Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-23
Chairman John Joy Edison Explains
Plans for Canvassing.
SUFFERING GREAT YEAR HENCE
Two Ways Of Collecting Funds-Ar-
ranging Districts-Means
Of transportation.

at IL o'clock am. today In the red parior
Of the New Willard Hotel.
The attendance was large and repre-
sentative one. Commissioner Mcfarland
presided. After referring to the fervor ana
promptftude with which the citizens or the
District are responding to the appeals fro"
the stricken cities on the Pacific coast, ne
called upon Mr. John Joy Edison. chairman
of the committee on canvassing. Tor re-
port.
Mr.. Edison said the citizens of the DIS
trict have been frequently asked TO con-
tribute to relief funds in cases OF catas-
trophies In which from 10000 to 1D0O0 peo-
pie were involved, but only once mas 'tlus
nation been requested to raise funds !or
such an overwhelming disaster In which
between three and four miinons OF human
beings are involved-men. women ana IN
fants The terrible happening In Calffornia
has enlisted the sympathfes OF all the peo-
pie of this country. To meet the demand
extraordinary efforts will be required
The suffering Is now very great. MI. Eu
year hence. The picture Is an appalling
one. Three millions of American people
are without homes. People are living out
of doors. and later many OF them wiz DC
Frustrated by typhoid fever and other
diseases The speaker described the nor
rors of the holocaust that followed the
earthquake and said he hoped the people
or the DfStr1Ct ndu come 10 u iuh ASe1iASes
ton of the terrible situation.
Ways of Collecting Funds.
Mr.. Edison explained that there were
two ways Of collecting funds. One was
by quick and spontaneous means The
other by a slower but systematic proceed
ure. ,,,
trict of Columbia will give 25 cents each
for the relief of the sufferers" he re.
marked, I'VE will raise fund OF ABOUT
$4,000. If they will contribute o. cents
ca CHI the fund will be about $15OO0O, or II
they will give one dollar each we can
raise approximately $500 1000.
Chairman Edison said no citizen can at
ford to refuse his committee assignment EN-. IN
this great humane work, nor can he aIord
to discharge the duties assigned 70 MIN
otherwise than faithfully and promptly. he
then announced the list of subcommittee as
signments
Mr. W. Riley Decide. vice chairman. de-
scribed the work that had been accom-
plisI,ed since Saturday IN order TO get the
committees and districts arranged SO. that
effective work could be commenced at once
He said as far as possible young and active
men had been placed in charge Of the coilec-
ton districts.
mo man can refuse to work in this great
and good cause" Commissioner Macfar-
land said "and l do not believe there Is q
man in the District OF Columbia who VIII
refuse to lend his assistance and means IN
this emergency.
Mr. W. S. Knox made a report from the
committee on transportation and supplies
He said headquarters had been opened at
21I 9th street northwest. with Mr.. e. l..
Springman In charge. telephone has been
| Installed and a depot established for tho
reception of supplies for the stricken people
| on the Pacific coast Wagons. he stated,
would be sent for any supplies the citizens
may care to donate What Is most needed
| In San Francisco and the other places WIS.,
| tied by the catastrophe is clothing, cots,
blankets etc.
The suggestion was made that drugs and
medicines might also be much needed Com
missioner Mcfarland replied that the mat
| ter of medicines would be left to the Red
| Cross Society, which was prepared to act
Immediately.
Money Most Needed.
What we most need" Mr.. mcfarland
stated, lis money. That will buy any
thing"
The statement was made that President
Roosevelt and Secretary OF War Taft desire
that funds be placed at the disposal of the
Red Cross rapidly as possible.
Mr.. Knox pointed out that the Southern
the Chesapeake and Ohio. Pennsylvania
| and Baltimore and Ohio railroads will give
| free transportation for all supplies for San
| Francisco to the ends Of their lines, and
| that by reason of the cooperation of other
| lines transportation for relief supplies is
| now open to the Pacific coast
D.
| entertainment relief committee. submitted
his report. 1t set forth:
Immediately after appointment your
committee proceeded to plan its work. and
begs leave TO report the following to date:
Through the courtesy of Mr.. Taylor
manager of the Belasco Theater, and Mr.
Kuzel of the Schubert company a benefit
performance Is to be given in that theater
Wednesday afternoon. the entire gross re-
ceipts for which are to be turned over to
this committee. Mr.. Edwin Emerson has
last night at the National Theater through
the courtesy of his manager. Mr. TannehiH,
and Mr.. Rapley. manager of the theater. A
general concert has also been arranged for
Friday, May 4. at the Washington College
Of Music through the courtesy OF Mr.. sgd
ney Lloyd Wrightson, director, and Mr.
Luckett, mssnager of the Columbia Theater
Mr.. p. B. Chase of Chases Theater has also
rendered the receipts from his matinee
Tuesday.
I'VE have also received tenders Of sery-
sell Vocal Club for concert; the United
States Marine Band, from Lieut.. Santel-
mann: the Carroll Institute clubs. the St
Aloysus Club and Rebew Orchestra, Mr. ~
Floyd Featherstone. Mr.. Charlemagne
| KoehIer and Miss Jessica Vir Del Ma OF
the Robert Hickman Dramatic School, J..
T. Layton of the Cooleridge-Tayior Choral
| Society. Mr.. s. M. Fabian and Mime. Har-
din-Hickey and others. You are already
aware of the proposition concerning the
lawn fete to be given on May at Friend
ship"
From the above you will observe the de-
| sire on the part of our public entertainers
| to serve the committee In any way possible.
| and we will endeayor to make use OF these
various artists to the best advantage for
| the fund
Should Concentrate Strength.
| Commissioner Macfariand said the MEM
| bers of the committee should concentrate
their strength In order that large sum OF
money may be raised by Saturday.
| Judge Charles s. Bundy made a report
| from the Columbia Heights Citizens Asso-
citation. He said that organization met
| jointly with the Mount Pleasant Associa-
| ton yesterday. and that the entire terri
! tory embraced by the two associations has
| been assigned and the canvassers desfg-
mated. The latter will meet at O'Clock to-
| morrow afternoon in the Mount Pleasant
| Congregational Church to receive instruc-
lions. They viii then enter upon a house
toulouse canvass OF the territory assigned
| to them.
.That report Is encouraging and invi.or-
ating. was Commissioner Macfarland's
comment.
Mr.. Max Cohen suggested that an appeal
be made by the committee to tho civic
pride of washington In the interest Of the