The American National Red Cross Bulletin (Vol. 1, No. 3)

The American

National Red Cross

Chartered by Congress January 5, 1905

Bulletin No. 3

Issued by the Central Committee, July, 1906

Office of the Corporation

ROOM 431 WAR DEPARTMENT

Washington, D.C.

CONTENTS

THE AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS

OFFICERS

President,

HON. WILLIAM H. TAFT.

Treasurer,

HON. CHARLES HALLAM KEEP.

Counselor,

HON. JAMES C. McREYNOLDS.

Secretary,

CHARLES L. MAGEE.

Chairman of Central Committee,

BRIGADIER-GENERAL ROBERT M. O’REILLY,

Surgeon-General, U. S. Army.

BOARD OF CONSULTATION

BRIGADIER-GENERAL ROBERT M. O’REILLY,

Surgeon-General, U. S. Army.

SURGEON-GENERAL PRESLEY M. RIXEY,

U. S. Navy.

SURGEON-GENERAL WALTER WYMAN,

U. S. Public Health and Marine Hospital Service.

CENTRAL COMMITTEE, 1905-1906

Brigadier-General Robert M. O’Reilly, Surgeon-General U. S. Army, War Department, Washington, D. C.

Hon. Robert Bacon, Assistant Secretary of State, Department of State, Washington, D. C.

Major Jefferson R. Kean, Assistant Surgeon-General, U. S. Army, Washington, D. C.

Medical Director John C. Boyd, U. S. Navy, U. S. Naval Museum of Hygiene and Medical School, Washington, D. C.

Hon. James C. McReynolds, Assistant Attorney-General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C.

Hon. Charles Hallam Keep, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, Treasury Department, Washington, D. C.

Judge W. W. Morrow, San Francisco, Cal.

Mr. Samuel Mather, Western Reserve Building, Cleveland, Ohio.

Miss Mabel T. Boardman, Room 341 War Dept., Washington, D. C.

Hon. James R. Garfield, Commissioner of Corporations, Department of Commerce and Labor, Washington, D. C.

Hon. A. C. Kaufman, Charleston, S. C.

Mr. Charles G. Washburn, Worcester, Mass.

John C. Pegram, Providence, R. I.

General Charles Bird, Wilmington, Del.

Col. William Cary Sanger, Sangerfield, N. Y.

Judge Lambert Tree, 70 La Salle St., Chicago, Ill.

James Tanner, Commander-in-Chief, Grand Army of the Republic, Washington, D. C.

Surgeon-General Walter Wyman, U. S. Public Health and Marine Hospital Service, Treasury Department, Washington, D. C.

PREFACE

A little more than a year ago the American National Red Cross, just reorganized, consisted only of its sixty-five incorporators. Since then it has not only organized Branches in twenty-six States and Territories, but it has justified the claim that there is need for such an organization in times of peace as well as war “to continue and carry on a system of national and international relief in time of peace and apply the same in mitigating the sufferings caused by pestilence, famine, fire, floods and other great national calamities,” as stated in its charter, by the assistance it has rendered after the typhoon of September 26, 1905, in the Philippines, in the relief of the famine sufferers in Japan, to a limited extent by the contributions sent for the victims of the Vesuvius eruption, and lastly by its relief work after the great calamity that has befallen San Francisco and its vicinity. Reports in regard to some of this relief work are contained in this third Bulletin.

The Central Committee proposes later to issue to the officers of Branches a circular letter recommending the appointment in all cities and towns of Emergency Relief Committees consisting of representative citizens, and of which the Mayor should be ex-officio chairman, which will be called into active service only at times of great national calamities.

A translation is given in this Bulletin of the invitation extended through the International Committee of Geneva by the British Red Cross to all other Red Cross Societies to attend a Red Cross Congress to be held in London, June, 1907.

The European Red Cross Societies have tens and hundreds of thousands of members, and the Japanese has a membership of 1,035,000. The United States, so long delayed in the creating of a great national Red Cross, must make up for lost time by its activity and energy. To increase the membership of the American Red Cross and thereby its efficiency and strength the individual personal efforts of its members must be depended upon. A national pride should be felt in the American Red Cross, and all Americans, men, women and even children, who are able to pay the dollar a year dues or twenty-five dollars for life-membership, should become members of our National Red Cross. Application blanks will be found in each Bulletin with the addresses of the Branch Secretaries to whom such applications can be sent.

JAPANESE FAMINE FUND

The American National Red Cross has forwarded to the Japanese Red Cross for the famine stricken provinces in northern Japan a total of $265,855.67, of which $200,000.00 was received from the Christian Herald; being contributions made to that paper. A list of the contributions received from the Christian Herald from the Red Cross Branch Treasurers and those made directly to the National Treasurer from the different States is contained in this Bulletin.

