The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1919-02-28
Red Cross, Home Section,
Meeting

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An interesting m tic of the Home
Service section o the loca branch of
the Reb Cross was a., IL monday after
noon in the rooms over the Post Office
at which there We're present some thirty
or more lady members and half dozen
men OF the local branch. and the 0cca-
slon OF the meeting was visit from
Mrs. Specht Of the Memphis office, Mrs.
Lattlmer aud of the Atlanta
Headquarters. and
The visiting ladies made interesting
explanations of tue purpose of the
nome service section and recited nu-
merOus cases VI good done TO members
of the families of army men, and STATED
broader purposes and plans for helping
IN campaigns for better educatlunal,
social, sanitary, ana other improved
conditions IN the homes and cOmmu-
mites served Ia all these pc ,fect hal
mony of opinion Was held, but when il
came to aiding in securing allowances
and allUtments for soldiers families
there was a wide diversity of opinion
and diversity was no nearer to harmony
when the meeting closed than when IL
began.
J There are in this section dozens of
people mostly colored, who are receiving
monthly checks from the Government as
allowances and allotments for depend
encies of sUidl rs who are no more
entitled t. such checks than is the Gov
eruor OF tennessee entitled to such
checks. A protest has gone up from
every part of the county against this
condition and continuance OF tits traugnt
WIN serious dangers TO the cJmmuuIty.
The errors are too glarlDg tor reason
able people to permit to continue.
Many had come to ihink the Home
Service Sectlon responsible Tor ALI
these errors, when 1t was responsible
or ony part. II had made sume Of
he mistakes, others were mad. by
other parties. IN no way connected with
ne Red Cross. lthad given its good
offices to help those needing help and
had been imposed on by unscrupuIous
who perjured themselves and those who
made sfficavits for them.
| The fact remains that the checks are
coming right along each month to wo-
men separated from their husbands for
years, to mothers of boys in the army
with the father living, strong and able
to work, and actually mouthly checks
coming for allotments right along with
: insurance checks months after the deal b
of the boy In camp. Other soldiers are
retuneu home and are with their FAINT
lies ana the monthly checks continue
just the same. One man who handles
msny of these chscks estimates tnaL
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coming TO this immediate vicinity each
month, and we know OF many In every
part of the county Ignorant colUred
people and some not So Ignorant have
been made to believe that if q member
of the family Is in the army they are
entitled to this allowance without con-
oItlon and all kinds OF rascalIty is prao-
tlced to get It. Man was made to work.
but when these checks come each month
there is no need to talk of work to any
as lar off rs the tenth generation and
right here is where the danger lies.
These eVlIs must De corrected and
The Falcon is sending the following letter
this week to the Bureau of Complal Is
at Washington and the letter will ex-
plain itself:
Somerville, Tenn Feb. 26, 1919.
Bureau Of Complaints,
Washington, d. c.
Gentlemen:
Ia the interest of honesty and fair
dealing and tie welfare of this commu-
nifty We beg to submit to you the follow
ing facts:
There are in this section many per-
sons who are receiving allowances and
allotments from the Government who
are in no way entitled to same. They
are mostly coIored peope who have been
led to believe that II a member of their
family Is In the service the monthly
check should come to them from the
Government. Women with sble-bodied
husbands and who are never in any wise
provided for By cons now 10 the army
are receiving checks; sisters and moth
ers receiving checks for allowances and
sllotments and for Insurance., all at the |
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