Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-06-17
RED CROSS HAS
A Home SERVICE
Mrs. Max Mayer of Iowa City Address.
cs Red Cross Workers Here and
Home Service Department
Committee is Named.
WHAT HOME SERVICE WORK is
Mrs. Mayer Gives Strong, interest
ing and Entertaining Talk to
Workers.
WHAT HOME SERVICE WORK is

The Hamilton County Chapter of the
Red Cross now has a home service
department.
This is not altogether new idea
here, as through the efforts OF Varick
c. Crosley, county chairman, much
help of vital Importance has been done
for local boys in the service and their
relatives at home. But, with the COM
ing of Mrs. Max Mayer of Iowa City,
who gave a wonderfully inspiring talk
on home service work in the Red
Cross rooms Friday afternoon, and
the appointment of committee to
represent the home service department
here, the work will assume a con-
tinuous wider scope as the war con-
tinues.
The law is always represented upon
these committees, so that any diff
culties arising over insurance pay
ments in the case of soldiers and their
families may be taken care of by the
Red Cross without expense to the
beneficiaries. County Attorney ]. E.
Burnstedt will hold this important
position here, and act as chairman of
the local committee, the other mem
bers of which are II. A. Games, N. ].
Loring, Mrs. G. F. Tucker, Mrs. P. w.
Lee and Mrs. c. D. Carpenter.
Different Activities.
It is not generally understood that
the Red Cross is at the service Of the
home folks, in addition to its activities
for soldiers. Among the almost limit
less features of it's service, is one Of
great importance to the soldiers and
their relatives. This is the matter OF
the soldiers taking out government
insurance. The county chairman has
already made it point to urge upon
every man the taking of the full
amount After once taken out, the
insurance allotment may not be in
creased, so the advantage of taking the
full amount at the beginning is APP
parent. If the soldier finds himself
unable to make the monthly payments,
however, he can decrease the amount
OF his war risk policy.
Other duties of the committee, act
ing as the Red Cross representatives
of the government, is the care OF
tubercular soldiers rejected by the
army. Hamilton county has two such
soldiers at home now. The govern
ment has already appropriated a sum
of money to establish schools for the
re-education of disabled soldiers, that
they may return to fields of usefulness
in their communities. However, such
men will not be forced to take this
training. 1t will be the part of the
home service committee to interest the
returning soldiers in these schools
and what they can do for them. In
addition, this department helps the
soldiers folks at home by advice. in
formation and cooperation in meeting
the troubles and problems arising be-
cause of the soldiers absence.
Mrs. Mayer Talks.
Mrs. Mayer, who was introduced to
about forty Red Cross workers at
headquarters by Mr.. Crosley, is well
and widely known throughout Iowa,
not only as prominent socially and as
leading club woman, but for her
interest and ceaseless efforts toward
social and community betterment. She
is a delightful and entertaining speak
err with message. During the pres
ent campaign of the home service
workers, with which she is associated
with DR.. Effie McCollum Jones OF this
city, Mrs. Mayer has visited l41 Iowa
towns since January l. Many of the
points which she made during her
talk, were by illustrations and expert
ences met with in her visits over the
state.
TO the claim that Iowa is rich, that
she does not need the home service
work, Mrs. Mayer declared, 1T but
proves that we do need home service.
We do not make visits of coincidence
to soldiers families, we go as friends
to give courage and show our appre-
citation of what they have done for us"
1t is the volunteer worker who must
carry the message of sympathy and
help. as friend, not as paid worker
In no sense is the service charity.
The government is caring for the men
in the field, and just SO, it cares for
their families at home, if they are in
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