The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1919-10-15
Future of The Red Gross

Cross at NJ e. church here:
There are great many questions
with regard to the future program
of the Red Cross which no one could
answer, at the same time the people
have a right to know just how far
the Central organization is thinking
and how far 1t has carried the re-
sponsibility with which 1t is charg-
ed
The first problem that presented
Itself was the problem of transition
from war time to peace time basis.
Should the Red Cross carry through
its war time program and when that
was finished hold itself ready only
to deal with emergencies, or should
this energy be turned into channels
of peace and try to adjust some of
the problems which present them
selves in time of peace? The Cen
trail Committee decided that it was
entirely inconceivable that this great
American Army GEO millions strong)
should either be scraped or demobil-
lied, but rather that its energies
should be turned into peace chan
nels. There seems to be no ques-
ton as to the wisdom of this decis-
ion.
The Red Cross is still the Red
Cross, and will always hold itself
ready as an emergency organization
in time of disaster. but what is it
to do in other fields of peace? To
deal with these questions we have
to first in a way reverse our general
state of mind. In time of war we
could not stop to think or consid
err individual opinions from differ
ent parts of the country. In order
to act efficiently, there had to be
certain orders given. These orders
had to be carried out, and if any one
didn't like the orders he had to eth
Ell keep still or get out. Now I'M
der the peace program the situation
is entirely changed. The first thing
you want to get into your minds is
this; that if the Red Cross is to con-
tinue in the United States of Amer
lea, then the Red Gross must ne
cessarily be democratic. 1t must no
longer be an autocratic machine, in
which an order is given in Washing
ton, passed through the hand Of
theDivision Office and on to the Chap
ters. There must of course be GER
tain broad principles of action, which
can only be determined by a body
which is charged with responsibility.
There must and will be certain prin-
ciples which will be laid down as
Red Cross principles. The activities
OF the chapters within these general
limits must be determined by the
chapters themselves. 1t is impos-
sible for any body of men to sit in
Washington or Cleveland or any
where else, and say: This is the
program which is to be carried out
in every town and county and chap
ter in the United States" What is
wise for one chapter may be very
unwise for another and the only peo~
pie who can determine what is wise
for that community are the people
of that community themselves. This
does not mean, however, that you
can do everything, any way you de-
sire. That Red Cross emblem IS
copywrited by special act of Con-
to misuse or abuse that emblem.
whatever work you do under that
emblem must be done in the name
of the Red Cross and come up to
Red Cross standards and specifica-
tions.
You may sometimes find it neces-
ways necessary to take the advice.
That chapter organization in each
community will to a great extent be
the architect and builder of its own
Red Cross activities.
One of the great problems which
the Red Cross is undertaking in the
United States under the peace pro-
gram is the community problem.
Certain phases of this work present
themselves as being particularly
adapted for Red Cross work. The
great field of physical welfare of the
people-preventing preventable dis
eases, infant mortality, illness an
loss of children of school age due to
ignorance, or failure to apply fer
knowledge which could be obtain
ed.
The ultimate responsibility for the
health of a com unity is an official
responsibility, but il must be pri-
waite responsibility until officials are
brought to realize that it Is their re-
4. n 4.