Red Cross officers must be equally
solicitous to protect it against all pos
sible misuse in the political world.
To avoid misunderstanding there
fore, and to make certain that the Red
Cross name and emblem is kept clear
Of even the suspicion Of being used
by any political party or faction for
it's own ACKNOWLEDGMENT or benefit,
the following ruling is made to gov
ern this jurisdiction which includes the
whole of the State of North Dakota:
Collections for and in behalf of the
American Red Cross or any of it's
Chapters or Branches must not be
taken up in any political conventions,
.caucuses, or meetings in North Da-
kota. Chapters are directed to enforce
this rule and to see to it that no GER
tifcates of authority are issued to
any person to collect Red Cross funds
at any such political meetings. Per-
sons now holding certificates of au-
thority to collect money for the Red
Cross must not take up collections at
political meetings, and if they at
tempt to do so, the certificates must
be promtly revoked and the individ-
uals so offending reported to the
North Dakota State Headquarters for
such action as this office may see fit
to take.
This ruling is made solely to keep
the Red Cross clear Of any charge of
participating, even indirectly, in any
political campaign whatsoever, wheth-
err it be statewide, or limited to any
county, city, township, village, or ju-
dicial district.
Attention is further directed to
Chapter Letter No. 10, heretofore re-
ferred to, which says:
"In some instances, however, there
is a disposition on the part of the user
(of the Red Cross name or emblem)
to gain time by discussion. The best
way is to bring the matter to the at
tention of the United States attorney.
If he wishes any instructions the at
torney general of the United States
will advise him."
This letter and ruling is directed to
the ranking heads, 81 far as this
office knows their names and address,
es, of all political parties in North Da-
kota. If any have been omitted, a
copy of, this ruling will be sent to
them if the attention Of this office is
called to the oversight.
A copy Of this letter is sent to Hon.
mr. TTsI J--I1- TY-sL~l CI-L~- AlI~-
ney, to Hon. S. J. Doyle, United States
Marshal, for their records.
Copies r being sent, too, to all
Chapters, and to the press, and, in
order to avoid misunderstanding,
Chapters are asked to assist in CIV
ing this ruling general publicity in the
territory under their jurisdiction.
In the confident belief that we shall
have your hearty cooperation in car