WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT
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!”
Robert W. de Forest, Vice-President of the American Red Cross.
Robert W. de Forest, Vice-President of the American Red Cross.