Chapter III: Part 3

“ROME, Feb. 7.—It is officially declared that the American Red
Cross, through Ambassador Griscom, has put $250,000 at the
disposal of the committee organized by Queen Helena, which has
undertaken the establishment of an orphanage to be devoted to
the care of children left homeless and without parents by the
earthquake disaster.”

Under date of February 6, 1909, the _Civilta Cattolica_, published at Rome, states that a national patronage of orphans, under the name of “Queen Helena,” has been erected by decree of the 14th of January, and to it has been granted all legal rights for the protection of orphans who have suffered by the recent calamity or who will need protection on account of any future disaster; that the direct administration of this orphanage is committed to a council, half of whose membership shall be appointed by royal authority and the other half by election or choice of those contributing annually to its support.

In the same paper, the _Civilta Cattolica_, of February 20, 1909, appears the following: “There has been appointed to the Presidency of the National Committee the Mayor of the first city of Italy, Erneste Nathan, a Hebrew, a very bitter enemy of Catholicism.” The same issue states that the National Committee has appointed three women to take charge of “Patronato Nazionale Regina Elene,” namely, Turin, an unknown woman, a Socialist and Freemason; Labriola, a Protestant woman (a Valdensian Protestant), and Levi, a Jewess. To them was confided the care of all orphans brought to Naples from the scene of the disaster. This charge was taken from the Nepolitan authorities because they were good Catholics.

The _Civilta Cattolica_ states: “It is evident from the entire policy of the National Committee that the Pope was refused all voice in the disposition of the orphans. He never entered into the committee’s consideration, except that it is trying and succeeding in hampering his efforts everywhere, for instance:

1. The government, _i. e._, the National Committee, refused to
send any of the wounded to the hospital of Santa Marta in Rome,
so that the Knights of Malta have to make up a train themselves
to go to Naples in order to get the wounded.

2. The Catholic officers of the Spanish ship _Cataluna_ were
hampered in the gathering of the wounded and orphans at Messina
to take them to Rome for disposition of the Pope. This ship has
been placed under direct control of the Pope by the Count of
Comillas, the owner.

3. The Pope was interfered with in placing orphans in the care
of the French priest, Santol. (The Pope has offered to care for
2,000 earthquake orphans, one-half of whom were to be put in
charge of Father Santol.)”

From the above it appears that part of the money contributed by our fellow-citizens, irrespective of creed and nationality, is being used by missionary societies and others against Catholicity. Some of our Catholic fellow-citizens feared that such would likely be the case, but they nevertheless contributed liberally, thinking that in such a crisis and such distress haste was necessary and bigotry would not be allowed to have part. But from the above statements it is evident that their fears were well founded, and if it turns out that the statements are true, the Red Cross Society, though splendid in its aims, will never be trusted again by the 15,000,000 of Catholics in this country, nor by the 270,000,000 Catholics the world over.

Your organization is no doubt aware that all civilized countries now acknowledge the right of the child to be educated in the religion of its parents, and though the Red Cross Society of America may not have anything to do with the education of these children without religion, it has the right and duty to protest against funds sent from America being used in such a way as to outrage justice.

It will not be amiss to show you how few Protestants there are in Italy:

Last summer at the International Congress of Religious Liberals, held in Boston, Rev. Tony Andre, of Italy, gave these statistics: “Italy is essentially a Catholic country. Out of the 32,475,253 inhabitants enumerated in the census of 1901, 31,539,863 declared themselves Catholics; that is, 97.12 per cent of the population. All told there were 65,595 Protestants, 20,538 of whom were foreigners. At the same time, 795,276 were unwilling to say to what religion they belonged, and 36,092 declared they were of no religion.” This will show that practically all the children to be cared for are Catholics.

We address this open letter to your society and expect that you will give the matter referred to therein immediate investigation and consideration.

Very respectfully, yours,

THE AMERICAN FED. OF CATH. SOCIETIES.

ANTHONY MATRE, _National Secretary_.

JULY 9, 1909.

Mr. ANTHONY MATRE, _Secretary, American Federation of Catholic Societies, St. Louis, Mo._

DEAR SIR: The American Red Cross is in receipt of the expected reply from the American Ambassador at Rome to an inquiry of the Embassy adverted to in my letter to you dated April 12, 1909.

Mr. Griscom states that there was no true basis for the statement published in the _Catholic Transcript_ in Rome and quoted by you in the open letter, whereby you charged the American Red Cross with grave wrong to the Italian children made orphans by the earthquake of December 28, 1908, the offense consisting in the assignment of the control of the American Red Cross Italian Orphanage, and the instruction and rearing of these orphans to non-Catholics, such as Hebrews, Masons, and Socialists.

Mr. Griscom, to whom I sent a copy of your attack upon the Red Cross, brought the matter to the attention of Countess Spalletti Rasponi, the President of the Queen’s Orphanage, who, as such, has general supervision over the branch of the same known as the American Red Cross Orphanage, and for which latter Mr. Bruno Chimerri is Chairman of the Executive Committee.

The following is a translation of a quotation from a letter from the Countess Spalletti to Mr. Griscom, the American Ambassador, dated Rome, April 19, 1909:

“After reading the article published in the _Catholic Transcript_ of March 25, 1909, I consider myself, as the President of the Queen’s Orphanage, bound to reassure your excellency, and send you some information regarding the system pursued by those placed in control of the orphans in choosing a place for the orphans and abandoned minors, with the tutelage of whom we have been charged by the royal decree, dated January 14, 1909.

