Salt Lake Tribune | 1917-04-07 | Page 11 | Wilson Urges Aid for the Red Cross

'MBIUD -PI THERED CROSS Calls Attention to "Relief Work Is Undoubtedly Ahead of Us." , i Washington;, April 6.' ( Relief work which is undoubtedly ahead of us" w;is referred (o by President Wilson Wil-son in a letter sent tonight to the Washington branch of the American Ked Cross, saving that as tho oflu'inl volunteer aid oruuk-'.ation of tho United States the society should receive re-ceive the generous su'port of the American Ameri-can people. The letter was was read at a meeting to raise funds for tho loeat oieani.iiuon. " In otiior that the relief work which is undoubtedly ahead of us should bo made thoroughly elUeient, ' ' wrote the president, "it is most desirable that, it should he co-ordinated and concentrated under one organization. ''Having been made the official volunteer volun-teer aid organization of tho United btates, the American Ked Cross comes under the protection of the treaty of (ieneva and has ' received due recognition recogni-tion from all foreign governments. iU status both at homo and abroad is thui definitely determined and assured. "The surgeons general of the war and navy departments are members of the executive committee of the American Ameri-can Ked Cross. By act of congress medical oflicers of both branches ot tho service are detailed for service with it in order that its military relief may bo so organized as best to supplement tho medical services of our lighting forces. ''The civilian relief is under a trained and experienced personnel especially fitted to care for soldiers ' families and other non-combatants. The accounts of Hie association are, audited by the war department, in order thoroughly to safeguard safe-guard the funds contributed by tho public. " Kecent experience has made it more clear tlian ever that a multiplicity of relief agencies tends to bring about eon-fusion, eon-fusion, duplication, delay and waste. Moreover, it affords temptations to dishonest dis-honest persons to tako advantage of tho general willingness of the public, to subscribe sub-scribe to such agencies to defraud subscribers sub-scribers and rob tho soldier of the assistance as-sistance he so much needs. Wherever in the present war sufficient volunteer aid has been rendered, either to soldiers or noncomhntants, it has been rendered under a well organized central body. Experience is cert a inly t he most convincing con-vincing teacher and we should learn by these European examples how to conduct con-duct our own relict work with the most thorough ofliciene v and system. With its catholicity and its democracy tho Ked Cross is broad enough to embrace till elforts for the relief of our soldier and sailors, the earn of their families, and for the assistance, of any other non-cninbatunt a who mav require aid. ' ' As tiie president of tho Americau ffer iVn, our branch of the great international in-ternational nrgania t inn, f most earnestly ear-nestly commend it to your confidence and your Hitpnorf. Upon your aid, upon tiie a moii nt s a rid prompt n ess and your e'fls ami co-operation must depend the f ii iti 1 1 meat of 1 he dut ion 1 hat. a re imposed im-posed upon if. It serves nn noble and beneficient a purpose that it nmpt appeal to all who love I heir country and who love hurnanily. ' ' Src i el a ries 1 la Iter and Pan iels were among the speakers at the meeting.