The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1919-10-03

With delegates from every county
in the state present, the first Red
Cross convention ever held in Montana
convened in Butte September 25th and
26th, at the Silver Bow club. Never
before in the history of the state or
ganization have so many representa-
tives assembled. The delegates gath
cred from the east as far as Glasgow
and Glendive and from the west as
far as the Idaho line
To align the forces OF the Red Cross
and Of the people of the country for
the PRONUNCIATION of the reconstruct
tion campaign and disease prevention
activity DR.. Livingston Farrand, chair
man of the central committee Of the
Red Cross, eight division directors and
state delegates from fifty counties as
sembled in convention. With the COM
pletion of the war work of the Or
ganization nearing close, the officers
are busily engaged in outlining plans
for a peace program to stamp out dis
ease, to assist the returned service men
and to give constructive aid where
most needed.
Two hundred delegates and visitors
attended the banquet given, at which
addresses were made by DR.. Farrand,
Chancellor E. C. Elliott of the Uni
versity of Montana, Harry Yeager of
Great Falls, DR.. sippey of the state
board of health, Commander Charles
Pew of the American Legion, DIR.
Cogswell of Missoula and Mr.. Taylor
of Blaine county.
The first session was held in the
afternoon with luncheon at which
Dr. Farrand delivered lecture on the
problems of health in the community
and the necessity for such an organiza-
ton as the Red Cross to undertake
measures to prevent the sapping of
the nations vitality. The prevention
of tuberculosis, infant mortality, in
fluenza, bad housing conditions and all
other menaces to health were empha-
sized by the national chairman and he
said that an attack would be made
upon these enemies Of vitality before
the winter set in. "The question of
public health is not one for private
philanthropy" said DR.. Farrand, "nor
can it be maintained alone by such
governmental organizations as public
health boards The Red Cross is here
as cooperative agency to co-ordi-
nate the scattered energies and make
a united force in the health campaign.
We will have to demonstrate what we
can do by effectiveness and efficien-
cy.
",rhe one great means by which we
can combat the inroads on health and
vitality is through the visiting nurses.
This means nothing more than the es-
tablishment of public health center
behind which the Red Cross will be
placed. If it does this will be the
greatest step the organization has un-
dertaken We do not intend to direct
the community problems, but to indi-
cate certain plans and to lend our ad-
vice. The Red Cross is an advising
body and it's main purpose is to i'm
prove the health and welfare of Amer
ica." DR.. Farrand also stated that
Montana actually produced on the
front larger number of Red Cross
workers in proportion to population
than any other state. He paid glow
ing tribute to the people Of this state
and added that Montana was leading
SO far as Red Cross activity was con-
cerned.
Senator Harry Gallwey presided at
the banquet. He first introduced
Lieutenant Governor w. w. Mellow
ell, who delivered a short address of
welcome to DR.. Farrand and the Red
Cross delegates. The speech of DR..
Farrand at this time was devoted
chiefly to generalizations on the work
and activity of the Red Cross.
Business sessions of the conference
were held Friday forenoon and also
in the afternoon. Valley county was
represented at this most important
gathering by Mrs. Leo B. Coleman,
former chairman of the Red Cross
chapter of this county, who will give
detailed report of the convention at
later date. She is enthusiastic over
it's results and entertains great hopes
for the work which is to lie accomp-
lished through the efforts of the Red
Cross in Valley county. Already a
nurse has been secured, and home SER
vice work will be actively carried on.