Evening star., 1924-10-06


| help during the emergency period to
| those afflicted by circumstances over
which the will OF the individual has
| no control
One of the greatest needs con-
| fronting civilization is just this kind
Of practical idealism. sensitive to
duty. alert and ready to make the
sacrifice necessary to relieve suffer-
ing and pave the way to a return of
| normal and happier things. Only a
few days after 1 began to discharge
the trust imposed upon me by the
highest Office in the land, I was to
have a nightly example of the unself-
fsh sympathy OF our people. It's mani
festation ever will remain with me.
THE great and friendly nation of
Japan had been stricken by one of
the most appalling catastrophes in
the history OF man. According to es-
killed. Some of it's richest and most
populous areas were devastated
Great cities hay in ruins.
No better example of the conf
denCe of the American people in their
Red Cross could be had than the law
ish response given it's appeal for
funds to help Japan. Like an army,
the thousands of Red Cross chapters
throughout the land mobilized to re-
ceive and direct the charity of our
Nation.
LAS President Of the~trnited States
and president of the American Red
Cross | issued an appeal for $1,000, 900.
More than s11.000,00O was given. The
Red Cross had the organization capa-
BILE of turning this great overfiowing
of the sympathy OF the Nation to the
best account. In addition to its own
contribution, the Red Cross bore the
burden and expense of administration.
1t insured a maximum of relief at the
minimum of outlay. The gratitude of
a great Nation, disclosed in manifold
FORMS more than repaid the splendid
response of our people directed
through this organization. Philoso-
pliers and historians may record this
as marking d new era in the relation
ship between nations.
"Our action in aiding the fine cour-
age of the Japanese people to assert
itself and start anew was reminiscent
of the magnitude of Red Cross opera
tions during the war. / hope that the
Red Cross always will be equipped to
respond to such appeals from other
lands.
1T is hard to avoid the temptation
to speculation on the possible serv-
ices of our humane. and charitable
agencies. if they did not bear any Of
the burdens that are imposed by war
In truly civilized world, where the
costs of armament. of pensions. of
fortificationS. were not required to be
borne; where neither the spiritual
nor the physical suffering which war
involves were inflicted; where re-
sources could be used to promote. not
to destroy. happiness-in such world
what mighty works could be accom-
plished under the leadership of the
Red Cross spirit, Poverty, ignorance,
prejudice and all uncharitableness
might be completely relieved and
remedied.
Would End Need.
"A very great part of the need for
such organizations as the Red Cross
would be ended before the world
could realize il.
TT is toward such an ideal that the
race is now yearning and striving
1t is making progress The thought
of ridding society of the very inStitu-
ton of war has seized powerfully on
the minds of men. We shall not get
it done by some magic formula in
some inspired moment But II is go
ing to be done because men and
women more and more demand it.
We are making more progress in this
direction than We yet fully realize
But meantime the prcatical works
for relief and succor must go on in
| the old ways. To these the Red Cross
is devoted. Its work expands from
year to year. Without the waste of
! war. it is yet able constantly to broad
en- its usefulness
''Of the willingness of the American
people to stand behind their Red Cross
there can be no longer any doubt. The
spirit of sacrifice can never be de-
mobilized. | can think of no other
single medium better able to translate
into results our deep regard for the
interests of humanity. 1t is with gen.
uine satisfaction, therefore that well
come you here to this convention and
act as your presiding officer.
From it's inception the Red Cross
has made history in the fulfiilment of
humanitarian ideals. Our country is
proud of its record. Its realization is
| one of the ideals of our forefathers.
1t represents the truly American way
of organized efficiency. practical hu-
manity and inspired charity. 1t is a
strong support of the Government, a
reliable guarantee of the continuing
progress of civilization. 1t shows the
way to more complete realization of
truth and justice through mercy"