CALIFORNIA.
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.