On March 31st when $100,000 had been received by the Japanese Red Cross the following letter was sent to the American National Red Cross:

Tokyo, March 31, 1906.

Miss Mabel T. Boardman, The American National Red Cross Society, Washington, D.C.

Dear Madam:

We have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your esteemed favor under date of the 22d, February.

A generous appeal for our famine sufferers in northeastern provinces in Japan done by your President Roosevelt, whose sympathy with Japan and her people we have highly appreciated has echoed to our shore, when our own people have been throwing their effort in relieving the distressed, whose conditions are beyond imagination terrible. From the date when you mailed the letter up to this day the monies you sent to us in cable remittances amount to $100,000.00 in gold, which we lost no time, in compliance with your desire and under the direction of our Government, in distributing to relieve the immediate necessities of the most needy sufferers by forwarding a certain amount of money to each President of our Red Cross Branches in those provinces, who are Governors and, at the same time, we have had them conveyed to the sufferers all the kindness, good-will and sympathy that have ever been extended to us by the American people.

For the time being, we take pleasure in sending you an account of the monies thus distributed to this date and will submit you a more accurate account of the relief work later on.

We shall be greatly obliged to you if you kindly send us a list of those donors’ names and addresses, who have contributed over $5.00.

Thanking you for your effort in collecting donations and for the practical sympathy extended by your President, we are,

Yours obediently,

S. HIRAYAMA,
The Red Cross Society of Japan.

The above letter enclosed the following financial statement:

ACCOUNT OF FAMINE FUND RECEIVED AND DISTRIBUTED TO DATE

March 31, 1906.

The Red Cross Society of Japan.

In concluding a report made to the State Department in April on the famine conditions Mr. Huntington Wilson, Charge d’Affaires, says:

“Americans may well feel pride in the splendid work done by the foreign committee at Sendai of which the great majority, Dr. DeForest, Mr. W. E. Lampe, the Rev. C. S. Davidson, Mr. M. B. Madden, and Mr. William Axling, are citizens of the United States. The work of these men, and the donations from the United States collected by the Christian Herald and through the Red Cross Society, are like the President’s humanitarian appeal, highly appreciated in Japan.

“While the prompt assistance rendered has doubtless been of great value in alleviating suffering, and as a fine example of humanitarianism there is no doubt that the Japanese Government and people can now themselves readily cope with the needs of the final months of the famine.”

As the American people were ready and glad to aid Japan in the day of her trouble so promptly has she turned to our help when calamity came to us in the disaster in California and as will be noted in the report of the work done there the Japanese Red Cross has sent to the American National Red Cross one hundred and ten thousand dollars ($110,000.00) for the California sufferers, and for this generous contribution the American people and especially those of California are most grateful and appreciative.

On May 25th the following letter was received from the Japanese Ambassador:

Dear Miss Boardman:

I take pleasure in informing you that I have been advised from my home Government to the effect that the condition of the famine stricken people in the Northern Provinces of Japan, towards the relief of whom generous contributions from foreign sympathizers have been received, has now improved to such a favorable extent as to allow them to announce that, with the harvest of the coming summer crop, there will be no more need of receiving outside contributions.

Yours sincerely,

VISCOUNT S. AOKI.

Baron Ozawa’s report on the famine conditions in northern Japan sent to the American National Red Cross is given in full in this Bulletin.

TABULATED STATEMENT OF THE JAPANESE FAMINE FUND

Up to and inclusive of the date of the last remittance to the Japanese Red Cross, June 5, 1906.

* These were the only States having organized Red Cross Branches at the time the appeal was issued.

Note.—Since the above table was compiled the Treasurer has received from the South Carolina Branch, a remittance of $59.24, and from the Connecticut Branch a remittance of $27.50; also a few small miscellaneous contributions, amounting in all to less than $100.00.

Note.—Of the amount contributed by the State of Pennsylvania, $5000.00 was given by the Citizens’ Permanent Relief Committee of Philadelphia.

Note.—The amount contributed by the Connecticut Branch includes $1755.03 collected by the Hartford Courant.

THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE FAMINE-STRICKEN DISTRICTS IN THE NORTHERN PART OF JAPAN

BARON T. OZAWA, Vice-President

The Red Cross Society of Japan

To the American National Red Cross:

Having been fully occupied in looking after all the affairs relative to the relief work of the late war-victims, some of whom are still left behind in our hospitals, I could spare no time otherwise up to this very day, when, nevertheless, I found a few days to be squeezed out in order to have realized my earnest desire of inspecting the present conditions of the famine stricken districts in the Northern Provinces in Japan and, besides, it was a proper time to be had for that purpose. Leaving Tokyo on the 13th instant by a night train, in company with our Mr. Masatake Togo, Honorary Secretary, and Mr. Kow Isobe, one of our clerks, and arriving at Fukushima at 4 o’clock in the next morning, I started for another journey escorted by Gov. Arita, President of the Fukushima Red Cross Branch, and several other officers, and visited as many counties, towns, and villages as possible meeting, at the same time, their head men and officials, and dropping, once in a while, into the huts of suffering peasants and telling them, upon every opportunity, how generous and sympathetic President Roosevelt, members of the American National Red Cross Society, proprietor of Christian Herald and its readers had been in practically rescuing the famine stricken people from the verge of starvation.