“The number of wretched creatures left destitute of any support and guidance being considerable, we have undertaken to take the place, as far as possible, of the parents in their education and start in life. We have proceeded in accordance with this principle, and have decided that the minors should be, as far as possible, brought up in the religion of their parents, and educated in conformity with the conditions in which their families were, with the only tendency to ameliorate those conditions. We consider it to be our duty to bring up these children in the religion of their parents.

“Referring to the article published in the _Catholic Transcript_, I have to point out that the Mayor of Rome, Mr. Nathan, is not the President of the Queen’s Orphanage. He has no connection with it whatever, but is President of the Executive Board of the Central Relief Committee for the earthquake sufferers, of which committee his royal highness, the Duke of Aosta, is the President....

“It is, moreover, to be noted that the President of the Palmi Subcommittee is the Bishop of Milito, Monsignor Morabito. Our representative in Messina has been another most worthy Catholic Priest, the Rev. Luigi Orione.

“I am confident that this summary will be sufficient to remove from the souls of American Catholics all apprehensions.”

In forwarding this letter, Mr. Griscom, our Ambassador to Rome, remarks in substance:

“You will observe that the governing body of the Queen’s Orphanage have exercised the greatest care to place Protestant orphans in Protestant hands and Catholic orphans in Catholic hands. I am satisfied that this wise policy has been consistently carried out. American Protestant Missions have received the tutelage of the children of the members of their missions in cases where there were no surviving relatives to assume the burden. I am satisfied the _Catholic Transcript_ would not have published such an article had they been in possession of the full facts....

“You will be interested in knowing that long before I heard from you on this subject the head of one of our American Protestant Missions in Rome stated to me that he understood our orphanage was to be governed and managed by Catholic priests, and that the Protestant contributors of money in America would never tolerate such a thing. When I explained to him the policy of those in charge of the Queen’s Orphanage in regard to orphans, he seemed thoroughly satisfied. It is interesting that we should have received a protest from the Protestant Church that the Catholics are being favored, and then that the leading Catholic papers in America should publish an article implying that the Catholics are receiving unfair treatment.

“The very nature of the organization and the legal status of the orphanage work under the Queen’s patronage makes it impossible that it should be governed in the interest of one denomination....

“In my opinion, the Queen’s Orphanage is entitled to our admiration and respect for the very just and liberal policy adopted to solve the very delicate questions raised by the different religious denominations of the orphans. During the whole of this trying period I have not received a single complaint from any of the American Protestant Missions with regard to the disposition of the orphans belonging to their denomination; nor has any complaint from a Catholic source been brought to my knowledge until you forwarded me the clipping from the _Catholic Transcript_. I am extremely disappointed that such a fair-minded paper should have failed to do justice to the perfectly correct course of the Italian authorities with regard to the religion of the earthquake orphans.

“It goes without saying that a great part of the moneys which came from America through the American Red Cross and otherwise went to the assistance of Catholics. The money received by Protestant Italians would be a minute fraction of 1 per cent. It seems strange that there should be any expression of discontent from any Catholic source.

“On the other hand, I am most happy to say that we have the most gratifying expressions of appreciation from such persons as Archbishop Ireland, the Archbishop of Messina, the Bishop of Milito, and other distinguished prelates of the Catholic Church.”

The Red Cross has no method of knowing how much or what part of the amounts received for Italian earthquake relief (about $1,000,000) was contributed by Catholics. Assuming that the proportion this part bore to the whole was the same as the ratio of the Catholic population of the United States to the whole population, then the funds of Catholic origin, so to speak, received by the Red Cross must have been one-seventh or one-sixth of the whole.

It seems to be established as a fact that there was no sufficient basis for your charge that the American Red Cross had adopted a course that would or did result in the perversion of faith of the Catholic orphans. Those appointed by the King to the solemn trust of rearing these orphans are discharging their duty conscientiously. The prelates of the Catholic Church on the spot are thoroughly familiar with what was ordered to be done and with what is being done in this regard, and they will be careful to note and call attention to any deviation from conditions imposed by royal warrant and by justice.

Your letter to me of March 22, 1909, was given to the press before it reached me, and before you had taken pains to inquire into the proofs relied on to support the assertions which were the basis for your arraignment of the Red Cross.

I have sent copies of this letter to the Catholic press of the United States, in the belief that the readers of the original charge are entitled to know what are the actual facts respecting the measures taken by those applying the generous contributions of American Catholics and non-Catholics to insure the rearing and instruction of the earthquake orphans in the faith of their fathers.

The American Ambassador in Rome is a member of the permanent Executive Committee of the American Red Cross Italian Orphanage.

Yours, very sincerely,

GEO. W. DAVIS,
_Chairman, Central Committee_.

_Disposal of Balance of Italian Fund._

As the American Red Cross was desirous of bringing to an end its Italian relief work, an inquiry was made of our Embassy in Rome as to the best use to be made of a small balance of funds still in hand. It was advised to contribute this amount to the Queen of Italy for the benefit of her relief work in the model village of Regina Helena, built for the refugees near Messina, and in which her majesty is deeply interested. In acknowledgement of this gift of $5,000 the following letter was sent to the American Ambassador:

COURT OF HER MAJESTY, THE QUEEN,
ROME, July 3, 1909.

