Evening journal., 1909-10-22
new RED CROSS
STAMP COMING
Christmas Contribution TO
White Plague War WILDE
Secured Again

Probably a great part Of the hundreds
OF thousands of people who purchased
Christmas Red Cross stamps during the
holiday season OF 1908 gave no thought TO
ene significance OF the little squares with
which they decorated their Christmas
mail. They meant much more than mere
decoration those stamps of good cneer-
they meant the saving Of life and the as
surance Of comfort for hundreds suffering
from the dread plague. tuberculosis And
this is how the stamps fulfilled their mis-
sion and how again this year they hope
to accomplish still more.
IN 1905 the Red Cross decided TO nation
alize the Christmas stamp. A new stamp
was prepared according TO a design con-
tributed by Howard Pyle and the state
branches OF the Red Cross were invited to
become agents for tho little red and green
"sticlSers" with their messages of good
will and their purpose to help in the war
fare against tuberculosis.
Thought Million Would Do.
In deciding TO nationalist the stamp the
central committee Of the Red Cross at
Washington had no means Of forecast.ng
the result except the success OF the ex-
pertinent Of the year before in Delaware
and while this promised well It could not
be-regarded as a safe index to the recep-
tion which the "stickers" would meet in
New England, the West or the South.
After much discussios an order was
given to print 100000 stamps. There was
a serious question whether so large a
number could be sold.
But the stamp "caught on" wherever It
appeared. In New York the slogan was
Every Stamp a Bullet in the Fight
Against tuberculosis" orders for stamps
began to pour into Red Cross headquart-
ers by mail. by telegraph, by telephone.
by messenger.
A second million was ordered from the
printer. Then second printer was en-
gagged and finally a third. Orders from
all over the country fairly overwhelmed
the Washington office and completely
swamped the printers. Exasperating de-
lays occurred and good people lost their
tempers, all because the central commit
tee OF the Red Cross had not the foresight
to prepare for the avalanche.
2s,oo0,ooO Were Shipped.
/ When Christmas Day OF 1908 arrived
everybody began to breathe easier and
TO cast up accounts. The central commit
tee at Washington found that it ha,
printed 3Oooo,Ooo stamps and had shippe,
to agents 2SOOO,Ooo.
No accurate statement has been pro
durable Of the number Of stamps actual.
sold by the agents. They purchased tn,
stamps outright from headquarters ant
were not required 20 account for unsol'
stamps remaining at the end of the sea
son. Partial reports were received, how
ever, which make II possible to estima.
that the number Of stamps sold at on
cent each was about 1s.5OOO0o.
The large unsold stock was scattere
among agencies in several hundred citie
and towns and represented a loss to theE
OF about Sc. 800 which cut down, by tina
amount, the profits on the stamps whic
they actually sold.
This loss resulted largely from inabillt
, OF agents TO estimate tho extent OF III
stamp demand. Early in the season III
tendency was to send IN orders whic
proved too small and this was followe
by a tendency to send excessively larg
orders in the enthusiasm Of the late
: days
S135,o00 Profit For Cause.
Tho summing up Of the entire car
paign showed that tho profits from tn
> sale OF stamps in the United states. al
Z ter all expenses had been paid, amounte
TO about SiS5 600. Expenses, including III
! cost Of stamps, advertising. clerical worl
rents, express charges. postage and a
other items amounted TO about $4,000. TIL
expenses therefore, were about IS p,
cent. OF the total proceeds.
The Red Cross Stamp OF 1909 is now
the printers hands. A new design hf
r been adopted, selected as the result Of
3 competition in which about 1900 persor
4 participated The stamp itself viii be
{ red and dark green. with lettering
white and viii be one inch square.
? The order already placed with III
: printer is for 2oOO0,ooO stamps and NOR
in any number, can be produced as rapi,
: " as may be necessary. The stamps wi
be ready for shipment 10 agents on n,
vember J. This win afford agents amp
! time to complete arrangements and be
{. readiness for the opening OF a vigorol
, selling campaign m the latter part
November or FIRST Of December.