Evening star., 1930-05-05
PRESIDENT OPENS
REDCROSS SESSION
Achievements Praised Before
1000 at Meeting-Iniured
a.. Girl a Speaker.
CONTINUED From First. psse.l

ceived with prolonged hand clapping.
James l.. Fieser, vice chairman in
charge of domestic relations, said in an
address that the central theme OF the
four-day convention and the dominant
note of the coming years activities Is
Service to the home"
Appearing Immediately after the
President, he termed Mr.. Hoover "our
comrade in humanitarian service" and
'the very embodiment OF forward
looking Red Gross leadership"
The convention elected Mrs. Frank
Evans, Salt Lake City, Utah, chairman
of the Salt Lake County Chapter, as
convention chairman, and reelected
Dr.. Thomas e. Green, director OF the
organizations speakers bureau, secre-
tary.
1s-Year.old Girl Speaks.
Sharing a place on the morning pro-
gram with President Hoover and the
national officers was Miss Constance
Payne, pretty 16-year-old schoolgirl OF
Terre Haute, Ind, who addressed the
delegates, despite slight injuries suf-
fered in an automobile accident yester-
day in Washington, Pa.
Few of the delegates who heard Miss
Payne describe the work and outline
the plans Of the Junior Red Cross were
her party were badly shaken up when
their automobile overturned when side
swiped by another car. Miss Payne
was assisted to the platform by Mrs. r.
A. Archer, who, with her husband, Dr.
Archer Of the Indiana State Normal
School, also were passengers in the
machine. None Of the party was seri-
ously hurt and Miss Payne apparently
was not disturbed by her experience.
~ ~ nlz t. =
Nationwide essay contest to represent
the junior Red Cross workers at the
convention and was vigorously applaud
ed at the conclusion Of her speech. This
afternoon she was active in the first
meeting Of the junior Red Cross dele
gates, who gathered for their own con-
vention, with Harry Bruce Wilson,
director, as the presiding officer.
Other speakers this morning were:
Ernest p. Bicknell, vice chairman in
charge Of insular and foreign operations,
! and James K. McClintock, vice chair
man in charge Of finance. The meeting
was opened with an invocation by Msgr.
Buckley of st. Matthews Church. The
United States Navy Band Orchestra
gave a Commute program OF music
before the convention was called to
order.
TuNBeS 10 DC StuulCUs
All phases Of Red Cross activity will
be studied during the four-day conven-
ton. Mrs. Evans. upon taking over the
duties Of chairman. told the delegates
that the convention was designed
primarily for work and study and this
afternoon round table conferences were
held with the national directors OF par
ticular activities in charge.
This afternoon, from 4:30 to O'Clock,
the delegates were to be entertained at
o reception by the central committee
and this evening at 8 o'clock general
session will be held with addresses by
Brig. Gen. Frank r. Keefer, u. s. A..
retired, chairman Of the District OF
Columbia chapter; Judge Payne and pr.
Rene Sand. technical councillor OF the
League of Red Cross Societies.
A dinner and dance for the junior
delegates will be an event OF this eve
ming In the Mayflower Hotel.
The public Is invited to general ses-
siors Of the organization, all OF which
will be held at the Chamber OF Com
merce Of the United States.
Needs Larger Membership.
An enlarged membership is necessary
if the Red Cross Is to continue ace
uuately to occupy the national disaster
relief field, the convention was told by
James K. McClintock, vice chairman in
charge Of finance.
For the last eight years the Red Cross
has expended from its general revenues
and surplus about $850,000 each year
for disaster relief, he said, notwtth-
standing that none of the disaster re-
lief funds Is utilized to meet the ex-
penses Of the organization's normal pro.
gram, which is one Of education and
trained service In public health, nrst
aid, life-saving and hygiene.
"In looking back over the work for
the past four years." he said, ''it is
hard to see just what activities and
services the Red Cross can eliminate
and still meet the responsibilities placed
upon it. The alternative to such el1mi-
nation Of services Is to increase the
membership"
Beginning with q balance Of $51 ,0o0,-
600 brought over from the war period,
the national organization for the last
II years, since July /, 1918. with this
year estimated, has received $1l7,000,-
600. Mr.. McClintock said and expended
$152 ,000, 900. having, therefore. reduced
its balance to $4,000 900.
Balance Not Enough.
This balance has been allocated for
disaster relief, ex-service work and
other purposes, including a reserve for
the League of Red Cross Societies,
which this year is depleted.
There remains only the reserve Tor
the ex-service work" he said, and IL
has become increasingly apparent that
this obligation cannot be discharged
within the present balance or reserve,
and that provision must be made in
definitely for continuing the funda-
mentals Of this service as part OF the
regular budget" Mr.. McClintock esti-
mated that the Red Cross, chapters and
national, has expended approximately
$557 900 900 since April /, 1917.
1.-THE Red Cross has now reached the
time when any further curtailment OF
its activities should cease" he said.
"It should now definitely strive for q
sound expansion commensurate with
the growth of the country 1t serves and
of the growing needs and opportunities
which confront 1t. To do this 1t needs
an increasing membership large enough
to supplant the Withdrawals from its
diminishing reserves and to provide the
resources for an enlarged usefulness"
The membership can be increased
| without limit. the convention was told
by Ernest p. Bicknell, vice chairman in
charge of insular and foreign possess
sions, who reported on the relief work
Rico and the Philippines.
Fifty-nine nations have Red Cross
societies, he said, adding that the num-
ber cannot be greatly increased.
..But the membership can be in
creased without limit" he said. "And
1t is increasing steadily. OF adult men,
bers there are now In the world more
than IL 900 900, while more than Ia
00O,0 children are enrolled In the
Junior Red Cross"
Distress Beyond Reach.