EXCELLENCY: Her majesty, the Queen, has charged me to request
you to thank the American Red Cross for the relief it has so
generously given to the refugees of the Sicilian disaster.

COUNT P. DI TRINITA.

_Testimonials of Gratitude._

On June 19 the American Red Cross received from the Italian Red Cross a beautiful gold medal and diploma as tokens of appreciation of the assistance rendered by America after the earthquake in Sicily and Calabria.

Cuts of the medal are shown herewith, and below are printed the letter of the President of the Italian Red Cross transmitting the medal and diploma, and the letter of the President of the American Red Cross in acknowledgment.

ROME, ITALY, April 19, 1909.

ILLUSTRIOUS SIR: In the never-to-be-forgotten calamity by
which she was overcome Italy has found but one solace. It was
to feel, to know, that the sorrow was universal, and that the
heart of the world throbbed in unison with hers.

Touching evidence of human solidarity came to us from every
part of your glorious Republic, but every burst of charity was
outdone by the Red Cross, over which you preside, sir, and
which assisted her Italian sister with a supreme munificence of
relief.

May you find the medal and diploma we now send you as tokens
of our gratitude, of which, however, they are but a modest
outward sign, acceptable. More durably than in the metal is
our gratefulness engraved in the hearts of the Italians, whose
mindful blessings will stand as the sacred heritage of the
generations to come.

R. TAVERNA,
_President, Italian Red Cross_.

To the PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS, _Washington, D. C._

WASHINGTON, D. C., June 22, 1909.

SIR: I have received your courteous communication of April
19 last, with which you transmit a gold medal and diploma,
presented by the Italian National Red Cross to the American
National Red Cross, as testimonials of gratitude for the
contributions furnished by the latter for the sufferers from
the earthquakes in Calabria and Sicily.

As President of the American National Red Cross it affords me
great pleasure to accept these testimonials in behalf of the
association, not only because of their beauty and intrinsic
worth, but as tokens of the humanitarian spirit which joins the
world in fraternal kinship in times of great distress.

Not less valued that they are the sentiments of generous
appreciation on the part of the Italian Red Cross, to which you
give expression in your communication.

I beg you to be so good as to convey to the Italian Red Cross
the thanks and appreciation of the American Red Cross for their
considerate action, and am,

Very cordially, yours,

WM. H. TAFT,
_President, American National Red Cross_.

COUNT R. TAVERNA, _President, Italian Red Cross_.

_Translation of Inscription on Medal Received from the Italian Red Cross._

Inscription of the circle around the medal: To the well deserving of the Italian Red Cross.

Inscription on medal: To the American National Red Cross: most generous cooperation in the relief of the sufferers of the earthquake in Calabria, Sicily, 1908.

_Translation of Inscription on Diploma Received from the Italian Red Cross Society._

ITALIAN RED CROSS.

Under the high patronage of their Majesties, the King and the
Queen, and of her Majesty, the Queen Mother.

Association incorporated by law of May 30, 1882. No. 768, Side
Series.

Under Articles 115 and 116 of the Organic By-Laws, upon the
motion of the Honorable President of the Association of the
Central Committee, in its deliberations of the 3d of April,
1909, has been awarded the Diploma of Honor to the American
National Red Cross. Rome, April 3, 1909.

R. TAVERNA,
_President of the Association_.

_A Token of Gratitude from the Italian Government._

On May 17 Miss Boardman received a letter from Baron Mayor des Planches, the Italian Ambassador at Washington, of which a translation is given below, with Miss Boardman’s reply:

WASHINGTON, D. C., May 17, 1909.

DEAR MISS BOARDMAN: Have you seen the _Literary Digest_ of the
15th, which betrays an official secret? The Minister of Foreign
Affairs, M. Tittoni, has written me that the government of
the King desired to send you a decoration, but unfortunately
the statutes of our chivalresque orders do not permit the
decoration of women. Our gratitude toward you will be testified
by an artistic gift, which we hope you will accept as a
souvenir of the benefits you have rendered.

Believe me, dear Miss Boardman, very sincerely,

E. MAYOR.

WASHINGTON, D. C., May 17, 1909.

DEAR MR. AMBASSADOR: I have not seen the _Literary Digest_ to
which you refer. Permit me to express my deep appreciation of
the intention of his majesty’s government to present to me some
testimonial in recognition of the American Red Cross work in
Italy.

It has been for some time the intention of our society to
take under consideration the question of permitting members
to receive gifts or testimonials because of any special
work of relief in which they have taken part. Therefore,
should the plan of his majesty’s government to present to me
some testimonial be as yet not so advanced as to cause any
embarrassment if not carried out, I would be glad to have it
held in abeyance until the question is decided.

But as there exists no regulation of this nature at present,
if this plan has been so advanced that my not receiving this
testimonial would cause any embarrassment to his majesty’s
government, or to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, please take
no action in the matter.

Permit me to again express to your excellency my sincere
appreciation, and to say whatever should be decided I shall
always value the intention of such kindly recognition of the
American Red Cross and its work on the part of the Italian
government.

Please accept, Mr. Ambassador, the expression of my highest
esteem and my heartiest good wishes for the return of
prosperity to Sicily and Calabria.

Yours, sincerely,

MABEL T. BOARDMAN.

To this letter the Ambassador replied that the testimonial had already been completed, and he begged that no action against its acceptance be taken.

