Evening star., 1923-09-24
PRESIDENT PRAISES
RED CROSS SPIRIT,
OPENS CONVENTION
Makes First Formal Address
Since Taking Office at
National Meeting Here.
JAPANESE ENVOY AMONG
SPEAKERS ON PROGRAM
1000 Delegates Register-Recent
Earthquake Work Lauded
by Mr.. Coolidge.

Earthquake Work Lauded
by Mr.. Coolidge.
Definition of the practical ideal
ISM Of America was given by Presi-
dent Coolidge in his first formal
address since he took the oath of
ONCE in delivering the principaI
speech at the annual convention OF
the American Red Cross, which opened
here today in Memorial Continental
Hall and over which he presided
This practical idealism," he said,
is deep faith In spiritual things,
tempered by. a hard common sense
adapted to the needs of the world,
and the people of the United States
are not likely to adopt any other
course.
This practical idealism,'' the
President said, was illustrated by the
men who went to the rescue OF
Europe when their own liberty and
the liberty of the world was In
peril. but. who, after victory was
occurred, retired, from the field "ufl-
lncumbered by spoils, independent,
undttached and unbought." -,
Cnief among the qualities that have
maue the American Red Cross so sue
cesstul, and 1t has just completed. one
/ OF the most important relief cam
patgns in its history, has been this
practical idealism," the President
President Coolidge was accompanied
to the Memorial Continental Hall by
his military aide, Col. Sheriff., and his
naval aide. Capt Andrews. and by the
secretary to the President Mr. SlernD.
His entrance into the hall was the sig-
| nal for applause, the convention rising.
The Presidents address was listened
to with close attention. and was inter-
| rupted several times by applause He
spoke clearly and distinctly. with few
| gestures.
I 1000 Delegates Here.
| Nearly 1000 delegates assembled
to hear President Coolidge's first
public speech as Chief Executive.
| Ambassador Hanihara of Japan, for
whose earthquakes. Are and flood vac-
tins the American Red Cross has Just
| conducted a stupendous drive, and
Col William y. Haskeil, director or
american amer relief In Russia and Greece.
speakers who included Army and
Navy officers and welfare workers Of
national and International recogni-
| tion. y.a sst
Registration OF delegates was bro
crossing rapidly today, and the at
| tendance was 50 large, that arrange
ments had to be made for using Me-
mortal Continental Hall for the
gathering today and for most of the
principal sessions The various group
| conferences during the four days of
| the convention will be held in the
Red Cross national headquarters.
Public In Invited.
In urging the attendance of the
public generally at the open meetings
John Barton Payne, chairman of the
American Red Cross emphasized that
it. is the dependable stand of the
American people behind the American
Red Cross that has made it possible
for that organization to bring relief
| to all quarters of the world in amelf-
Grafton of the distress of all peoples
in any emergency.
THE American Red Cross is the
American people," said Chairman
sions should do so, for the work the
lRed Cross is doing Is supported
stanchly by every one. No better
demonstration OF this could be had
response of America in the sending
of practical aid to the stricken people
OF Japen through the Red Cross"
| The value of the American Red Cross
a
/ John Barton Payne, chairman of the
national organization, as well as by
President Coolidge.
$s,SO0.000 in Quake Fund.
Chairman Payne announced that the
| American fund for relief in Japan
amounts to approximately $s,500,000,
of which $5,000,000 was on the way to
the stricken area in the form of cloth
! ing, food and medical supplies. Chair
man Payne laid stress on the policy
| of the society in applying every dollar
raised for the purposes OF relief Itself
| and none used even to pay the over
head expenses for administrator.
/ Judge Payne read a cablegram re-
| ceiyed this morning from Ambassador
! Woods In Toxic to the effect that foQc
provinces had been devastated, that
/ homeless, 10000 homes had been de-
fstroyed and 100000 persons were in
| sore need of shelter from the winter.
The Japanese people themselves, he
said, have raised reiief fund or
100000.
! Chairman Payne took occasion TO
deny assertions which he said had
! been made by certain persons that
! the Red Cross had retired from relief
/ work in Greece before its work was
completed. The society is an efner-
/ gency organization, he said, and as
soon as the tirst emergency is met
to leave the field.
| Judge Hubert Utterback of Iowa
was selected as chairman of the con-
vention and DR.. Taoms Z. Green Sec
retary.
President introduces EberIe.
! President Coolidge introduced Ad-
miral Edward w. Eberle. chief of
operations of the Navy. who reviewed
the activities of the naval establish
ment in cooperating with Red, Cross
relief work for many years. He
emphasized particularly that United
States Navy feet was first to render
assistance IN the great calamity that
befell Japan, and quoted the official
commentators from the highest Of
ficers of the Japanese government
which expressed the utmost apprecia-
tion of the works of mercy by the
American Navy. -; s.s "a
HAmfhara TO Speak.
I Masanao Hanihara. the Japanese
ambassador. is on the program for
i tonight's session. Other speakers Will
Include Col. Haskell. American Red
Cross commissioner 10 Greece; SecTes-
tafy of Labor Davis, DIR. L. S. Rowe
director general OF the Pan-Americari
1 Union, and Col. Ernest p. Bickneii,
vice chairman of the, Red Cross An
charge of foreign operations.
1 The central COMMITTEES, headed by
Judge Payne, met this morning be-
fore the formal opening of the con-