Evening star., 1922-12-14
HARD|NGPRA|SES
RED CROSS WORK
President Declares U. S.
Gives Its Best to Alleviate
Distress in World.

Red Cross in opening the annual meet
Ing Of Its general board at national
headquarters.
| As an answer to critics Of Americas
foreign policy. President Harding said
| that mot only Is the government CIV
ing OF it's influence and its power In
the protection Of human rights and
human interests everywhere in the
/ world, but this fine exponent OF Ameri-
| can influence and power and capacity
to serve Is giving the best that is In
It for the relief Of human beings in
distress wherever in the world there Is
call"
Declaring the Red Cross was the
| only organization m the republic which
! could have tempted him away from the
| high pressure Of executive duties long
enough for a greeting. the President
said he came as president OF the Red
Cross. but shortly should have to 90. az
President Of the United States.
Tells Of Accomplish
II am happy to come here" he said,
because / rejoice In my association
as the president of this great organiza-
ion. but far more happy in the con-
| sciousness OF the service which you
render to our civilization and the world.
Il Wish l could convey to you." he
continued, how delighted l was one
( afternoon some weeks ago when the
urgency Of relief in the near east was
| pressing, and I said to the chairman
! Of the board of this great organiza-
| ton, There is urgent need OF relief
lwhat can the Red Cross do" and with
out preliminary words or moment OF
| delay, Judge Payne said. We can
serve at once: we are ready And In
| stantly into that difficult and trying
! situation the American Red Cross
made its influence and its capacity ts
| readiness to serve. helpfully evident
Nothing has been more gratifying to
| me in my experienc nee as fiesiuehl
! than that little incident
| "Of course. we think that In the
| awakened conscience of mankind, IN
the renewed commitments to higher
ideals and better fellowships, and ele-
waiting Manifestations Of our boasted
civilization. there will be less to do
! along the lines which have been fol-
| lowed in Red Cross work.
| II wish there were always less tasks
of relief to perform: but somehow or
other 1t Is the fortune OF civilization
always to have these duties to per
and rejoice as a witness to the pres
ent day civilization. that We have
such an organization. eager to serve
and ready to serve. as the American
Red Cross; and I believe In that con-
sciousness Of willingness and readi-
ness comes the great compensation
| for the time and the energy. and the
spirit and soul. that you give to the
work OF the organization.
! Exponent of Humanity.
TT is Impossible for me. even with
the titular association that have. to
know any Of the Intimate details OF
your activities. l only know they are
| fine, and I like to tell men who are
CRYING out in many sections OF the
United States today that the Ameri-
| can government is not giving all the
attention it ought to the human side
| of world appeals-I like to say to
them that not only is the government
giving Of its influence and its power
in the protection of human rights
and human interests everywhere in
the world, but this fine exponent OF
; capacity to serve is giving the best
/ that is in 1t for the relief of human
! beings in distress wherever In the
world there is call.
| You have done fine work and
/ YOU Will be called upon to do mere
! / am speaking of the important tasks
| of re..ef in the near east. l like to
! think that in these meetings you are
| adding to your efficiency of organiza-
ton, you are adding to your readt-
i
learn that the annua! roll cal! has
had a finer response than the year
before, and the recommitment OF
America to do the work you are do
ing.
| full and cordial greetings Of the titu-
lar president Of the organization. to
congratulate you on things done. and
/ wish you new heart and new soul and
new success in the name of American
sympathy and charity for the work
| you have before you.
! Presents Mr.. Coolidge.
Now, II you will permit me. this
! Is an exceptional pleasure I have
| Some one said In a very jocular mood
! one day. that the Vice President did
not have anything to do except wo--
F, ry about the Presidents health. Vice
/! President Colidge and have per-
l always rejoice to hail him rs Vic
! Pres;dent-he does so many things
! and does them well that the President
i cannot personally do. While he Is no;
: In that capacity here today at my re-
quest, I am glad that he is here tc
/! address you; because he brings more
| of wisdom, and all Of the interes: that
| I could bring II I were to address you
! at greater lergth. And SO. with my
| apologies to him for running away
i because duties are calling, AND re-
: newing my most cordial expression
E! of greetings and good wishes. l take
, pleasure in presenting the Vice Prcsi-
, dent of the United States."
| President Harding, on conclusion OF
! his address. returned to the White
| House. walking to and from the meet
; ing.
the meeting at some length. emphs.
| sizing the Worldwide influence Of :he
) awakening Of the moral sense of tho
world" said the Vice Presllsnt, "and
| that has been exhibited in a thousand
ways, but the foundation of 1t all IL
that spirit which is exhibited by the
Red Cross and that foundation is
/ charity.
! New Thought OF Age.
( ut is the great realization on the
part Of the great body of the people
: that 1t is necessary for them to make
+; the requisite sacrifices In order to
f: support our civilization and to secure
! its ends; and that Is a new thought, a
!! new idea, that has arisen during the
! present age that was not character
istic of any Of the civilizations Of he
past"
Robert W. de Forrest, vice president
Of the Red Cross. John Barton
Cross, explained tho warm feeling of
gratitude he had found throughout
Europe on a recent tour on account