A beautiful reproduction in yellow gold of the ancient civic crown of Rome, sent in a most artistic leather jewel case, was later presented to Miss Boardman, in the name of the Italian government, by the Marquis Montagliari, the Italian Charge d’Affairs, in the absence of the Ambassador. On a plate in the case is engraved:

To Miss Mabel Boardman
Of the American Red Cross Society.
The Italian Government as a Token of Gratitude.
1908-1909.

A translation of the graceful letter of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Signor Tittoni, which accompanied the gift, is given below:

ROME, June 16, 1909.

ILLUSTRIOUS LADY: The royal Ambassador has already expressed,
and will reiterate, to you the sentiments of our gratitude for
the highly generous work inspired by you, and accomplished
with such intelligent love, during the terrible disaster which
overwhelmed our country at the end of the last year.

Now I desire to address you personally, offering to you, in the
name of the government and the Italian people, an object which
is inspired by our artistic traditions, and which will serve
to recall to you the benefactions rendered and the memory which
we preserve thereof.

We have wished to see in the action, so prompt, so efficacious,
so vast, and so enduring of the American Red Cross, something
more than a simple evidence of human fraternity. We love to
consider it a fresh proof of the spiritual ties by which
the United States feel themselves bound to the Mother
Italy; therefore this action has been doubly dear to us.
To you belongs so large a share of the merit, allow us to
see personified in yourself all the feminine grace of the
institution which has known how to give expression to these
ties in the form most acceptable to the grateful beneficiaries.

With the most cordial regards, yours, most devotedly,

TITTONI.

YOUR EXCELLENCY: Permit me to express, through you, to the
Italian government and to the people of Italy my most profound
appreciation of the honor conferred upon me by the presentation
of the beautiful reproduction of the civic crown of Rome, as
a token of gratitude for the sympathy and assistance of the
American Red Cross after the terrible disaster in Sicily and
Calabria.

It was with a sense of the greatest sorrow and the sincerest
sympathy that the people of the United States, through their
Red Cross Society, found means to express in tangible form
these heartfelt emotions. To many of our people Italy is the
motherland, and to many others she has given so rich a treasury
of art and literature that we must remain forever in her debt.
Stricken by one of the great and mysterious forces of nature,
thousands of her people were destroyed and thousands were
left homeless, suffering, and in dire distress. Our people,
overwhelmed by her misfortune, were glad, in the spirit of
brotherly love, to take some share in her assistance.

That the Italian government selected as a token of gratitude an
object around which clusters the great traditions of ancient
Rome moves us deeply, and will be an inspiration for our Red
Cross to continue constant in its efforts to conquer suffering
and be worthy of such recognition.

Permit me to express my own gratitude, and to say that what
little I have been able to do personally has been done with
sincere affection for Italy and her people, and because of the
sympathetic and hearty support of our people and Red Cross
officers.

With earnest wishes for the prosperity of your country, and for
the speedy rehabilitation of the stricken communities, and with
cordial regards and many thanks for your excellency’s most kind
communication, I am

Yours, sincerely,

MABEL T. BOARDMAN.

Senator TITTONI, _Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rome, Italy_.

On June 10, 1909, the Executive Committee adopted the following resolution:

WHEREAS, It has sometimes occurred that members of the American
Red Cross, engaged in some special work, have been presented
with gifts because of appreciation of this work; and,

WHEREAS, The Executive Committee of the American Red Cross
considers that this is an unwise custom to permit to continue;
and,

WHEREAS, The American Red Cross itself provides a medal of
merit for recognition of especially meritorious relief work;

_Be it resolved_, That hereafter no member of the American
Red Cross shall be permitted to receive any valuable gift in
recognition of special relief work in which he or she has
taken part, and that no testimonial or medal shall be accepted
without authority of the Executive Committee.

PORTUGUESE EARTHQUAKE RELIEF

LISBON, PORTUGAL, August 5, 1909.

_The American National Red Cross, Washington, D. C._

GENTLEMEN: Through His Excellency, Colonel Page Bryan, American Minister at Lisbon, we have just received your new contribution of $300 for our Earthquake Relief Fund, your credit on that account having thus risen to $1,300.

We beg to present to you our earnest thanks for this generous manifestation of your sympathy and take the liberty of enclosing a photo showing the design of the houses you kindly have aided us to build for 160 families of the poorest classes in the four villages destroyed by the earthquake.

Very faithfully, yours,

PELA SOCIEDADE PORTUGUEZA DA CRUZ VERMELHA,

G. L. SANTOS FERREIRA, Secretary.

CANAL ZONE RED CROSS

By Major C. A. DEVOL, U. S. Army.

Of the three great classes of Red Cross work, war relief, international relief and emergency relief, the last is the field in which the Canal Zone Branch is making itself peculiarly useful.

On the Canal Zone there is less need of such an organization in some ways than there would be in a community of 50,000 people in the United States, because here the government, through the Isthmian Canal Commission, maintains a good system of hospitals and district physicians, and also because there are few people here who cannot work, and almost none who cannot get work if they want it. But there is a limit beyond which the Commission may not go in the expenditure of government funds, and, broadly, that limit is that it may not aid people who are not employed on the Canal work. To the cases that lie outside this limit the Red Cross addresses itself.

An instance arose recently in Colon, where a family was destitute because it had been deserted by the husband and father. The mother and three children were kept alive by private subscription until the Red Cross was organized. The Red Cross then sent the family to New York, where the members of the Masonic order came to their relief and sent them to the mother’s home in England. The Commission could not help in such a case, but the Red Cross could, and did.

