The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1920-10-30


Harry L. Hopkins, manager of thu
Gulf Division, with headquarters il
Washington Artillery Hail. st. Charlie!
Street.
Mr. Hopkins says these two features
will be emphasized in the Fourth An
nual Roll Call which is to be held this
fall from Armistic9 Day to Thanks
giving Day. In this roll call, accord
ing to Mr.. Hopkins, the Red Cross has
announced its intention to ask present
members Of the organization to pledge
anew their belief in its work for hu,
manity, and to give new members a
chance to join in the work of the
Greatest Mother the World Has Ever
Known"
"'The Greatest Mother designation
is the most beautiful possible conCep-
ton Of Red Cross service" said Mr.
Hopkins, in an interview Saturday.
president Wilson originated the title,
l believe, and it has been adopted as
an official slogan, and is being used
all over the country to describe the
work done under the name of the Red
Cross. From the battlefield to the
home,' however, describes the route
the organization has had to travel
since the Armistice. The story of the
transition of the American Red Cross
from a great wartime activity to a
still broader peace basis is the story
OF the social awakening of America.
Peace Work Of Organization.
When President Wilson, as presi.
dent Of the Red Cross, made nation
wide, appeal last year for funds to
carry on the work Of the association,
he laid stress on the fact that as soon
as the organization could retire honor.
ably from Its foreign and relief work,
it had still heavier obligations waiting
for 1t at home. 1t was faced with the
problem of installing great peace.
time program embracing every phase
Of public health and social welfare.
Before the war the Red Cross had
a membership of about two hundred
thousand. With the entry of this
country into the struggle this member
ship leaped to 47,OOO,OOO adults and |
100000 children who held Junior
memberships. The Red Cross became
at once an organization backed by !
every patriotic citizen, with the long
arm Of united strength reaching out
to care for everyone connected in
whatever remote way with carrying
on the war.
Went with the Army.
AT home, in the camps, in every
place where soldiers or sailors as
sembled, the Red Cross took up their
care. When they went overseas the
Red Cross followed them, or preceded
them and welcomed them abroad. This
aid went from the seapOrts all the way
with the men, stayed with them until
the end, and then seeing them home
But not to leave the work at home IN.
done, when the service went to
france, the organization expanded, so
thas then it was at work both at home
and abroad. Not content to see that
the soldiers themselves were cared
for' the Red Cross looked up their
nome folks, giving help where needed,
consoling them for the loss of the alb
sent ones from their circle, and even
keeping the old folks happy with re-
ports from their soldier sons.
But in the broad minded concep.
ton Of the wartime leaders of the Red
Cross" continued Mr.. Hopkins. "heIp.
Ing and caring for our own soldiers
was not enough to do when all the
world was suffering, so aid was sent
% the allied governments, to soldiers
md civilians, populations alike, yher.
'Ver need could be reached. With the
a new field opened up in
Which a desperate need for the efforts
t the association was disclosed This
urden was undertaken without hest. ;
alton, in order that the ideals of the
and its aim never to deny
real call for service might be upheld.
Interest Turned Upon Home. q
"In the past year the Red Cross has L
ought much nearer to completion its Y
lr work, the rehabilitation of dis.
led soldiers, the caring for the {
unded and their dependent families, e.
adjustment Of the ex-servics men
his community. It has cleaned the
to with regard to the foreign obi.
ions previously assumed. 1t has tie
ed for the sick and under-nourished IN
Europe and the Near East; it has
bled war-ravaged countries to get
/ on their feet.