The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-11-06

FHE AMERICANRE CROSS
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The originator TO the Red Cross
movement was Henri Dunant, young
Swiss idealist who had been moved
by the horrors of the battlefield of
Solferino in 1859, where he aided the
wounded as a volunteer
The Red Cross organization grew
out of an international conference
called at Geneva, Switzerland, in 1864
But the success of the conference in
formulating and securing the adherence
of leading powers to the international
agreement or convention which it drew
up, neutralizing the treatment of the
wounded in war, was in large part due
to two other influences. One influence
was general knowledge of the work
done by Florence Nightingale and her
devoted nurses in the Crimean War
1854-56). The other was the story of
the accomplishments of the United
States Sanitary Commission in the
American Civil War, as told by its two
representatives in the conference.
This conference adoptd as its insig-
mia the flag Of Switzerland with re-
vsrsed colors. Instead of white cross
on a red shield, it became a red cross
on white shield. This was the origin
of the name, Red Cross"
Attandir,u the oCy,fay.o,,co xrrcro tvfyo
representatives of the United States
George c. Fogg, q. s. Minister to
Switzerland, and Charles s. P. Bowles,
European agent of the U. 8. Sanitary
Commission. Their story of the
commissions work in the Civil War
exerted powerful influence on the
delegates. Nevertheless, these two
Americans lacked authority to commit
their government, which did not give
its adhesion to the agreement until ID
years later.
As the Government remained colo
toward the Treaty of Geneva, nothing
more was done toward founding an
American Red Cross Society until 1881,
when Clara Barton succeeded in Sc
curing the interest of the Garfield ad-
ministration in the treaty. Miss Barton
accordingly held meeting and or
gained society called the American
Association of the Red Cross. This
was on May 81, 1881.
Although the o. s. Sanitary Com
mission and the Association for Re-
lief of Misery of Battlefields wereAfore-
runners Of the American Red Cross,
it was Clara Barton 1821-1912), famous
for her volunteer work among wounded
in the Civil War, who had the honor
OF founding the society in this country
In 1877, Miss Barton received an ap-
pointment as representative of the In
ternational Red Cross Committee of
Geneva, and went to Washington to
work for American adherence. Unable
to make progress with the Government,
in the following year she issued leaf
let on the Red Cross and its purposes,
which was given to ali members of
Congress. A number of friends associ-
ated themselves at this time with her
efforts, including the Swiss diplomatic
representative.
When President Garfield took Office
in 1881, both he and his Secretary of
State, James G. Blaine, endorsed the
movement. Thus, the way was cleared
for organizing an American society.
The Red Cross in the United States
dates from the evening of Saturday,
May 81, 1881, when a group of we'll
known residents of Washington, D. C..
met in Miss Barton's dwelling in the
Capital City. Miss Barton read papers
to show what the Red Cross was doing
in the countries then adhering to the
Geneva Treaty, all with their own
national societies.
At a second meeting on June 9, the
organization was completed The new
society called itself 1.-The American
Association of the Red Cross and
elected Miss Barton as its president.
Plans for prompt recognition by the
Government were upset, however, by
the tragic death of President Garfield.
In the summer of 1881, Miss Barton.
who was a patient at sanitarium at
Dansville, N. Y, organized there the
first local Red Cross unit in the United
States. known today as the Clara Bar
ton Chapter. This was on August q.
1881.
President Arthur in December, 1881.
sent message to the Senate, urging
adherence to the Geneva convention.
Opposition melted away as soon as the
objects of the Red Cross were studied
and understood. On March l, 1882.
President Arthur, acting with the con-
sent of the Senate, by his signature
gave the accession of the United States
to the Geneva Treaty On June 9, the
Swiss Federation accepted American adj
herence and on July 26, President
Arthur announced the fact In a public
proclamation Thus, was the American
I