Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-13
Hoover Tells Convention Re.
fuSal to Accept U. S. Money
Preserved Great Ideal.
HOLDS ACTION SOLVED
GREAT FAMINE PROBLEM
Wilbur and Other Government OFF,
Gals Will Address Session
on Many Activities.

President Hoover today told tns
American Red Cross its refusal to as-
cept Federal relief funds had helped to
preserve the great ideal" of voluntary
aid by avoiding step on the pathway
of Government doles."
Opening the annual meeting of the
relief organization in Continental
Memorial Hall. Mr. Hoover. its president.
devoted his address entirely to the Red
Cross drought relief work. He said the
"far-sighted action" of the Red Cross
had solved "the problem of famine in
over 100000 people" and saved them
from infinite suffering"
The Executive had supported the re-
lief agency in its refusal to accept a
$25,o00,0o0 relief appropriation which
coalition of Democrats and Republican
independents got through the Senate
last session, but which the House re-
jected. Today. the President con-
graduated the organization on its
''momentous decision"
IF your officers had yielded on this
occasion" he said, "the Red Cross would
have been rendered impotent in the
face of every future national emergency.
for 1t would have been inevitable to turn
to the Government and the taxpayer: 1t
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 re-
sponses of the American people. It
would have been a step on the pathway
of Government doles.
Seen as Spiritual Stimulus.
Again the President praised the spirit
behind the decision of the Red Cross.
You have proved yourselves not only
practical instrument Of mercy" he
added. but you have renewed and in
vigorated the spiritual life of the Ma
ton"
Red Gross workers from all sections
and chapters attended the annual seS-
sion, at which other officials CT the
organization proposed to tell the cour-
try why it chose to rely on voluntary
aid. The convention viii be in session
four days.
Besides drought relief. the convention
will give its attention to child health,
aid to former service men and their
families, and plans for the forthcoming
celebration of the f1ftieth anniversary
Of the Red Cross.
President Hoover's address was bread
cast over the National and Columbia
broadcasting systems. Mrs. Hoover sat
on the platform and special section
was preserved for a large group of
Columbia Chapter.
Judge Payne Presides.
Judge John Barton Payne presided
at the opening meeting as chairman of
the Central Committee.
Among the other speakers today
were Secretary of the Interior Wilbur,
James L. Fieser. vice chairman in
charge of domestic operations. and John
N. McDufie, a youth from Grand
Rapids, Mich, who appeared as the
representative of 100000 school chill
oren enrolled in the junior branch of
the Red Cross. Election of convention
officers and appointment of committees
was to follow.
The distribution by the Red Gross Of
$4,000 packets, each containing four
pounds of vegetable seed has estab-
liShed the garden habit in drought areas
formerly devoted exclusively to single
crops Mr. Fieser told the delegates.
This, he said. means a valuable lesson
to farmers, who have learned the i'm
portance of raising food for themselves
and livestock
Mr.. Fieser has just returned from a
swing around score of drought States
covering $500 miles. Ths pessimism he
formerly found there has been replaced
by enthusiasm over the work done, he
said, with every one paying a tribute to
the Nationofor its generosity in raising
$4,000, 900 drought fund to supple
ment the SIS ZOO, 600 appropriation from
Red Cross funds.
THE drought struck COS counties In
% States" he said
1T was necessary to make cash grants
to 806 chapters" Mr.. Fieser said.
Hence, it is safe to say that Is per
cent of all the counties in the United
States received a grant from the relief
fund. In scores of other counties Red
Cross Chapters aided their fellow men
through local finances. At the peak
almost 100000 families received total or
supplemental aid from the Red Cross.
Today more than two-thirds of these
have been restored to self-help through
farm loans or intermediate credit ia
cilities. made possible through recent
congressional action or through the
normal banking and merchandising ma
chinery BY May /, a further reduction
will have been made.
He declared Red Cross money was
the only help without strings tied
to it,"
Mr.. Fieser paid a tribute to the I'M
stinted labor of Red Cross workers and
members rendered by nearly 100000
chapter committees, most of them new
to such work
The drought victims are again till
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