Before distributing the money, which you sent to us, however, we had very carefully investigated the best methods, by which no peasant there should laze away his time simply relying upon such helps. With this in view, we instructed each Branch of our Society at those districts to provide the poorest with foodstuffs.

An official instruction, No. 146, given by the Governor of Fukushima Ken (Prefecture) on the 10th of March, 1906, to the head men of counties, towns, and villages may be of interest to you. It runs as follows:

“The President of the United States has extended his sympathy to Japan so deeply that he appealed to Americans in behalf of our famine stricken provinces to raise a Relief Fund. As a result, we have now received a certain amount of money as a part of contributions from America which reached here through the channels of the Red Cross Society of Japan, the Department of Home Affairs and the American National Red Cross Society. I wish you would convey to your sufferers the kindness and sympathy so practically shown to them by Americans. This money should only be used to provide the sufferers with food....”

The amount of money we sent to Fukushima Prefecture was up to the 13th of April distributed among counties as follows:

THE AMOUNT OF MONEY DISTRIBUTED AMONG COUNTIES OUT OF AMERICAN CONTRIBUTIONS.

The methods of helping that have been adopted by proper authorities in co-operation with local officers of the Red Cross Society of Japan are in general similar with those in other two Prefectures, and are applied quite scientifically, if I could use such an expression. In classifying the sufferers, for instance, the authorities have carefully inspected every family in order to find to what extent and how its members should be helped. The following is an example given to me by the President of Iwate Red Cross Branch:

Thus, persons, men or women, who are quite unable to work, are fed and clothed with contributions that have been made at home and abroad towards the sufferers, whilst those who are able to work outside of the house, are furnished by the local Governments, for measures of relief, with wage-earning works such as those in rearranging public roads, paddy fields, in opening new fields for mulberry trees, and those in the house with materials for straw-works, bamboo-works, fishing-net-works, etc., which are bought up afterward by the authorities dearer than ordinary prices. Besides, to those sufferers, who own themselves even a little bit of land or who are tenants, are furnished with seeds of various kinds of vegetables without charges whatever. The wages they earn in these ways run from 12 sen (6 cents) to 30 sen (15 cents) per day in accordance with the degree of their laboring power.

Foodstuffs, which we purchased with the money you sent to us, consist mostly of imported rice, wheat and flour.

The number of sufferers or paupers in Fukushima Prefecture is altogether 174,573, out of which 86,196 persons are helped in such a manner as to be furnished with manual labor and 88,377 directly with foods, which had been partly purchased by the authorities with the money contributed from individuals to the amount of Yen 235,322.00 up to the end of March and partly sent by them in the form of provisions in a good quantity.

In Iwate Prefecture, there are 78,588 sufferers, out of whom 35,211 are altogether helped being totally unable to work. The total amount of money, which we sent to this district out of your contributions, is up to the 22d instant, Yen 58,276.37. Foodstuffs, worth Yen 24,619.08, had already been distributed among the sufferers and at present some more foods are being purchased. The total amount of money that has been contributed by the natives and expended is to the same date Yen 147,933.60.

In Miyagi Prefecture, there are 475,135 persons, who have needed help either directly or indirectly. Those who have been furnished with foodstuffs number 51,058 and those with the manual labor number 424,077. The total amount of money, which we sent to this district out of your contributions is up to the 15th instant Yen 100,464.78 and that consisting of donations made at home is Yen 448,892.70.

It may well be to state that, in consequence of the famine, there have been established several societies in aid of the sufferers in these three districts. The Ladies’ Relief Society in Fukushima, for instance, has ever been collecting new and old clothes and distributed them among the sufferers. The Society for the Protection of School Children, which was established under the auspices of the authorities in each Prefecture of those districts since the number of pupils had been found to be daily decreasing, has done a great deal of work in helping and brightening them. At present, as a result, the number of pupils who every day go to school is figured out, on the average to be 95 per 100, whereas before the famine, its percentage was about 85. All the text books, pencils, pens and other necessities have now been pouring into their hands from such children as are under different circumstances entirely. Such articles, being in general second-handed, are disinfected thoroughly before distributing them.

Thus the authorities have been taking much precaution against epidemic that may likely spring up in the coming Summer as often should be the case with famine. As the sufferers’ huts are apt to become more filthy and unhealthy than used to be, policemen are frequently sent to such houses for inspection. Moreover, on those who keep their own houses clean are at present conferred prizes in the shape of money.

