At the annual meeting of the California Red Cross, resolutions of
congratulations on his election as President of the United States were
passed and telegraphed to the Hon. William H. Taft, President of the
American Red Cross. Dr. G. H. Richardson, of the Army Medical Service,
spoke of the purpose of organizing in the Branch Relief Columns or a
California Legion of these columns. He said in part:
“Let us at all times be prepared for the work that the Red Cross must do,
either in time of war, or during the periods of peace. The purpose of
the Red Cross is more far reaching than the general public have any idea
of, and we must have a trained body of men in readiness at all times. We
have had wars, and they have found us only partly prepared. The disasters
throughout the country and the delays that have ensued would not have
occurred if we had had a trained force of men to take the field at once.
We should have our nurses where they can be reached at any moment, no
matter what the call for their services may be.
“Let us have an instructed body which will be able to cope with anything
that may arise.”
Report of formation of detachments of the Grand Legion of the Red Cross
in California. (Revised to Dec. 1st.)
The State Field Agent of the California Branch, working in connection
with Dr. W. S. Thorne, the Medical Director of the Legion, and assisted
by the Secretary of the Legion, has begun his official work of Legion
formation. Although the work has been begun without a Board of
Administrative Affairs that body will be formed immediately and what has
been accomplished submitted to its authority and approval. It is believed
this work will strengthen reflexly the California Branch, which has
languished somewhat for want of something to do.
The work has been undertaken in the universal, international, and
creedless spirit of the Red Cross. The organizations already in line
and to whom lectures will be given the first week in December are the
Sailors Union, the Masters, Mates and Pilots, the Columbia Park Boy’s
Club, and the two (!) Chinese detachments of the Chinese Native Sons. The
detachments in process of formation are the California Grays, the Young
Men’s Hebrew Institute, the Telegraph Hill Neighborhood Association, the
First Unitarian Church young men and the Emporium, a large department
store. The League of the Cross, an efficient Roman Catholic semi-military
society, is also forming a detachment in place of its hospital corps.
The First Aid and Relief Column is popular with Jew and Gentile, Buddhist
and Confucian, Catholic and Protestant. Truly we have an International
Red Cross in miniature in San Francisco. It broadens and enlarges one’s
humanity to talk to them.
At one time it is the bluff, dominating toiler of the sea, jealous of
his authority even over his medicine chest, which in inexperienced hands
ignorant of First Aid, is a dangerous expedient at best. Often not a
single man in the ship’s company knows the properties of the medicines.
In England every master, mate and second mate must pass in First Aid
before he gets his license.
At another it is the Chinese Native Son’s silent, dignified, slow to
smile, yet courteous, listening to the interpreter with unfathomable
receptivity.
Again the Japanese, restless, inquiring, keen, proud of Nippon, eager,
even greedy to learn.
Then the Jewish young man, reliable, loyal to liberty, patriotic as the
Spanish-American war proved. The Labor Unions are interested, and we
believe the idea will prove rational in the Police and Fire Department
and public schools.
Much educational propaganda is needed. There is much potential sympathy
which needs only to be cultivated. The Legion will naturally in time
become interested in great health movements through its lectures and by
its co-ordinated strength really become a force for national health.
Respectfully submitted,
WM. LATHROP McCLURE,
Secretary Grand Legion of Red Cross, California Branch.