The Bingham County news. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1918-1930, 1922-11-10
THE RED CROSS PUBLIC
HEALTHNURSE AND WORK

Beginning on Armistice Day, No |
vember 18th, and continuing through |
Thanksgiving Day, November 3Oth, in |
conformity with the Proclamation of
the President of the United States,
who ia also President of the Ameri- !,
can Red Cross, the Annual Member
ship Roll Call of that organization
will be held. This is not an appeal
for money, although in many locali-
ties individual Chapters will make
local appeals for funds for carrying
on their individual work. It is mere
~ the enrolment each year of those
who by subscribing their names and
paying their dollar, become members
Of an organization which, II it COM
plies with the Treaty Of Geneva, and
with the requirements of It's Congress
sional Charter, must furnish volun-
teer aid to the sick and wounded in
times Of war, and render emergency
aid in time Of peace.
While the Red Cross is part Of
the Government Of the United States
and must act in conformity with and
under the direction Of Government
control, it is organized as it is, in
order that it may accomplish work
that the Government has neither
ways nor means to accomplish, and
that it can raise funds in other ways
than by Government taxation and ap-
preparation.
The question is often asked: why
does not the Government do the work
that the Red Cross is doing?" The
answer Is simple in the extreme. be-
cause the Government has not the
machinery for doing that kind Of
work, nor could it create that ma
chinery without an expense that
would be prohibitive. The Govern
ment must deal with people and
things in the mass. Its laws and their
administration apply to the entire
people and touch individuals only in
the degree in which sney are part of
that aggregate. To seek out individ-
uals in their peculiar circumstances
of want or suffering and to attempt
to administer relief to individuals,
would be a task so tremendous as to
swamp the possibilities of Federal
Government. Only an organization
that covers the entire country, that
is in intimate contact with local con-
ditions and with local needs, and that
In large measure a. least is volun-
tary in it's activity, can hope to &C
complish a task SO tremendous.
This is exactly what the Red Cross
is. It's 1927 Chapters reach prac-
tically every community in the United
States, and with their millions OF
members are in contact everywhere
with local conditions and local nee
essities It's funds are its own, rails
ed by voluntary contribution and can
hence be administered without the
necessary routine of Government ap-
preparation and governmental re-
sponsibility It's organization is SC
flexible that it can Immediately meet
emergency needs whenever they arise
It is an adjunct of the Government
to the United States, framed and de-
signed to do the things which tech.
nically the Government cannot do.
It's appeal at this time to the peo
pie of the United States is empha
sized by the absorbing necessity o.
things that must be done if we art
to maintain the nation in strength
and readiness for the duties that de
volve upon us.
While the War left behind it mucl
in the way of shattered civilization
and ruined ideals or life it brough
some revelations which If they ar
conscientiously needed will in som
measure justify the terrible cost o
the War. In our preparation for tn
great conflict we gathered a multi
tude of facts and figures in regar'
to ourselves that were absolutel
staggering in their significance. w
were not prepared to be told tina
more than twenty-five per cent 0
our men of draft age were physicall
unable to undertake military train