School-children, in addition, get free luncheons at the school, which are served by the Society for the Protection of School-children. “I am very hungry. Oh no! I am not hungry” is a spirit of Bushidoism or Samurai. It may be of interest to state here that there had been at first some children, who refused free luncheons notwithstanding they ate nothing for more than two days and some fathers and mothers who refused gifts from others.

In order to encourage the education of children in these districts, the Central Government made allowance of Yen 300,000 for them, Yen 120,000 for Miyagi Ken (Prefecture), Yen 110,000 for Fukushima and Yen 70,000 for Iwate Ken being respectively assigned.

The following, however, is the other side of society indispensably resulted from the famine:

CRIMINALS.

In Sendai City, at the beginning of the famine, all rice dealers constituted a trust in order to enhance the market price of rice. Mayor Hayakawa determinedly imported rice from Tokyo at his own risk to the amount of about 102,600 bushels to check the trust, which was, in consequence, almost panic-stricken and had to bring down the price lower than before. Currency being scarce at the time in this district, he issued temporary notes to be used for paying wages only on public works. These notes could be exchanged for foods only, not for wine or liquor nor for tobacco, and are even to-day in circulation among wage-earning people there. I enclose herewith their samples.

Speaking generally, all sufferers have now been rescued from starvation throughout these three famine stricken districts. It is not any exaggeration to say that many lives have been saved through the generosity of American people, and that every peasant, rich and poor, or wise and ignorant, has more than highly appreciated the kindness and sympathy you have extended to him so practically.

In Sendai City, at my request, Hon. Kamei, President of Miyagi Red Cross Branch, introduced me to foreign missionaries living there, whose names, it gives me great pleasure to mention here, were:

Mr. W. E. Lampe, Mr. C. S. Davison, Mr. C. Jacquet, Dr. J. H. DeForest, Mr. M. B. Madden.

I dined with them and enjoyed the party to a full extent. Scarcely need be said that these missionaries have played a great part especially by this critical time in helping the sufferers. I have no doubt that the former’s effort in enlightening, in addition, the latter in every respect together with all classes of people must have been and will be more than the whole Japan can repay.

At the close of this statement, I take great pleasure in adding that all foodstuffs purchased with your contributions have been distributed among the sufferers separately from others stating at each time to the effect that those articles were the gifts of American people, to whom the President Roosevelt and Christian Herald appealed for the alleviation in behalf of the famine stricken districts. All the head men of counties, towns and villages whom I met while on my trip requested me to convey to you their heartfelt gratitude for all the kindness you have tendered them. Enclosed is one of the letters of thanks, which has been addressed and forwarded to our Count Matsukata from the representatives of the sufferers, asking him to convey to you their highest appreciation.

Thanking you in anticipation for your kindness in reading this report, which I now have the honor to submit to you.

I remain to be, dear sirs,

Yours obediently,

BARON T. OSAWA,
Vice-President, Red Cross Society of Japan.

Meiji 39th year, 4th month ....day.

The American Red Cross Society,

Your Society having felt pity at the distressed condition of the people occasioned by the famine last year in this district, has expressed deep sympathy and collected extensive contributions for the purpose of affording relief, to be distributed through the proper authorities.

We immediately bought rice with the money and distributed it among the poor people of this village, fully explaining the philanthropic spirit in which you sent it. The people, who were in extreme poverty and could not follow their occupations, were deeply impressed by your kindness, and felt ashamed at their lazy habit, swearing that they would rise and exert themselves in future. They received the gift with tears of gratitude and bowed heads.

I hereby have the honor to express the sentiments of gratitude on behalf of the people of this village.

It is desired that your Society will kindly communicate the foregoing to the President.

Village of Niita, Adachi county, Fukushima district, Japan.

(Seal) SHOZO YENDO,
Village Magistrate.

THE VESUVIAN RELIEF FUND

The reports contained in the press of the suffering, and privation caused by the eruption of Vesuvius determined the Executive Committee of the Red Cross to issue an appeal to the public for the unfortunate victims of this calamity. Therefore, on April 12th the Secretary of the National Red Cross sent to all the Secretaries of the State Branches the following telegram:

“Please announce in press Red Cross will forward contributions to Italian Red Cross for Vesuvian disaster. Name local Treasurer.”

The work of securing contributions for this purpose had only just begun when there occurred the great calamity caused by earthquake and fire in California so that all the energies of the American people were turned to render aid to their unfortunate countrymen at home, and thus only a small amount was secured to be forwarded to the Italian Red Cross for the relief of the Vesuvian victims.

