The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-03-07

Strong opposition to the Red Cross
acting as a creating house for charity
cases in Pensacola, and equally as
strong support for that organization,
featured the meeting in the Chamber
of Commerce auditorium yesterday
afternoon, when a committee Of ten
was appointed to go further into the
matter. This committee comprises DR..
Clarence Hutchinson, E. r. Malone, B..
L. Gundersheimer, Paul P. Stewart, w.
A. Leonard, Miss Nell Burrow, Mrs.
Sam Pasco, DIR. A. j. Moncrief, DR..
Hendree Harrison, DR.. William z. Nc
1lwaine, r. w. Marsh and F. B. Car
ter, Jr.
F. w. Marsh presided, and the first
talk was made by the Rev. Hendree
Harrison, rector of Christ church, who
expressed himself as very strongly in
favor OF some central organization,
which might act as a creating house
for the many needy cases in Pensacola
which are increasing daily.
Mr. Harrison was followed by DR..
A. j. Moncrief, who expressed himself
as opposed to the Red Cross, in this
particular connection, declaring it his
opinion, from past experience, that II
this charity work was undertaken, I'M
der the supervision of the Red Cross,
the local organization would find it
self much hampered in the administra-
ton of affairs locally. DR.. Moncrief
explained that he was not opposed to
the Red Cross, but believed that or
ganization might be effected here
which could better administer local af-
fairs, as 1t had been found IN other
places that such administration was
hampered when under the auspices of
the local chapter.
Miss c. M. Robinson stated that she
felt that It was impossible to say. off
hand, which might be the better way
to function, but in Justice to the Red
Cross, she felt that it was only fair
to say that during one of the worst
epidenics of influenza Pensacola had
ever experienced, the liberty loan
headquarters on Palafox street were
turned into an emergency relief head
quarters, administered under the Red
Cross, and the work was handled To-
cally, and hampered in no way by the
national organization.
J. II. Sheriff., who was closely con-
nected with the Associated Charities
organization, when 1t functioned in
Pensacola, stated that in his opinion
the Red Cross would be better received
In Pensacola than an Associated Char
tiles organization, which was not I'M
derstood by the people.
| DR.. Francis Tappey took the oppo-
site view, agreeing with DR.. Moncrief
4 in believing that the local work might
be l1ampered by being under the d.
irection of the American Red Cross,
rather than funetioning in an entirely
local organization. Both DR.. Mon
Grief and Dr. Tappey based their opin-
ions on experiences with the Red Cross
work before coming to Pensacola.
Miss Adele Stamp, field agent of the
American Red Cross, who was sent to
Pensacola 20 look into the affairs of
the local organization, and either close
up affairs here, or establish an &c
tive chapter called attention to tho
fact that the salary of Mrs, c. NJ.
Sweeney, the only active Red Cross
official in the city, has been paid from
headquarters for many months, the To-
cal chapter not having been taxed one
cent for the soldier work, inasmuch as
they had not shown a willingness to
take up this work.
Miss Stamp also stated that there
Is at this time in the Red Cross treas
ury in Pensacola 5000 which cannot be
used except for Red Cross work. In
asmuch as this fund was collected for
the Red Cross, it cannot be used ex-
cept for purposes of that organization.
II the work IS re-opened here, Miss
Stamp said, itpwould be part of the
local fund. If not, the money would
go to Red Cross headquarters, where
IL would draw interest for one year.
At the end of that time. IL the Red
Cross decided to reorganize 1t would
be returned. with the interest accru-
$500 ~'.-.,.-e. if tho ehA,7-
ter is not re- organized, 1t will be
IeIi1 OF the
American Red Cross, as it is not pos
sible, under the ruling of the national
association, to divert funds subscribed
to the Red Cross, to other sources.
Minor j. Ross, pastor OF the First
Christian church, advocated the re-
vocation OF the charter Of the Red
Cross at this time. Mr.. Ross said that
he would like to suggest that the local
chapter be abandoned at this time,
and local organization formed to
function independently for one year,
after which time, if ii was found best
to reorganize the Red Cross, to do so.
One argument brought out strongly
by those opposed to the Red Cross was
the fact that fifty cents on every con-
tribution must go to Red Cross head
quarters. II was suggested that while |
this means that only fifty cents goes
away from Pensacola, no matter how
large the contribution may be-say !
even from one hundred dollars or more |
that as most of the contributions are |
small, the sum which is sent out of |
town is, in the aggregate. very large. 1
on the other hand, 1t was brought |
out by others that while this sum goes |
10 headquarters. it ia used FOR relief |