The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1931-10-16
THE RED CROSS M DROUTH RELIEF

Considerable dissatisfaction prevails both in the territory
where we are gathering supplies for the drouth rellef sufferers
and where the supplies are being distributed, because these
supplies have to go through Red Cross channels.
To all who complain we ask you to consider these facts.
First, the Red Cross is in the drouth area and has already
expended more than 100000 on relief work.
Second, the railroads have granted free carriage OF food for
human consumption shipped under Red Cross permit.
Third, it will take more than the equivalent OF s2,oOO'ooo to
meet the drouth area requirements. That's a load tat every
member of the Farmers Union and everybody else contributing
to help solve the problem, ought to be glad that we may share
Fourth, let us, all of us, pour every potato, vegetable, sack
of flour, and spare piece of clothing possible into the drouth
Fifth, if we furnish our quota of supplies the responsibility
for fair and equitable distribution must be borne by the RED
Cross.
Montana and North Dakota where the Red Cross is operating.
with the possible exception of five, a majority of the farmers
are members of the Farmers Union. We have county and local
officials. Many members of the Union are o n Red Cross com
mittees.
You may with good reason expect that the members of the
Union in Montana and North Dakota will see to it if enough food
and clothing are provided to go around, that a fair, equitable,
and liberal distribution of the supplies will be made. And if
such fair distribution is not being made, rely on this, our folks
out in the drouth area will know what to do and how to do it.
We are turning over everything we re collecting except
clothing gathered at St Paul, and food, to Dagmar, Montana,
by our own Home Office Local, to the Red Cross. Under Red
Cross directions the railroads are carrying the material free.
If freight had to be paid the problem could not, and would not
be solved. The railroads have recognized their responsibility
and we may add their selfinterest, and given their services
free.
Free freight, the Red Cross, and the farm organizations, to
gether make it possible to meet the desperate and grave drouth
situation.
Our job is to collect the food and clothing and pour it into
the barren territory, and leave to the folks in Montana and North
Dakota the determination of how and to whom it may be dis
tributed.
And remember another thing. Discussions now about the
methods of distribution will serve only to cut down the volume
of supplies, and the people who will suffer because of this dis
cussion will be the destitute men, women and children of the
Northwest. No rightminded person will want to carry that sin
on his conscience.
Red Cross Confirms
A news release from the Red Cross news bureau at Helena
confirms the above plan and in a concluding paragraph says:
"R. A. Shepard, Red Cross drought relief director, expressed
satisfaction over the cooperative spirit indicated in the Unions
and other n had not clearly understood that the Red Cross
ms ranuira that all donated Sunn1ies for drought sufferers be
unrestricted. He added that the Red Cross has contributed
generously to the Red Cross appeal for donated food and cloth
ing to be distributed among drought stricken families without
discrimination"