The Secretary and Treasurer of the Berkshire Division of the Massachusetts Red Cross Branch received the following letter from Italians resident in Pittsfield:

Pittsfield, Mass., April 30, 1906.

Dr. Alfreda B. Withington,

Madam:—Enclosed you will find check for $80.75 in behalf of the suffering Italians who are victims of the Mt. Vesuvius eruption. We all have the best of respect for the American Red Cross Society, and have only thanks to offer you as their treasurer of the Berkshire Division for the interest this division has thankfully offered their aid to our people. If this collection had been made when all were working the cash amount would have been larger, but under the fact that all laborers have not been employed during the winter, they responded to the call for aid the best they could. Your committee wishes to thank you personally for your efforts for suffering humanity.

Signed,

JOHN SUTTY,
JAMES LIBIZZI,
ANTONIO CHIODE,
JOHN F. COSTER,
Committee.

Thus at the time of any great foreign calamity the natives of the country in which the disaster has occurred and now residents of the United States may feel that the American National Red Cross provides a medium through which all contributions they may desire to make for the benefit of the sufferers from such calamity, can be forwarded to the Red Cross of their former country for administration without any expense to the contributors.

The following are copies of telegrams sent by the Department of State transmitting to the Italian Red Cross the contributions received by the American Red Cross for the relief of the sufferers in the vicinity of Mount Vesuvius:

May 7, 1906.

Am. Embassy, Rome:

Six thousand three hundred dollars received from American Red Cross for transfer Italian Red Cross, account relief sufferers vicinity Mount Vesuvius, being contribution citizens Boston and Massachusetts. Draw Secretary State, forward receipt Italian Red Cross to Department.

BACON, Acting.

June 6, 1906.

Am. Embassy, Rome:

Eleven hundred fifty-one dollars additional received from American Red Cross for transfer Italian Red Cross account relief sufferers eruption Mount Vesuvius. Draw Secretary State, pay as before and forward receipt Italian Red Cross.

BACON, Acting.

June 18, 1906.

Am. Embassy, Rome:

Fourteen hundred twenty-seven dollars twenty cents additional received from American Red Cross for transfer Italian Red Cross, account relief sufferers from Vesuvius disaster. Draw Secretary State, pay as before and forward receipt Italian Red Cross.

BACON, Acting.

June 19, 1906.

Am. Embassy, Rome:

Twenty-two hundred fifty-two dollars sixty-two cents additional received from American Red Cross for transfer Italian Red Cross, account sufferers Vesuvius disaster. Draw Secretary State and pay as before.

BACON, Acting.

TABULATED STATEMENT OF THE VESUVIAN FUND

Note.—The entire amount for this fund from Ohio was collected by the Cincinnati Sub-division.

CALIFORNIA RELIEF

On the morning of Wednesday, April 18th, before ten o’clock, the news of the earthquake in California was received at Red Cross Headquarters from the War Department. Immediately the following telegram was sent to Judge Morrow, President of the California Red Cross Branch, and a meeting of the Executive Committee was called for that afternoon:

Washington, April 18, 1906.

Judge W. W. Morrow, President of California Red Cross, U. S. Circuit Court, San Francisco, Cal.:

Have just been advised of disaster. Can Red Cross be of assistance?

CHAS. L. MAGEE, Secretary.

Somewhat later in the day the following telegrams were sent to Judge Morrow, the Honorable Horace Davis, Treasurer of the California Red Cross, and to the Mayor of San Francisco:

Washington, April 18, 1906.

National Red Cross ready to aid San Francisco. Please confer with Mayor as to best means of assistance. Reply care of War Department.

CHAS. L. MAGEE, Secretary.

Washington, April 18, 1906.

To the Mayor of San Francisco:

National Red Cross ready to aid San Francisco. How can most effective service be rendered? Please confer with Judge Morrow and Hon. Horace Davis of California Red Cross. Reply care of War Department.

CHAS. L. MAGEE, Secretary.

As it was found impossible to obtain a prompt reply to these dispatches because of the condition of the telegraph service, it was decided at the Executive Committee meeting to send to the Secretaries of the Red Cross Branches the following telegram:

Washington, April 18, 1906.

Make Red Cross appeal for San Francisco. Name local Treasurer.

CHAS. L. MAGEE, Secretary.

On Thursday, April 19th, no word having been received from any of the officers of the California Branch, the Hon. William H. Taft, President of the Red Cross, appointed as special Red Cross Agent, Dr. Edward T. Devine of New York, who had had experience in such relief work at Johnstown and Baltimore. Dr. Devine being instructed to proceed immediately to San Francisco, started Thursday afternoon. General Funston, Judge Morrow and Mayor Schmitz were sent telegraphic notice of his appointment.

Judge Morrow reported by letter later that directly after the disaster he sent several dispatches to the National Red Cross, none of which were ever received.

