On February 8th, 1905, on call of the Secretary of War, the Incorporators
of the re-incorporated American National Red Cross held their first
meeting for re-organization in the diplomatic reception room of the State
Department. At this meeting William Howard Taft was elected the first
president of the re-organized Society. At each of the four subsequent
annual meetings Mr. Taft has presided, save in 1907, when absence in the
Philippines prevented his attendance, and at each of those meetings has
been re-elected president.
The active duties of the Society are delegated by its Charter to a
Central Committee, the Chairman being appointed by the President of the
United States; therefore, the duties devolving upon the President of
the Society are supposedly of an honorary nature, but with a man of Mr.
Taft’s character, duty becomes honorable rather than honorary.
Shortly after its re-organization and while in its very infancy, there
came upon the Society the storm and stress of the San Francisco disaster.
A great pressure of work fell also upon the War Department, but in spite
of this, and, though no by-law required his presence, Mr. Taft came
to the meetings of the Executive Committee, listened to the reports,
counseled and advised, and by his wisdom and clear judgment brought order
and result out of confusion and indecision. Whenever and however he could
be of help, he has given his assistance gladly, and only those who have
struggled through the problems of its re-organization can know the pillar
of strength he has been to the American Red Cross.
Since Mr. Taft’s nomination and election to the Presidency of the United
States, so much has been written of his life and his achievements, it has
not seemed necessary to repeat it here. The people of this country have
set the seal of their approval upon the labors of his past. The wonderful
fidelity of his work for the far-away Philippines has led his country-men
to paraphrase scripture—“Thou hast been faithful over a few people; I
will make thee ruler over many people.”
In spite of the great and many new duties that the Presidency of the
United States will bring upon Mr. Taft, he consented again to be elected
president of the American Red Cross. Moreover, he declined an election
to honorary membership, saying that he desired to consider himself an
active member of the Society. In thus continuing as president of the Red
Cross, the official organization for volunteer aid, Mr. Taft, who as
President, becomes Chief of the Army and Navy, will be able to bring into
close association these departments and the Red Cross, so that in case of
the misfortune of war or of great calamities, harmonious and systematic
relief work will result.
With such a man for President as William Howard Taft, the American Red
Cross must live up to the thought he has, himself, expressed:
“I say to you that there are rewards that are unknown to him who seeks
only what he regards as the substantial ones. The best of all is the pure
joy of service—to do things that are worth doing, to be in the thick of
it; ah! That is to live!”
[Illustration: ROBERT W. DE FOREST, VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN RED
CROSS.]