Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-10-11
THE AMERICAN RED CROSS
PRESIDENT COOLIDGE'S
FIRST Address

as JACK asked Tor announcer HeipinS u
meat and potatoes.
II guess anybody would be hum
gr yif they had cleaned up all the
leaves I've cleaned since got home
fro mschool," was Jacks reply.
"I'm glad to see you eat" said his
mother.
$50 am l." said Uncle Ted. eyes,
mother, he did work hard and the
yard, porch, and sidewalks look fine.
Just for that Jack, I'll tell you
story as soon as you and Ruth are
ready for bed. How that 2"
That's great" said Ruth and Jack.
We'll be ready soon, too, for ! feel
like bed tonight
With the three chums gathered to-
gether about an hour later, Uncle
Ted began.
ct was my good fortune to be IN
Washington when President Coolidge
made his first public address, before
the annual meeting Of the American
Red Cross at the Memorial Contin-
entail Hall. The event was even more
impressive and interesting because of
the fine work accomplished SO quick
ly by the Red Cross 70 rthe japanese
victims of the fearful earthquake and
fire. The hall was packed, and when
the President arrived, walking down
the centr aisle to the platform, the
applause was deafening. He receiv-
ed the closest attention when he
praised the great work of the Red
Cross and its powerful influence for
peace.
s'The big thing that stood out in
my mind as / heard President Cool
idge was this. No matter what the
politics of 3. country or who may be
at war; where the earthquake, fire,
wreck, flood, or disaster of any kind
may be, the Red Cross is on the job.
Those people who are continually
saying tina THE United States is sell
fish in not assisting Europe, that we
are materialistic and unfair to our
( friends across ne sea evidently forgot
the Red Cross.
'sYou will remember that have
told you of the effect of the Wash
irgton Arms Conference called by
the late President Harding on the So
called Jananese threat of war. Up to
the time of the conference there was
continual talk of war with Japan.
Those who had little to do both here
and in Japan were stirring up public
opinion to point clost to war. But
that conference quickly stopped such
talk Now, with the quick response
in America to the call for help to
save lives in Japan, there can be lit
tie chance left for war with these
people. This means that the Red
Cross is not only an organization of
mercy and help in time Of disaster
but that it is really strong force
toward preserving peace. When one
! nation through an organization such
y the Red Cross gives quickly and free
iy to another in time of trouble as the
uUnited States has given to Japan,
it seems to me it would be hard for
that country to think of war.
Masanao Hanihara, the Japan
ese Ambassador to the United States
was present at that same meeting.
He told those present that tn work
of the Red Cross in Japan would pos
sibly have a greater effect than the
Washington conference as great as
was the effect of that meeting. He
said:
"'Of course Japan will be grateful.
Never for we have long memories
in my country never shall we for
get your sympathy in this hour of
national distress.-It will hence
forth be difficult, indeed, for pro-
fessional jingoes to terrorize an ig-
norant public opinion to the point
where it will countenance. policies Of
military ACKNOWLEDGMENT on the
ground of preparedness against fan
ciei American threats
s'The great point brought out by
President Coolidge was that more
and more we are relying upon what
he called moral force to settle great
questions instead Of the force Of guns
and powder. Moral force is simply
the force Of public opinion, the orin-
ion Of you and John Jones and Bill
Smith thinking in the fair and square
way toward all peoples. 1t was this
force that sent i to France Ia
France to fight. Il was his force
that made the American people give.
when asked for five million dollars
nearly twice that amount for suffer-
ing Japan. The Red Cross is the
greaest builder of moral force we
have today and Will as President
Coolidge said, we sti + must have,