A large number of telegrams were received at Red Cross Headquarters asking to whom car-loads of provisions donated for San Francisco were to be consigned. Before Dr. Devine had started instructions were returned to ship such supplies to General Funston. As soon as Dr. Devine had started all further contributions of supplies of which the Red Cross was notified were consigned to him as Special Red Cross Agent. A report of these contributions will be given in a later Bulletin when a fall report of contributions of money, food, clothing and other supplies received by the Red Cross will be made.

April 25th, Dr. Devine telegraphed to the Red Cross that a consolidation of the Finance Committee with the California Red Cross Branch had been effected, which was entirely satisfactory to Judge Morrow, President of the Branch. The new committee was called the “Finance Committee of Relief and Red Cross,” Mr. James D. Phelan being chairman. There was great local desire to have this consolidation recognized. An immediate reply was sent as follows:

Dr. Edward T. Devine, Red Cross Agent, San Francisco, Cal.:

Executive Committee gladly recognizes Committee of Relief and Red Cross. Will forward funds to credit of James D. Phelan. Law requires Red Cross accounts to be audited by the War Department. Please keep accounts so that this may be done.

ROBERT M. O’REILLY,
Chairman Red Cross Central Committee.

On April 23d, the following telegram was sent to the Secretaries of the Red Cross Branches:

Washington, April 23, 1906.

Appoint Committee of women to collect, sort, pack summer clothing, blankets, linen, etc., to await further orders for shipment.

CHAS. L. MAGEE, Secretary.

This was succeeded on April 24th by the following instructions:

Washington, April 24, 1906.

Sort and pack contributions of clothing. Ship to Dr. Edward T. Devine, Red Cross, San Francisco. Indicate as far as possible on outside nature and contents of each box. Wire Dr. Devine of shipment. Report Red Cross Headquarters by letter amount and character of shipment.

CHAS. L. MAGEE, Secretary.

On April 19th a request was made by the Maryland Red Cross to have a contribution of $5,000 immediately forwarded to San Francisco. As even the U. S. Treasury Department was as yet unable to get into communication with the United States Mint there was no way of transmitting these funds, and the President of the Red Cross telegraphed to General Funston to inquire if relief funds would be of use there and received word that such funds were not then required. The business portion of the city had been so largely destroyed by fire there was nothing to be purchased in the way of supplies.

Very shortly after the relief work for California began, the Western Union Telegraph Company, the Postal Telegraph Company and the Long Distance Telephone Company gave to the Red Cross the free use of their wires for all communications connected with this relief work. The railroads and express companies throughout the country were most generous in providing for the free transportation of supplies of various kinds that the Red Cross Branches received for California. A more complete acknowledgment of this will be made later when fuller data are obtained from the reports of the Branch Societies.

The response made throughout the country to the appeal for the sufferers from the great disaster was most generous and sympathetic, finding expression in the children’s pennies as well as the checks for thousands of dollars, and many interesting incidents were reported in the letters from the State Branches. A Chicago letter says: “Little girls are even bringing in dolls and dolls’ dresses for the little girls in San Francisco who have lost theirs in the fire. Some of the incidents occurring in the Armory where the ladies are receiving, packing and sending off clothing, are most touching. Yesterday a boy about eleven or twelve years of age came in, sat down on the floor and pulled off his shoes. He was asked what he meant by doing that and he said: ‘Well you see it is nearly summer time now and I can go bare-footed, so you can just take them shoes and send them to one of them boys who is getting his feet burned in them hot streets.’ It was with difficulty the little fellow could be persuaded to put on his shoes again and go away.” In many cases garments were brought in the giving away of which must have meant serious deprivation to the givers and yet there was evident joy at the opportunity of helping those even more unfortunate.

Only a brief general statement can be made in this Bulletin of the contributions from the various Branches for San Francisco, the more detailed report will be given later when the returns are all received. In this Bulletin the receipts from the Branches for the Japanese Famine Fund and for the Vesuvian Relief are reported.

The prompt sympathy that was shown outside our own country for the California sufferers manifested itself in several cases by generous appropriations by foreign governments and by contributions from firms and individuals. These were generally sent to the State Department. As the President felt that the liberality of our own people would meet the required aid and, moreover, if accepted by the Government from one country others might feel a necessity of also making relief appropriations, it seemed wise to decline with most sincere expressions of thanks such contributions.

Acting under the apprehension that the President deemed it best that no foreign contributions be accepted, two generous contributions made directly to the Red Cross, one from the Canadian Pacific Railroad and one from the Chinese Diplomatic and Consular Service in this country, though deeply appreciated, were declined. In the case of the money offered by the Chinese Legation and Consuls, the Chinese Minister, at the suggestion of the Red Cross, placed the contribution in the hands of the First Secretary of the Chinese Legation, Mr. Chow Tszchi, who was sent by him to the Pacific Slope with a letter from the Red Cross to Dr. Devine, requesting the latter to assist in every way possible Mr. Chow Tszchi’s work for the Chinese sufferers.