A citizen of France, living near Tabernilla, and not employed on the Canal work, was bitten by a mad dog a few weeks ago. He had no money to pay his way to a Pasteur Institute; attempts to inoculate for hydrophobia on the Isthmus have been of uncertain value, and the Commission could not send a non-employee to the United States. The Red Cross appropriated $50 for his steamship fare to New York and he was successfully treated in the Pasteur Institute in that city.

A Spanish laborer who had lost both his legs on the Isthmus was sent to New York by the Commission, where he was fitted with two cork legs and then sent back to his home in Spain. The Red Cross gave him $50 to help him on his way, for the Commission could not advance more than his actual transportation and medical fees.

Not long ago a Boer, who had become naturalized as an American, was declared so far gone with tuberculosis that he could not work on the Isthmus nor remain here with safety. He had been in Mexico a few years before, and felt sure that if he could return to the plateau region his health would be restored. The Red Cross advanced him $150 to defray his expenses—in other words, gave him another chance for his life.

A number of cases have been relieved where the necessity was just as pressing but where a smaller amount was sufficient.

It is not improbable that there may be a call for immediate relief on a larger scale before the Canal is completed and the Americans in this big construction camp pass on to other work. If an accident occurs, it will find a thorough organization with funds in hand and ready to begin work without any preliminaries.

Lectures on first aid are delivered by the district physicians along the line of the Canal to members of the police and fire departments. To what extent this instruction will aid in time of emergency is conjectural, but it should have the effect of adding instructed men to the corps of nurses and doctors in case of a big accident. It is probable, however, that there is no place on earth where the hospital corps is so well equipped to give prompt aid as on the Canal Zone. On this account, the instruction of the police and firemen is not likely to prove such a benefit as it would in a less thoroughly organized community.

The Canal Zone Branch has already spent about $500 in its relief work, and its balance on July 1, 1909, was $1,577.17.

The suggestion that a branch of the American National Red Cross be organized on the Canal Zone was made by Miss Mabel T. Boardman, member of the Executive Committee, to Major C. A. Devol, U. S. A., Chief Quartermaster of the Isthmian Canal Commission, in a letter dated October 26, 1908. At the request of Major Devol, Major Lynch, of the Medical Department, U. S. A., author of the text-book, “How to Prevent Accidents and What to Do for Injuries and Emergencies,” came to the Isthmus in January, 1909, and addressed Red Cross meetings at Ancon, Culebra, Gorgona and Cristobal. Major Devol accompanied Major Lynch, and invited all persons interested to help organize a Canal Zone Branch. On January 17, at a meeting held in the Hotel Tivoli, at Ancon, a permanent organization was effected, with Major C. A. Devol as president; Mr H. D. Reed, treasurer; Miss J. Macklin Beattie, secretary. The Canal Zone was divided into fourteen districts, and the work of perfecting district organizations was begun. At a meeting held in the Hotel Tivoli, February 28, twelve district organizations were represented. The central organization was perfected by electing Mrs. Lorin C. Collins, Lieutenant-Colonel John L. Phillips, Major Chester Harding, and Mr. A. Bruce Minear an executive committee; and Mr. W. W. Warwick, auditor. A Committee on First Aid Lectures was appointed, consisting of Lieutenant-Colonel Phillips and Mr. H. D. Reed.

A noteworthy event in the early history of the Canal Zone Branch was the visit of President-elect Taft, National President of the Red Cross, to the Canal Zone in February, 1909. On the night of February 3 he made an address at the Commission Club house in Culebra, in which he outlined the work of the Red Cross. The meeting was attended by over 1,200 members of the Red Cross, and had a marked effect in arousing popular interest in this most important work.

The Canal Zone has now a membership of 1,300, divided among fourteen districts. The following are the officers of the district organizations:

Ancon—Dr. John L. Phillips, chairman.
Corozal—Alfred P. James, chairman.
Pedro Miguel—Ernest Bitely, chairman.
Paraiso—Harry Dundas, chairman.
Culebra—Mrs. C. A. Devol, chairman.
Gatun—Major William L. Sibert, chairman.
Cristobal—Dr. M. E. Connor, chairman.
Empire—W. M. Wood, acting chairman.
Las Cascadas—Mrs. Frank I. McAllister, acting chairman.
Bas Obispo—X. D. Holt, acting chairman.
Camp Elliott—Mrs. B. F. Fuller, acting chairman.
Gorgona—Mrs. Frank M. Morrison, acting chairman.
San Pablo—V. L. Kearney, acting chairman.
Tabernilla—C. D. Thaxton, acting chairman.

THE USE AND ABUSE OF THE RED CROSS BRASSARD

By G. H. RICHARDSON, M. D., Late First Lieutenant Medical Reserve Corps, U. S. A.

In a War Department order issued on February 10, 1909, the importance of regulating the issue of brassards to those entitled to neutrality by virtue of the first paragraph of article 9, and articles 10 and 11 of the Geneva Convention, was recognized. At the same time, and by the same order, the Medical Department was authorized to provide and deliver the “necessary certificates of identity to those persons attached to the sanitary service who do not have a military uniform.”

It is generally understood that this order shall not be applicable in time of peace; yet it would seem that, to make it effective and to anticipate the confusion incident to a declaration of war, some plan or system should be developed in the American Red Cross (which is the sanitary service recognized by the War Department) whereby the individual members could be definitely classified, and, when the occasion demanded, the necessary brassards and cards of identity could be expeditiously given them.

