Evening star., 1922-10-10
Secretary Cites Danger of
Losing Charter if Work
Is Unlimited.
BIG DISASTERS ALONE
HELD DUTY FOR SOCIETY
Fears Continued Demands for Lo.
cal Relief Work Will Nullify
Large Tasks.

"dS given IOOdy Al fhe
american Red Cross convention by
Miss Mabel Z. Boardman, its secretary.
that the organization must limit its
work TO that provided for in its con-
eressionai charter or throw itself in
oanser of the penalty of losing its
cnarter and surrendering property in
washington which it now occupies by
the grace of the government.
A number of temporary organiza-
uons have entered the field of the Red
Sross, Miss Boardman pointed out.
ana added that just so long as the
hed cross goes into fields not its own.
olher organizations will have to be
formed to do its work. The question
Is whether the Red Cross should enter
me .ne held of normal relief or hold it.
SELL IN accordance with its charter
10 supply great relief work in accord
aEce with emergencies developed by
disasters, such as floods, famines, pes
thence, etc 49,
Duty of Local Service.
1t is the duty of public health serv-
ices. city, county, state and nation,
10 look after epidemics. she pointed
out and it is without the question for
the Red Cross to undertake service
that belongs directly to the govern
mental agencies, except. of course
!she added, in small rural communities
where the public health services are
not up TO the highest standards. II
is an important function of the Red
cross, she pointed out, to instruct in
hygiene and sanitation.
Continued demands by local chap
ters Tor funds to carry on local relief
work and local peace-time services
Miss Boardman said. would nullify
endeavors to raise funds in time of
great emergencies such as the present
one IN the near east.
Fund Discussion Up.
Following Miss Boardman's address
the convention entered upon lengthy
discussion of the division of funds
collected by the local chapters be
tween themselves and the national
body.
In the course the debate, Judge
John Barton Payne told the delegates
that the central committee had Civ
en- very deep consideration to this
problem.
Since the national body gets only
80 cents Of each contribution. il
American Red Cross will fall. What
We want is publicity. We want the
people to understand that the Red
Cross must be supported, that it is
doing its job and that it is not vast
ing money. l started a year ago to
reduce the expenses Of the Red Cross
and have reduced them by one-half.
Don't feel for an instant that the
American Red Cross is charged with
local responsibilities to the exclu-
sion OF its great national duty"
Cites Near East Case.
He said that he was approached
regarding the matter of handling
the situation in the near east and
asked what the attitude of the Red
Cross was. and when he replied that
the Red Cross would do the job the
whole atmosphere changed.
Suppose" he asked the delegates.
II had said that the American Red
Cross would handle it but would
have to beat the bushes for the
money? The Red Cross would have
had to pass out of existence"
He cited this as indicating the
Importance, of supporting the ma
tional body so that it would be ever
ready to handle all emergencies.
Don't make any mistake" he con-
cluded. Don't put the AK to the
roots of the tree"
Miss Boardman pointed to the need
of providing volunteer work in the
chapters for the children of the
Junior Red Cross, saying that these
children are now being taught Serv-
ice and when they graduated the
chapters must have something for
them to do to show them that they
practice what they preach. She urged
Red Cross conference Thursday
morning at the Corcoran Art Gallery.
At great length Miss Boardman out
lined to the delegates many lines of
service which can be rendered by the
local chapters, among them estab-
fishing clothes closets" preserving.
using the juniors to pick the berries
and fruits, the motor corps for gath
ering them and others assisting in
putting them up.
A resolution from the resolutions
committee lay down a definite stand
on the division of funds collected by
the chapters. between them and the
national body. 1t pointed out that
this matter came up at each roll
CALI and urged the central committee
either to change the present fifty
fifty plan. or If no other plan can be
found, then to announce a firm stand
which can be followed by the chap
ters. The convention at first voted to
pass the resolution over, but Secretary
Green pointed out that the resolutions
committee had sent the resolution
over with the request that it be given
immediate consideration, so that the
sense of the convention could be
learned. The convention then took up
the resolution on motion to recon-
slider.
Favor Change i'm Share.
Holden A. Smith of Indiana pointed
out that when the organization buries
itself in local endeavors then it would
cease to be that organization which
brought forth the worthy commenda-
tion of the people for its splendid
work during and after the war. If
the Red Cross is to be kept before the
world as that great body, he said he
would favor an increase of share of
funds which go to the national body.
Mrs. August Belmont proposed a
new form of membership for S25, SO
cents of which would go to the ma
tional body.
Mrs. Belmont also urged the re-
striction of local activities of the Red
Cross.
There will be a reception to the
delegates at the Red Cross building
at s o'clock this afternoon, and this
evening there will be a session of the
convention at Continental Memorial
Hall, beginning at 7:20 o'clock with
a concert by the United States Navy
Band. Robert w. De Forest will be
present, and there will be an address
by DR.. Livingston Farrand, president