Show PLEADS CAUSE OF RED CROSS CROSSI CROSSI I I I Taft Says War Relief Funds I Should Have Been Entrusted Entrust Entrust- ed to Its Care San sin Fra Francisco nd S CO A Aug Aug- u g 2 2 W William I 1 1 Ia m Howard Taft pleaded today todar the cause of oC the American Red Cross at exercises c celebrating Red net Cross da day at the tho Pan Panama Pacific ma exposition lion Tin Tie urged a membership of million millions I mor moro more funds and neutrality in I in giving lie praised Americans for their tea ready t. t response to calls caBs for or relief relict funds when whorl the tho European war began but deprecated deprecated depre depre- tho the fact act that two thirds of oC the tho funds given were disbursed by hy relief bodies bodis s organized ors on the tho spur of ot tho the thoI I moment while the tho Rod Hotl Cross stood ready with a II trained organization to toI todo tb do the work I It doe does not reflect well weB upon tipon our national reputation for or efficiency Mr Taft Tart said The Tho best agency for Cor collecting collecting col cot l and distributing generous fraI fraternal fra Ira I monetary and other ether aid to tho the suffering of of or Europe In this war has I I received and had control of ot certainly not more than a n third of the funds contributed I I r 1 regret to say that we wo do not thus entrust such funds to tho the American Red fled Cross exclusively Monopoly is good or bad as DS Its US Is 15 good or bud hud Mr 11 Taft Tart said ho he did not undervalue the sweets of oC publicity and nd popular applause In promoting good work but thought ho-thought the desire on the tho part of oC donors for or publicity was harmful when It led to a division dl of ot forces and an Increase of oC unnecessary ex expense ex- ex pense The Tue membership of oC of ot the American Red Cross Cros Mr 11 Taft compared com corn pared with that of oC Japan which which runs runs into the millions he said S and of or Russia Rus nus- sin sia Ia which Is even larger er The American people have havo as much generosity as ns an any people In the world orld Mr Ir Taft Tart said but they need an electric electric elec elec- doe doe- shock to arouse them to Its exer exer- cI cise s e. e Mr Taft Tart recounted tho work o of the thc Red Cross In the lie present war and Its distribution In mone money supplies and paid expert service of oC More fun funds s. s ho lie sal said should be ur urged fd but our people are arc not as ns active In giving as the they were He praised the work ork of ot Miss Mabel T T. Boardman chairman of ot the tho American Amen Ameri can Red TIed Cross national relief board who preceded him on the program |