That this question should engage the attention of the American Red Cross is apparent to those of us who were in San Francisco during the weeks immediately following the disaster of April 18, 1906. On almost every other man was seen the Red Cross emblem in some form, it being generally known that those engaged in duties pertaining to this organization were permitted to pass and re-pass the sentries on duty in different parts of the city; for while we were not technically “under martial law,” yet the streets were everywhere patrolled by armed men, some of whom were directly under military control and others only partially so. It was in passing one of these patrols that a personal friend of mine was shot and killed for refusing, when challenged, to stop his automobile, on which was flying a Red Cross flag. It is needless to say that not one-quarter of those using the emblem were legally entitled to do so, and much harm was done the organization by those who wore the brassard for personal gain and benefit.

Only by the study of past experience can we judge what the future will produce; and if we expect the general public ever to recognize and respect the brassard we should begin at once a campaign of instruction which will explain its legitimate use and the reasons for regulating its issue.

It would be of incalculable benefit in time of war, or when martial law was declared, to have brassards and cards of identification already issued and recorded, for they could readily be re-stamped or copied by the Medical Department, as provided for in the order quoted, with the result that much time would be saved and much confusion avoided.

REPRESSION OF THE ABUSE OF THE RED CROSS INSIGNIA

At the time of the Eighth International Red Cross Conference held in London, June, 1907, Professor Louis Renault presented in the name of the Central Committee of the French Red Cross a report upon the “Repression of the Abuse of the Red Cross Insignia.” In this report Professor Renault showed that for twenty years this question had not ceased to be considered. This abuse continues in certain countries—ours among the number—because of insufficient legislation. Still, important steps have been taken, and if to-day the work has not been completed it is on the right road. At the International Convention of 1906, at Geneva, when the revised treaty was accepted it contained special paragraphs referring to the protection of the insignia and name which all the countries of the world have agreed upon to designate the hospital formations and their personnel protected by this treaty. The countries signing this treaty obligated themselves, in case their present laws do not provide sufficient protection to the Red Cross name and insignia, to apply to their respective legislative bodies for the further necessary legislation. The report of Professor Renault had for its object to call attention to these promises that had been made. The honor and the interest of each country demand that they be kept. The Swiss Federal Council has lately prepared a law which it will present to the Chambers to preserve to this emblem of humanitarian neutrality, which the Cross of Geneva represents, all its moral value and its noble signification.

_Action of American Medical Association._

Major W. M. Ireland, Medical Corps, U. S. Army, presented to the House of Delegates of the American Medical Association the resolution adopted by the Executive Committee of the American National Red Cross, October 18, 1907, and then offered the following resolution:

WHEREAS, By the terms of the Treaty of Geneva, 1864, and the
Revised Treaty of Geneva, 1906, the emblem of the Greek Red
Cross on a white ground, and the words “Red Cross,” or “Geneva
Cross,” were adopted to designate the personnel and materiel of
the medical departments of the military and naval forces and of
the recognized volunteer aid societies in time of war for the
humane purpose of rendering them immune from attack or capture;
and

WHEREAS, The United States, as well as all other civilized
powers, is a signatory to said treaties; and

WHEREAS, The use of the Red Cross by medical associations and
individuals of the medical profession must seriously impair
the usefulness of the emblem for the purpose for which it was
created and adopted; be it therefore

_Resolved_, That it is the sense of the American Medical
Association that the use of the Geneva Red Cross by
associations or individuals, other than those of the army,
navy and Red Cross Society, should be discontinued, and, if
desirable, some other insignia adopted, and be it further

_Resolved_, That the adoption of this resolution be given as
wide publicity as possible in the medical journals of the
country.

Dr. Samuel Wolfe, of Pennsylvania, supplemented the resolutions
presented by Major Ireland by introducing the following
preambles and resolution, which were also referred to the
Reference Committee on Legislation and Political Action:

WHEREAS, It is held that the Red Cross, which now constitutes
the main character in the official badge of the American
Medical Association, is eminently distinctive of certain
broader fields of philanthropy, rather than of medicine in
particular, and

WHEREAS, The traditions of medicine would be fully satisfied by
the adoption of a design as herewith submitted and described as
follows:

A shield on which is emblazoned the American eagle holding in
its talons a laurel wreath within which is the knotty rod and
entwined serpent and the letters A. M. A.; therefore, be it

_Resolved_, That the American Medical Association adopt as its
official insignia or badge this design.

_Protect the Red Cross._

Issued by the New York State Branch.

When the Red Cross insignia was first adopted at the Geneva Convention, as a sign of a hospital in war, and for many years after that, no one dreamed of using it as a mark on goods sold in trade. Gradually, however, such use became more common, and a badge of humanity, which men in the midst of warfare respected, became more and more, in trade, a meaningless label, applied to all kinds of medicinal boxes, bottles and jars, and every other conceivable package and bundle.

The badge of the Red Cross in America would have become a mere commercial mark but for the efforts of the American Red Cross and its branches.

We have worked hard to stop this wrongful use of the red cross, and we appeal to you to help us in this work, and to respect the law, for the unauthorized use of the red cross is in violation of a Federal statute. Help us to make the red cross what it should be, the badge which stands for humanity, and help to those who suffer in war and in calamities of all kinds. Help us to do this by stopping the use of the red cross or using the words red cross on your own articles of commerce and by urging others to do the same.

