Milford chronicle., 1923-10-05
UNCLE TED'S
BEDTIME STORIES
THE AMERICAN RED CROSS =
PRESIDENT COOLDGE'S
FIRST ADDRESS

before in all my life" said his mother
, as Jack asked for another helping of
meat and potatoes.
Il guess anybody would be hungry
if they had cleaned up all the leaves
I've cleaned since got home from
school" 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 a story
as soon as you and Ruth are ready
for bed. How's that?"
"Rhat's great" said Ruth and Jack
We'll be ready soon, too, for I feel
like bed tonight
With the three chums gathered to-
gether about an hour later, Uncle Ted
began.
'It 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 Continen-
tai Hall. The event was even more i'm
pressive and interesting because of the
fine work accomplished so quickly by
the Red Cross for the Japanese vic
tins of the fearful earthquake and
fire. The hall was packed, and when
the President arrived, walking down
the center aisle to the platform, the
! applause was deafening. He received
the closest attention when he praised
the great work of the Red Cross and
its powerful influence for peace.
"The big thing that stood out in my
] r.
was this. No matter what the politics
of a 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
that the United States is selfish in not !
assisting Europe, that we are mater |
ialistic and unfair to our friends |
across the sea, evidently forget the
Red Cross.
you will remember what I have
told you of the effect of the Washing
ton Arms Conference called by the
late President Harding on the social
ed Japanese threat of war. Up to the
time of the conference there was con-
tinual talk of war with Japan. Those
who had little to do both here and in
Japan were stirring up public opin-
ion to a point close to war. But that
conference quickly stopped such talk.
Now, with the quick response in Am
erica to the call for help to save lives
in Japan, there can be little chance
left for a war withs 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 preserv-
ing peace. When one nation through
an organization such as the Red
Cross gives quickly and freely to an
other in time of trouble as the United
States has given to Japan, it seems to
me it would be hard for that country
to think of war. :
"MasanaO Hanihara, the Japanese
to the United States, was
present at that same meeting. He told |
hose present that the work of the Red /
Cross in Japan would possibly have a $
greater effect than the Washington
as great as was the effect !
If that meeting. He said: I
"'Of course Japan will be grateful. I
Jever-for we have long memories in e
ny country-never shall we forget l.
OuA LuPellAy III ILLS uUuI OL udIlOI- |
i distress. 1t will henceforth be diff e
cult, indeed, for professional ji1Soes d
o terrorize an ignorant public opin- a
On to the point where it will counte- II
ance policies of military aggrandize- {,
lent on the ground of preparedness u
gainst fancied American threats v
"The great point brought cut by p
resident Coolidge was that more and IN
lore we are relying upon what he IC
allied moral force to settle great M
uestions instead of the force of guns u
nd powder. Moral force is simply the u
)rce of public opinion, the opinion of u
Oh and John Jones and Bill Smith Id
linking in the fair and square way In
ward all peoples. 1t was this force u
lat sent us to France to fight. 1t was al
lis force that made the American Is
9Ople give, when asked for five mil
On dollars, nearly twice that amount st
+ suffering Japan. The Red Cross is TO
e greatest builder of moral force tia
e have today and while, as President sc
)olidge said, we still must have, 'po- ty
ce and criminal courts, and bolts
Id bars because they are adjuncts of an
ace, there is a higher power which so
increasing, the power Of human be- gil
gs who realize that difficulties must co
settled without bloodshed. DO
In closing his tribute to the Red ed
oss the President said: let
"'This organization had its be- ha
ginnings in the day of Abraham -
Lincoln. 1t is representative of 81
the dominant influence of his time. g
It partakes of his spirit. 1t shows y
The way to larger freedom. Our e..
country could secure no higher '''''
no greater place Z
n history, than to have it correct mel
y said that the Red Cross is truly Sta
American ha,
Let us take this message of the ers
esident, message of the Red Cross anC
rit and help to make it heard air
erever we can so that this moral Ney
ce' may grow and grow until some ent
, it shall be so strong that no war Gun
1.