Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-22
HOOVER PRAISES
RED CROSS WORK
Emphasizes Fact Society
Has Lived Up to Principles
of Clara Barton.

AS the principal speaker last night at
notable banquet in the ball room OF
the Willard Hotel, marking the fiftieth
anniversary of the American Red Cross
President Hoover emphasized the fact
that the society. in carrying on its
splendid, humane work, had lived up
to the principle established by its
founder, Clara Barton, by not looking
to governments for financial support.
Governments are always too slow and
frequently too short-sighted to meet the
sudden, sharp demands of critical emer-
gencies in human suffering" Mr.
Hoover said IN this connection. This
gave her the f1exibility and freedom
of private initiative in her work.
Mr.. Hoover's communication of this
principle of the Red Cross was accepted
as another direct reference to his own
victorious fight with the Senate last
Winter in the latter's insistence upon
appropriating SIS, 900, 900 or more from
the Federal Treasury to finance the
drought relief work of that society. It
was brought out during that fight that
the Red Gross governing board could
not accept public funds and that the
later preferred to be left alone to raise
$10,000,000 fund from private sub
scriptions.
Pays Tribute to Traditions.
The President spoke last night as the
head OF the American Red Cross and
he was frequently applauded as he paid
tribute to the noble. traditions of the
society and to the men and women who
were responsible for its establishment
and its successful existence. The
gathering was brilliant one. More
than $50 persons were present. There
was a most distinguished array of ma
tional and internationally prominent
persons. Among these latter were
delegates from more than so Red Cross
societies throughout the world. Among
these representatives were the ranking
heads of the diplomatic missions of
those countries in the United States.
AT the same time more than half of
the $500 Red Cross chapters in this
country were holding similar festivities
70 celebrate the golden anniversary of
the society. These gatherings were
linked with the one at the Willard
Hotel by means of the radio which
made it possible for the words of Presi-
dent Hoover and the others who adj
dressed the dinner to be followed
throughout the land.
Other NotabIes Speak.
The other speakers were Charles E.
Hughes, Chief Justice of the United
States Supreme Court; Judge Max
Huber OF Switzerland, president of the
International Red Cross Committee
Judge John Barton Payne, chairman of
the AMERICAN Red Cross, and Miss
Mabel Boardman, secretary.
Chief Justice Hughes spoke in the
capacity Of POSTMASTER. Before intro
ductng the President as the first
speaker, Justice Hughes lauded the So
ciety as being the best expression of
the American heart. He described the
society as the youngest of our perma-
nent national institutions and declared
that its future is secure because it will
be the will Of the people of this Ma
ton to make it so. He said Clara
Barton had the inspiration for found
ing the society from the horrors she
saw as an angel of mercy on the bat
tleflelds of the Civil War.
1T is difficult to understand" Chief
Justice Hughes said how such an
organization as the Red Cross. organ
lied for such beneficient purposes. cuold
have been SO long delayed in the face
OF obvious and most urgent needs. The
Red Cross represents the united vol
untary effort of the American people