Red Cross War Council to Woodrow Wilson
Title
Red Cross War Council to Woodrow Wilson
Creator
Davison, Henry P.
Identifier
WWP25093
Date
1918 August 5
Description
Red Cross writes to President Wilson about its approval of the proposed draft bill, but also the problems it would pose.
Source
Library of Congress, Woodrow Wilson Papers
Publisher
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
Subject
American Red Cross
World War, 1914-1918--United States
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924--Correspondence
Contributor
Morgan Willer
Language
English
Provenance
Document scan was taken from Library of Congress microfilm reel of the Wilson Papers. WWPL volunteers transcribed the text.
Text
Dear Mr. President:
If the proposed draft bill including the ages from eighteen to forty five should be passed, I shall be more than delighted, believing that it will be but another step in the direction in which you have led the country to demonstrate not only our power, but our purpose, to immediately command every resource to insure a complete victory. I am presuming to express my opinion on this point because the passage of such a bill must inevitably have a very marked effect on the personnel now within the Organization of the Red Cross, as well as those whose service we must secure to carry on the work; in fact, I can conceive that its passage may necessitate a fundamental change in the character of the Red Cross.
You of course appreciate that the men volunteers now serving us throughout the United States and in Europe are of such a type that most of them would wish immediately to volunteer to join the service rather than wait to be drafted. This certainly applies to our most important men, such as Mr. Wadsworth, Mr. Bliss, Mr. Gibson, and hundreds of others.
At the time the War Council was formed, we adopted a principle that we would not accept for service abroad men within the draft age, as we did not wish to be in any degree open to the charge of being a “shelter-pit”. Owing to the increased demands for personnel and our difficulty in securing it, we modified, about two months ago, our ruling, accepting men with obvious disability in class 5-G, as we were informed that this class might reasonably be regarded as exempt from military liability.
As the proposed law would probably cover 80% of our male personnel, we would, I fear, immediately upon its enactment, find men resigning, so that our problem of securing additional personnel now called for in Europe and perhaps later in Russia, would not only be greater but indeed the problem of maintaining our present Organization would become a serious one. We are led to fear this because the very discussion of the measure has already developed a feeling of unrest within the Organization. For your information, we at present have unfilled requisitions for about 2,700 men for our work in France.
I am always sorry to bother you with any of our troubles, and particularly so in this instance, as I do not feel myself in a position to make a definite suggestion as to its solution, the problem being so essentially military.
I am sure you know that I would ask for nothing except your consideration of steps which would enable us to continue our work, the importance of which I believe is established, and you have given me reason to know of your own appreciation of its value. Whatever the solution of the problem may be, I am sure I express the sentiment of the entire Organization when I say that no one could or would ask for exemption from military service on the ground of his work for the Red Cross.
I am writing you somewhat informally, only that you may have the subject in mind when considering other matters relating to it. I shall of course be delighted to confer with you about it if you should at any time desire.
As ever,
Cordially yours,
Henry P. Davison
Chairman, Red Cross War Council
The President,
The White House,
Washington, DC
If the proposed draft bill including the ages from eighteen to forty five should be passed, I shall be more than delighted, believing that it will be but another step in the direction in which you have led the country to demonstrate not only our power, but our purpose, to immediately command every resource to insure a complete victory. I am presuming to express my opinion on this point because the passage of such a bill must inevitably have a very marked effect on the personnel now within the Organization of the Red Cross, as well as those whose service we must secure to carry on the work; in fact, I can conceive that its passage may necessitate a fundamental change in the character of the Red Cross.
You of course appreciate that the men volunteers now serving us throughout the United States and in Europe are of such a type that most of them would wish immediately to volunteer to join the service rather than wait to be drafted. This certainly applies to our most important men, such as Mr. Wadsworth, Mr. Bliss, Mr. Gibson, and hundreds of others.
At the time the War Council was formed, we adopted a principle that we would not accept for service abroad men within the draft age, as we did not wish to be in any degree open to the charge of being a “shelter-pit”. Owing to the increased demands for personnel and our difficulty in securing it, we modified, about two months ago, our ruling, accepting men with obvious disability in class 5-G, as we were informed that this class might reasonably be regarded as exempt from military liability.
As the proposed law would probably cover 80% of our male personnel, we would, I fear, immediately upon its enactment, find men resigning, so that our problem of securing additional personnel now called for in Europe and perhaps later in Russia, would not only be greater but indeed the problem of maintaining our present Organization would become a serious one. We are led to fear this because the very discussion of the measure has already developed a feeling of unrest within the Organization. For your information, we at present have unfilled requisitions for about 2,700 men for our work in France.
I am always sorry to bother you with any of our troubles, and particularly so in this instance, as I do not feel myself in a position to make a definite suggestion as to its solution, the problem being so essentially military.
I am sure you know that I would ask for nothing except your consideration of steps which would enable us to continue our work, the importance of which I believe is established, and you have given me reason to know of your own appreciation of its value. Whatever the solution of the problem may be, I am sure I express the sentiment of the entire Organization when I say that no one could or would ask for exemption from military service on the ground of his work for the Red Cross.
I am writing you somewhat informally, only that you may have the subject in mind when considering other matters relating to it. I shall of course be delighted to confer with you about it if you should at any time desire.
As ever,
Cordially yours,
Henry P. Davison
Chairman, Red Cross War Council
The President,
The White House,
Washington, DC
Original Format
Letter
To
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
Files
Collection
Citation
Davison, Henry P., “Red Cross War Council to Woodrow Wilson,” 1918 August 5, WWP25093, World War I Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.