Even if it helps you to sell a few articles by using this mark on them, is it worth while bringing the red cross into the domain of commercialism, when so many thousand Americans, men and women, in private and in public life—President Taft as well as the smallest worker in the smallest branch—are trying to make the red cross the emblem of the great Red Cross work all over this country, and of that work only?

We forget only too readily what is done in such cases as the San Francisco and the Messina earthquakes, and few recall now the Red Cross work in the Spanish War—fewer still the similar work of the Sanitary Commissions during the Civil War. We pour out money to the associations organized to help those in distress, and we give the Red Cross millions of dollars to distribute. Nobody questions its work; nobody doubts its efficiency; all trust it. Why not then help it as we ask you to do? City officials in New York, and hundreds of individuals have stopped the use of the red cross on ambulances, automobiles, wagons, boxes, packages and all kinds of other articles. They have chosen other emblems suggesting medicine and purity of the articles sold. We urge you to do the same.

Help us, therefore, to make its badge honored and respected, so that it shall stand for nothing but the presence of the ever-ready American Red Cross.

Resolution adopted by the National Association of Retail
Druggists in convention at Louisville, September 6-10, 1909.

WHEREAS, By the terms of the Treaty of Geneva, 1864, and the
revised Treaty of Geneva, 1906, the emblem of the Greek Red
Cross on a white background and the words “Red Cross” or
“Geneva Cross” were adopted to designate the personnel and
materiel of the medical departments of the military and naval
forces and the recognized volunteer aid societies in time of
war, for the humane purpose of rendering them immune from
attack or capture, and

WHEREAS, The United States, as well as all other civilized
powers, is a signatory to said treaties,

_Resolved_, That the National Association of Retail Druggists
request its members to refrain from using this insignia to
designate their places of business.

THE STORY OF THE RED CROSS

V.

SOCIETIES SUGGESTED.

“Why did I write ‘Un Souvenir de Solferino’”? M. Dunant asks himself, and replies:

“That societies, like those suggested, with a permanent existence should be organized so that they could be ready to act the moment war was declared. They should receive official recognition from their respective governments, with permission and facilities for continuing their noble work to the end. Among their officials should be the most honorable and esteemed men. In our century of egotism what an attraction for generous hearts and chivalrous characters to brave the same danger as the soldier, with a voluntary mission of peace and consolation! History proves there is nothing chimerical in counting upon such devotion. Two facts especially confirm this. While the Sisters of Charity cared for the sick and wounded of the French army in the Crimea, the Russian and British armies witnessed the arrival from the north and the west of two legions of noble women nurses. The Grand Duchess, Helene Paulowna, of Russia, widow of the Grand Duke Michael, engaged nearly 300 ladies of St. Petersburg and Moscow, provided them with supplies, and sent them to the hospitals in the Crimea, where these good women were blessed by thousands of the soldiers.

“Miss Florence Nightingale, having received from the Minister of War a pressing appeal to help the sick and wounded English soldiers, left for Scutari in November, 1854, with 27 other women. In 1855 Miss Stanley, with 50 more women, went out. The image of Florence Nightingale, her little lamp in hand, passing at night down the vast wards of the military hospitals and taking note of each of the sick and wounded will never be effaced from the hearts of the men who were the objects of her noble charity, and the story of her work will remain forever engraved in history.

“In many cases of similar devotion, ancient and modern, how many proved of little value because they were isolated and were not supported by the sympathy of others intelligently associated together for a common end? Had trained nurses and hospital orderlies been at Castiglione those terrible days of June 24, 25, and 26, how many human lives would have been saved? The sight of so many brave young soldiers crippled by loss of arm or leg returning disconsolately to their homes must arouse a feeling of remorse that no measures had been taken beforehand to prevent such consequences of wounds which would have healed had proper care been given them at first.

“For the accomplishment of such a work help must be immediate, for he who can save the wounded to-day can not save them to-morrow. Why could not such humane work be organized, permanent, and universal, instead of desultory, temporary, and restricted? It appeals to the men of all countries and all ranks, from the monarch to the workingman, for all may take their part in this good work, from the high-born lady to the simple housewife—all who desire to contribute to their neighbor’s welfare. It appeals to the general, to the marshal, the minister of war, the writer, who by his publications may plead for a cause that interests all humanity.”

Dunant also urged the calling of special conferences to formulate an international treaty for the protection of the sick and wounded and the hospital personnel in time of war.

The result of these reflections was the formation in 1863 of the universal work of the Red Cross, which should not only be useful on the battle field in war time, but also in time of epidemic, floods, fires, and catastrophes generally, and in 1864 the first treaty of Geneva, since accepted by all the civilized countries of the world, was signed.

The Bishop of Orleans pronounced this “a beautiful and Christian idea of M. Dunant’s,” observing that “he who does good is the compatriot of all, and deserves a universal passport.”

TUBERCULOSIS DEPARTMENT

AMERICAN RED CROSS CHRISTMAS STAMPS

_Terms and Conditions Governing their Sale and Disposition of the Proceeds._

Practical experience in the Red Cross Christmas stamp campaign in the season of 1908, and in the distribution of the proceeds from stamp sales, has shown the necessity of certain changes in conditions and methods. The rules which will govern in the sale of stamps and disbursement of proceeds from July 1, 1909, until further notice are as follows:

Rule 1. The American Red Cross will appoint agents to sell the stamps and dispose of the proceeds. The stamps will not be sold to agents but will remain the property of the Red Cross until sold at retail by the agents. Agents will be such State branches and sub-divisions of the Red Cross and such anti-tuberculosis societies or other organizations as may be appointed.