On May 5th the following letter was received by the Honorable Wm. H. Taft, President of the American National Red Cross:

Japanese Embassy, Washington, May 5, 1906.

Honorable Wm. H. Taft, President of the American National Red Cross:

Sir:—I beg to inform you that the Red Cross Society of Japan has solicited contributions from the general public in Japan for the relief of distress caused to the population of California by the recent earthquake, and transmitted to me by telegraph as the first installment the sum of 50,000 dollars with the request that it be applied to the above named purpose through the kindness of the American National Red Cross.

Will you kindly inform me at your earliest convenience whether you can use your good offices in the premises or not?

Yours sincerely,

VISCOUNT S. AOKI.

As information was received that only such contributions as were made directly to the Government were to be declined, this generous expression of sympathy consisting of voluntary contributions made through the Japanese Red Cross to the American National Red Cross for the purpose of this relief work was accepted by the President of the Red Cross in the following letter:

Washington, D. C., May 8, 1906.

Your Excellency:

I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 5th of May, in which you inform me that the Red Cross Society of Japan has solicited contributions from the general public in Japan for the relief of distress caused to the population of California by the recent earthquake, and has transmitted to you by telegraph the sum of $50,000, with a request that it be applied to the above-named purpose through the American National Red Cross. Your Excellency asks that I advise you whether I can use my good offices in the premises.

In reply I beg, on behalf of the American National Red Cross, to express its gratitude and that of the people of California, for the generosity of the Japanese Red Cross and the people of Japan, and to say that I shall be glad, on behalf of the American National Red Cross, to receive the contributions mentioned, and to expend them for the purposes mentioned in Your Excellency’s letter.

I have the honor to be, Your Excellency,

Very sincerely yours,

WM. H. TAFT,
President, American National Red Cross.

His Excellency, Viscount S. Aoki, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Japanese Embassy, Washington.

On May 21st a second installment was received from Japan and accepted in the following letter:

Washington, D. C., May 21, 1906.

Your Excellency:

I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your favor of the 21st of May, enclosing a check for $30,000, which the Red Cross Society of Japan has raised as the second installment from the general public of Japan for the relief of distress caused to the inhabitants of California by the recent earthquake.

On behalf of the Red Cross, I beg to thank you and your people for the generous contribution.

I have the honor to be, Your Excellency,

Very sincerely yours,

WM. H. TAFT,
President, American National Red Cross.

His Excellency, Viscount S. Aoki, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Japanese Embassy, Washington, D. C.

That, after the great expense incurred by the late war and the need of relief at home on a large scale for the famine stricken provinces, so generous an expression of sympathy for the sufferers in California was made by the people of Japan, is most deeply appreciated by the American National Red Cross and the American people.

Up to the date of going to press the Red Cross has received from the State Branches and from other sources $2,275,489.56. Four hundred thousand dollars of this amount has been transmitted to Mr. James Phelan, as Chairman of the Finance Committee of the consolidated Relief Committee and Red Cross, and the remainder is subject to the call of this committee, any sum being at its request immediately forwarded by telegraph to San Francisco through the U. S. Sub-Treasuries, and placed to Mr. Phelan’s credit.

As the general principle of the Red Cross is that money is most wisely expended as far as possible, near the scene of disaster so as to stimulate the somewhat paralyzed business-life, and expended by those, who—taking part in the actual relief work, best understand the needs, the Red Cross Executive Committee made no purchases save one carload of condensed milk and ten thousand blankets. In both cases these purchases were made with the kindly assistance of Army Officers who pronounced on the prices and inspected the articles before they were shipped, transportation having been given. The Commissary officers of the U. S. Army throughout the West kindly consented to act as Purchasing Agents for the Red Cross, and Dr. Devine who with Mr. Pollok of the Relief Committee was appointed on a purchasing committee, was notified of their names and addresses.

On April 26th the following telegram was received from Judge Morrow, President of the California Branch:

Hon. W. H. Taft, President Red Cross, Washington, D. C.

Have arranged for full historical record of all matters connected with disaster for Red Cross purposes.

WM. W. MORROW, President.

The distinguished historian, Professor H. Morse Stephens, is on this historical committee and associated with him are some of the most capable young men who were intimately connected with the relief work from the first.

This record will be published later and will not only prove of historical interest, but of great value in any future relief work of a like nature.

