With its January issue the RED CROSS BULLETIN begins its fourth year. The
fact that it is becoming of more general interest has led those in charge
of the publication to increase its size that it may conform more to the
appearance of other magazines. A new cover, symbolical of Red Cross work,
will be provided for the April issue. As the expense of publishing the
BULLETIN has been a heavy drain upon the limited income of the Society,
it has also been decided to accept advertisements, so that the BULLETIN
may in part pay for itself.
That, though elected President of the United States, Mr. Taft consented
to be re-elected President of the American Red Cross is a fact upon
which the Society is to be not only heartily congratulated, but for
which it is most deeply grateful; that, while assuming the great duties
and responsibilities of the highest office in the government, Mr. Taft
still desires to associate himself in an active way with the American
Red Cross is but another proof of his constant desire to be of service
to his country and also testifies to his belief in the usefulness of the
Society. The Red Cross has also been most fortunate in obtaining the
consent of Mr. Robert W. de Forest to act as the Vice-President.
This issue contains reports and illustrations of the last two fields of
Red Cross relief. A short sketch of the Russian Red Cross has kindly been
prepared by a member of the Russian Embassy in Washington.
The complete story of the Red Cross Christmas stamp can be told only in
the April BULLETIN. Its remarkable success is a great satisfaction.
We trust our members will read the officer’s reports, the articles on
the Endowment Fund and the First-Aid Text-Books. The next problem that
our National Society has to meet, and must meet successfully, for it is
still young enough to have no such word as “Fail” in its lexicon, is the
raising of such an Endowment Fund as will put our Society on a permanent
basis and make it the equal of the great societies of the other countries
of the world.
The First-Aid Text-Book cannot be too highly commended. We know too
little what to do in case of accidents. When statistics show that one
person out of every seven of the inhabitants of the United States is
injured annually, and that in New York alone during the last three
years the annual average of accidents on the surface, elevated and
subway traction system has been 34,000, the necessity of the valuable
information and instruction this book contains should be realized by
everyone. Mr. William E. Curtis has kindly written for the BULLETIN
a review of the Text-Book, and a further notice in regard to it is
contained in the advertising department.
Just as the BULLETIN goes to press the Executive Committee learned,
through press reports and official channels, of the occurrence of an
earthquake in Southern Italy of unprecedented severity, and started its
relief machinery into motion by telegraphing the Red Cross Branches and
the Governors of several States, requesting that an appeal be issued and
contributions received for the relief of the sufferers. Reports of the
work of relief and a financial statement will be printed in the April
BULLETIN.
[Illustration: HON. WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT, PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN RED
CROSS, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, MARCH 4, 1909.]