Rule 2. Before entrusting the sale of Christmas stamps to any society, the Red Cross will require satisfactory evidence of the reliability and standing of the society and its ability to creditably carry out the Red Cross purposes in the expenditure of the proceeds from stamp sales.

Every State branch or subdivision and every other society desiring to sell Christmas stamps is required to first submit to the Central Committee a statement of the particular anti-tuberculosis work which it proposes to support or promote with the proceeds from the stamp sales. If the organization desiring to sell stamps intends to expend the money itself, the statement should make plain the exact character of the work proposed to be carried on. If it intends to turn the money over for expenditure to one or more other societies or agencies, the names of such other societies or agencies and the kind of work for which the money will be expended by them should be explicitly stated.

All the information called for in rule 2 should reach the National office of the Red Cross during the summer in order that there may be no delay in the appointment of agents or the forwarding of stamps when the selling period arrives.

Rule 3. The appointment of agents will be for the period ending March 1, 1910. During the term of its appointment an agent shall have the exclusive right to sell Red Cross stamps within the city (including suburbs) in which such agent is situated and the expenditure of the proceeds of the sale of stamps will be under the immediate direction of such agent, in accordance with the general plan approved by the Red Cross.

Rule 4. The American Red Cross will supply Christmas stamps to agents free of charge. It will also supply, free of charge, posters and printed matter intended to assist in the sale of stamps.

Rule 5. When the stamp sale is ended the agent will return all unsold stamps to the National office of the Red Cross. The Red Cross must pay for all stamps printed whether they are sold or not. Unsold stamps returned are a total loss. In view of this all agents are requested to order stamps with the utmost care. It is expected that all orders can be promptly filled. There will, therefore, be no necessity for trying to make a first order large enough to cover all the demands for the entire season. This advice is especially urged upon agents who have not heretofore sold the stamps.

Rule 6. All express charges and all postage required in forwarding shipments of stamps or in returning unsold stamps will be paid by the Red Cross.

Rule 7. Christmas stamps are to be sold at the uniform price of one cent each. The stamps will be printed in sheets of 100 each and shipped in packages of 10,000 stamps or multiples of 10,000. No broken packages will be shipped. Stamp books will not be issued in 1909.

Rule 8. In ordering stamps as Christmas approaches, it is important to consider the congested condition of business with the express companies and post offices, and the distance which the shipment must travel. By careful forethought it will usually be found possible to estimate needs early enough for orders to be filled in good time. The Red Cross will respond promptly, but cannot prevent express and postal delays.

Rule 9. On or before February 1, 1910, every agent which has sold Red Cross Christmas stamps shall pay to the American Red Cross an amount of money equal to one-third of the face value of all stamps sold by such agent. Any expenses incidental to the sale incurred by the agent will be paid from the two-thirds retained by the agent and the remainder will be applied to local anti-tuberculosis work in accordance with the plans previously approved by the Red Cross.

Societies which sold Red Cross Christmas stamps in 1908 will note that the plan of selling stamps and disposing of the proceeds described above marks a considerable departure from the plan of last year.

This change is the result of careful thought and is believed to be in the direction of better business method and greater justice to all concerned. It seems eminently fair that the important direct work of the Red Cross should in some measure profit from the sale of stamps. The loyal and generous support which the American people have given to the Red Cross leads to the belief that the buyers of stamps will be pleased to know that a portion of the money comes direct to its great work.

In making the societies which sell the stamps its agents the Red Cross is giving them certain concessions which are extremely important. They will require no cash capital or initial expenditures. The provisions for a free supply of posters and printed matter and the payment of express and postal charges by the Central Committee will assure every agent against loss. If all the work of selling stamps is carried on by volunteers, there will be no expense to the agents connected with the campaign. In any event the necessary expenses will be trifling and there is no risk of loss involved in undertaking the agency for the stamps.

The total cost to the National office of the Red Cross of printing and handling of Christmas stamps in 1908 was about $13,000. This amount was repaid from the proceeds of the wholesale price at which the Stamps were sold to agents. In 1909, under the proposal set forth in the rules above, the expenditures by the National office of the Red Cross will include not only the printing and handling of the stamps but the printing and distribution of posters, circulars, etc., and the payment of all express and postal charges upon shipments of stamps and other supplies. Instead of charging these expenses directly to the agents, as in 1908, they will be covered by the one-third share of the proceeds of stamp sales reserved by the Red Cross, as described in rule 9 above.

With a double incentive to the purchase of stamps on the part of the public, an absolute absence of risk or initial expense on the part of agents, and the great favor of the public established last year, the campaign for the Christmas season of 1909 should bring a generous return to all concerned.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

By Miss I. L. STRONG.

The second season of the Red Cross Day Camp for Tuberculosis began the first of April. Several improvements were made on last year’s camp. We now have two visiting physicians, Dr. Norcross and Dr. Lawson; a caretaker in charge (who is also “taking the cure”), two large tents loaned by the War Department, and our own kitchen and cook. One of the instructive visiting nurses is both Superintendent and nurse. The patients are ambulatory cases in the first and second stages. A few advanced cases have been admitted, but most of these have been referred to the hospital. The Camp draws its patients largely from the dispensaries.