The importance of having the accounts of the expenditures of Red Cross money contributions so kept as to render auditing by the War Department possible, as required by law, was fully realized, and General A. E. Bates, Retired Paymaster-General of the U. S. Army, kindly volunteered his services to proceed to San Francisco and arrange some simple plan for the keeping of these accounts. His offer was accepted, and at the request of the President of the Red Cross he left for San Francisco, and on May 9th the following telegram was received by the President of the Red Cross:

The Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.:

Arrived Monday evening and yesterday had an interview with the Finance Committee by whom I was most pleasantly received. Examined their system of auditing which I approve. Suggest an addition to their system by which the Red Cross funds will be treated like an appropriation for a specific purpose and accounted for to you by vouchers and accounts similar to money of Army appropriation. My suggestion approved and adopted by Committee and Dr. Devine with thanks. Relief work here is perfectly organized and organization apparently working effectively and smoothly. Expenses being reduced daily. This morning I appeared by request before the full Committee and explained my position here. Shall remain here until system is working and one set of accounts is forwarded.

A. E. BATES, Major-General, retired.

The following communication was received by the Secretary of the Red Cross from Judge Morrow, enclosing the literature referred to:

California Branch, San Francisco, Cal., May 12, 1906.

Mr. Charles L. Magee, Secretary, American Red Cross:

Dear Sir:

The distribution of food to the nearly three hundred thousand sufferers in San Francisco has been a difficult problem for solution, but we think a system has been adopted that will make the distribution as nearly perfect as possible, and as the subject may be of some interest to the National Society, I enclose herewith the plan of registering of persons desiring food, the directions for registering applicants at relief stations; also a registration card and a food card.

You may, perhaps, find it interesting, and I would suggest that you show it to Mr. President Taft. The plan was devised by Professor C. C. Plehn of our State University, and we think it would be well to have it made a matter of record for future reference. The plan goes into effect immediately.

Very truly yours,

WM. W. MORROW,
President, State Branch Society.

A reproduction of the registration and food cards are given and it is especially interesting to note that in the Japanese Famine Relief work, as seen by Baron Ozawa’s report contained in the Bulletin, that the Japanese Red Cross also used a system of registration.

NATIONAL RED CROSS

General Register of Applicants for Relief, San Francisco, 1906

Food Station No. ....

TAKE NOTICE.

This card must be presented whenever rations are drawn. When drawing rations keep it always in plain sight.

This card is not transferable, and will be honored only when presented by the person to whom it is issued, or by some member of his family or party.

Good only for 10 days.

Renewable after 10 days at the discretion of the registration officer.

Good only at the Relief Station of issue.

If any fraudulent use of this card is attempted it will be taken up and no rations will be issued to the offenders.

“AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS

“Instructions for Registering Applicants at Relief Stations

“The primary purpose of this registration is to provide a record that will show how many persons are applying for relief from the National Red Cross. Since relief is granted through a large number of sub-stations, it is necessary not only that each station should keep a register of its own applicants, but also that the headquarters should have complete records for all stations.

“When any one applies for relief, therefore, a Registration Card should be at once made out showing so far as pertinent and ascertainable the information asked for concerning the applicant. When rations are issued to a family or party both the Food Card and the Registration Card should be made out at the same time. Registration may—and in many cases will—be done by the canvassers who visit each family. These canvassers may be: (1) officers of the Relief Station; (2) workers of the Associated Charities; (3) representatives of the Central Registration Bureau. The utmost care should be exercised to see that the persons registered for relief are within the district assigned to the station issuing relief. If any question as to boundaries arises refer the same to the Central Registration Bureau.”

Among the directions for making out the Registration Card are the following:

“(1) Surname and initial of applicant.

“Write legibly the name of the head of the family or party applying for relief.

“(5) Present location.

“Give the best possible indication of where applicant can be found on visit or by letter.

“(6) Former address or home on April 17th.

“What is wanted is the address that will be most useful in tracing the applicant or his family in case inquiry is made by distant friends or others.

“(7) Trade or occupation.

“In case the applicant has a recognized trade enter it; otherwise give best indication possible of how he made his living.

“(13) Address of friends to be communicated with.

“Enter here any names and addresses of people to whom applicant desires the National Red Cross to write in his behalf.

“(17) Plans for future.

“State any plans applicant says he has for future work, for leaving town, etc., and any fact which may help in putting him on his own feet again.

“Treat all applicants with the utmost consideration. The relief afforded is not a charity and is needed most by respected and honorable citizens. More than nine out of every ten of the applicants will be self-supporting in a few weeks. The few lazy imposters will be speedily detected and dealt with separately. Assume every one to be entitled to relief until clearly proven unworthy.”

Under the directions for the issue of Food Cards the purposes for which Food Cards are issued are stated to be:

“(1) To make sure that every one entitled to draw rations secures an amount proportionate to the size of his family or party.

“(2) To prevent imposters from drawing more than their proportionate share of rations.

“(3) To furnish a record of the number of persons being fed at the several relief stations, for the use of stations, and of the central distributing authorities.”