The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1921-05-18
WHAT THE RED CROSS Is DO
ING FOR DISABLED SER
VICE MEN

Responsibility Oh The Community
The Red Cross is both national
and a local organization. For the
service which the Chapters render.
local communities are responsible.
They must raise the funds, hire the
workers, see that their service is
up to standard. The national Office
formulates the standards and works
out the procedure and constantly
furnishes advice and guidance, but
II cannot and should not interpose
these on an unwilling community.
II the people>of a\locality are indif-
ferent to the welfare of the soldiers
and are unwilling to help the ma
tional organization in its service in
hospitals and Government offices
IL 1t is too much trouble for the To-
cal people to hunt up the men and
their families and to help them
work out their problems, the men
of that community must go un-
served.
1t should be remembered in this
connection that neither the Red
Cross nor any other organization
can rise higher than its source. In
the community which is Indifferent
to the health, education and morals
Of it's people, the appeal of the SOL
der like all the rest, goes unheard.
Future OF The Work
There has recently been heard a
demand fAom some quarters for a
formula which would. mark very
definitely, in time or in Character
Of service, the responsibility of the
Red Cross Chapter to the disabled
man. So far the NATIONAL Organiza-
ton has refused to consider the
question on any such abstract basis.
| 1t has said that the obligations of
each Chapter depend on the size
Of its disabled soldier problem, and
on the presence of other agencies
having the means and being willing
to take over the responsibility or
some part of it. AS a. matter of
fact, there are comparatively few
such agencies even in places where
there is wealth and social con-
science, which could assume such
an obligation. The Red Cross will,
therefore, stand by. not on a formu-
la. but on broad basis of human
service and genuine interest in these
men.-Red Cross Bulletin.
Why Doesn't Government Do 1t
One of the questions frequently
asked is why the Government does
not do what the Red Cross is doing?
The Government is compelled to
confine itself to standardized SER
vice, treating all men more or less
alike. The Red Cross can go into
all the qualifications of the indivi-
dual case and help the man over
come his peculiar handicaps and
obstacles. The Government must
stick to the essentials of the job.
1t has a gigantic and difficult task
to accomplish the obvious work.
common to the handling of every
case Of a disabled man. 1t cannot
take infinite pains with every case.
What it does for one, it must be
prepared to do for all who are
eligible, whether they need it or
not.
Now, the Red Cross, by its very
nature, is under no such legal obli-
cation. II can adjust its service to
the needs of each individual. OF
course, its financial resources will
not permit 1t any extravaganza or
reckless lavishing of Injuries on
anyone. but 1t can stand by a man
and see him through in a very
genuine and a very real way. Bet
ter than that, 1t can take time to go
over all the circumstances with
him and to advise him disinterest-
eddy and informally. Through its
| S'Sse" VI On"PsoiS anu It's repTtS-
entatives located at all the strategic
points along the way, the Red Cross
is combination claim agent, friend
adviser, teacher, and general fdus
Achates Of the disabled man. Such
role would be very difficult, If not
impossible, for the Government.
Determined To Do The Job Right
In carrying out its obligations
the Red Cross faces not only the
problem of local indifference in
some places. as described above.
but 1t must plan to administer its
resources so that its service will be
uninterrupted, continuous and de-