New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-16
BANKS ORGANIZE
TO AID RED CROSS
Officers of 100 Institutions
Join Membership
Campaign.

The vast human machinery Of the
New York banks, operative through
| their many thousand ,epositors, will
be used TO aid in the campaign for in
creasing the New York City member
ship of the American Red Cross TO
100000 before Memorial Day.
Seward Prosser, president OF the
Bankers Trust Company, declared,
after a meeting of bank representatives
in the Clearing House yesterday, that
this faultless human mechanism would
produce for the metropolitan Red
Cross n number OF members equal TO
the number of men who marched in the
preparedness parade Saturday. II his
prophecy be true the local membership
will almost double the 100000 sought.
The Red Cross meeting yesterday
was unique; it marked one Of the rare
occasions on which any part of that
building has ever been used for other
than a financial purpose. Representa-
tives Of 120 banks were present, and
each carried back to his bank a Red
Cross enrolment sheet. J. s. Alexander,
president Of the Bank of Commerce,
acted as chairman. and the speakers
were II. p. Dawson, Seward Prosser
and Miss Mabel T. Boardman.
Work Begins with Employees.
The campaign among the bankers
will commence in the banks proper.
Representatives who attended yestcr-
days meeting will seek to enroll as
Red Cross members every employee in
their institutions, from president down
to messenger boy.
But this will be only a beginning.
All of the banks plan TO follow the
lead OF the twenty-eight institutions
which have already sent personal APP
peals TO their depositors asking them
10 become Red Cross members. Many
thousands Of men and women who
could not be reached otherwise will in
this way have the Red Cross campaign
brought to their attention. In each
bank blanks will be placed beside the
paying teller's cage TO catch the atten-
tion Of patrons.
ut is not a duty, but an opportunity,
for the employees and depositors Of the
New York City banks 10 enlist as Red
Cross members" Mr.. Dawson told the
bank representatives. New York has
always been first in every charitable
movement in this country. 1t behooves
her to be first in the movement to sup
port the American Red Cross"
Stores Open Booths.
Miss Boardman pointed out that
while the entire membership Of the
American Red Cross was only $1,000,
/ that Of Japan was 100000, Russia
900 900 and Germany 100000 She
sketched the wide range of the or
ganization's activities, both here and
| in Europe, in times of peace rs well as
war, and added that the real purpose
of the present membership campaign
was to make the American Red Cross
more truly representative Of America
splendid spirit of charity.
Mr.. Prosser called upon the bank
representatives 10 return TO the Clear
I ing House Thursday to report the re-
suit Of their work among their en-
ployes.
To further boom the metropolitan
campaign seventeen department stores
in the city yesterday opened Red Cross
booths. Petitions will DC placed later
/ in the week in all the United Cigar
Stores in New York. where clerks have
instructions 10 solicit memberships.
| The Boy Scouts who sought Red Cross
members among the marchers in Sat
urday's parade have already obtained
| 5000 new members. One-half Of the
Scout troops which collected such
memberships have still 10 report.