Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-13
RED CROSS PRAISED
ON NON-DOLE STAND
U. S. Aid SpeIt Destruction OF
Voluntary Spirit, Hoover
Tells 1891 Meeting.
tcentiuued From First Page0


Continued From First Page.)
ing the soil" he said. 1.-THE country
is again under cultivation and will play
an important part in the establishment
of national prosperity
Junior Red Cross Scope.
The Junior Red Cross, Mr. McDuffie
told the delegates, is unquestionably
the largest in its membership, in its
field of endeavor and in its purpose of
any such group in the world. It en-
braces 48 similar organizations, repre-
senting as many countries of the mod
etn world. he said. These countries
comprise the International Junior Red
Cross.
The watchword of the organization.
he said. is service" He stressed as
the primary purpose of the Junior Red
Cross education or training in service.
"ChiId's Bill of Rights"
Secretary Wilbur, in his address, out
lined THE Child'S Bill of Rights" a
comprehensive program for the educa-
ton, health and care of the child from
! the viewpoint of the Government.
THE American city has forgotten the
child during most Of It's growth" DR..
Wilbur said, land that is thing we
are trying to change"
He declared he would like to visualize
a city where everyone lived in the
suburbs and only came into the city to
work in explaining what has to be done
now for the outdoor reereasional facili-
ties of the average city child.
Safety measures involve an important
part in any program for the child, DR..
Wilbur said. IF anything else but an
automobile killed as it does. we'd drive
it out of civilization" he said. But 1T
is time to stop even automobiles from
killing"
Objects to Term Delinquent"
The Government owes a duty to the
underprivileged and crippled child who
cannot be cared for out Of private funds,
DR.. wilbur told the Red Cross. we
want them to be society's charge" ne
said
There is another class of defective
children for whom I'VE have mean
and ugly name called delinquent" the
Secretary added. Don't use that name.
1t is not fair to the child. I don't like
for any court to put that stamp on
child"
BY unanimous votes today. Col. J.
Franklin McFadden of Philadelphia
Dr. Thomas E. Green of Washington,
the convention secretary.
Right Rev. James z. Freeman, Bishop
OF washington delivered the invocation
at the opening meeting. This afternoon
the sessions were continuing with round
table conferences for the adult and
junior members.
Text of Speech.
The text of President Hoover's speech
before the opening session OF the an
nual convention of the American Red
Cross here this morning follows:
Il am particularly glad to welcome
this annual convention OF the Amer
lean Red Cross. During this past year
this great mutual institution OF the
whole people has been put again to
severe tests, not only as to its practical
ability to meet national disaster, but
test involving its whole moral and
spiritual purpose. You have, under
most difacult handicaps, again demon
strated that 1t can meet and relieve
human suffering in any national
disaster.
THE drought presented new type
Of problem for the Red Cross-the
problem of famine in over two millions
Of people. Your leaders. alive to the
possibility of suffering which would be
the unacceptable result during the VIM
ter. began as early as last August to
mobilize the Red Cross to meet the in
evitable burden. It was that far-sight-
ed action and that early action which
enabled the saving Of this multitude OF
people from infinite suffering. IN
fortunately, men less familiar with the
resources and the ability and the
courage of the American people in
mutual action under their own Red
Cross, men no doubt genuinely con-
cerned over the growing seriousness of
the situation, were skeptical of your
abilities and the forces which give 1t
strength, and were insiStent that the
Red Cross should abandon its voluntary
character, should abandon its independ-
ence and its foundation in service
which are part Of the spiritual life OF
our country, and become in effect a
Government bureau through Federal
appropriations as the source of its
funds. They did not realize that the
Red Cross represents vital and
precious force in our people-their abil-
ity and strength in voluntary action and
their sense of service and Of moral
responsibility. For the Red Cross
springs from the people; it is of the
people-it is a part Of their spiritual
expression. 1t was momentolls deci-
sion which confronted you, to refuse
the easy course that was proposed, and
~ LdS 0ctu Tue 10 YOU, O4tHclo anu
members Of the Red Cross in every
city and hamlet of the United States, to
your courage, your resolution, and de-
votlon, that it has been possible even
In time OF extreme economic Diff |
Guilty to prove your strength and abil-
ity to meet national emergencies, by
finding from your members the financial
resources on the one hand and the abil-
ity and the sense of service for dis |
inY1 fkn f1fkn off
had yielded on this occasion the Red !
Cross would have been rendered i'm |
potent in the face of every future ma
tional emergency, for it would have /
been inevitable to turn to the Gov |
eminent and the taxpayer; it would |
have meant the destruction of the |
spirit Of the Red Cross and it would |
have been the destruction of something |
even greater than voluntary service
it would have injured the spiritual
responses of the American people. 1t /
would have been step on the path /
way Of Government doles.
Dealing With IntangibIes.
in problems of this kind we are deal |
ing with the intangibleS of life and
ideals. We are dealing also with the
highest thing in our civilization, that |
is, the sense of personal responsibility
of neighbor for neighbor, the spirit of
charity and benevolence in the indi-
yidual. the holding alight the lamp of
voluntary action in American life. A
voluntary deed by a man impressed
with the sense of responsibility and
brotherhood of man is infinitely more
precious to our national ideals and ma
tional spirit than a thouSandfold poured
from the Treasury of the Government
under the eompulsion of law. Your or
ganization is indeed the highest form
of self-government, that it, for our pco-
pie to organize themselves without the
force of law.
THE spiritual question is not solely a
problem of giving and raising funds;
IT ic anlIallv rlIocti0Yl of their dictri. |