New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-14
Committee of Prominent
Men Under Mayor to
Canvass City.
EX-PRESIDENT TAFT
PLEADS FOR SUPPORT
Asks Help in Preparing TO Meet
Disasters OF War and
OF Peace.

The American Red Cross mas started
a campaign to add million new mem
bers 20 its organization. Preliminary
plans for the project have been com.
pletod. and the work o. enlistment Wi!
be started shortly. Inc organization
hope TO recruit a. least 100000 mem
bcrs in New York City alone.
William Howard TAFT. chairman OF
the central committee o. the American
Red Cross. made this snnouncemen'
following a meeting at the new head.
quarters of the Atlantic Division, 2s9
Fourth Avenue. yesterday.
The committee which will canvass
New York, according 20 Nr. TAFT. IS
composed OF fnancicrs, business anc
professional men. labor leaders and
men OF every occupation here. Mayor
Mitchei wili ne thc honorary Chairman
OF the local committee. Seward Prosser
president Of the Bankers Trust Com
pauy. will be chairman.
Reasons for Joining Red Cross.
There arc five yery good reasons
why every American should become z
member OF the Red Cross" the EXPIRES
ident said yesterday. There are
TO convince anv one with even a mod
crate amount Of patriotism and human
impulse. They are:
First. the Red Cross is the one
agency for selief commissioned by the
government in case of war or disaster
Red Cross nurses and doctors 60 into
the field. but most important duties
rest on members at home.
Second. in time Of war the kef
Cross must equip and MAINTAIN helt
and base hospitals, 1-d sick, woundce
and missing men, transport them t'
their homes and collect, prepare an'
distribute hospital supplies.
Third. in event OF disaster the hc'
Cross is ready and must be kept ready
for immediate relief. he necessity
Tor this was shown In the Galveston
food. the San Francisco fire. the IT
.anic wreck, Ohio foods and elghil
other disasters. In all OF these tn'
Red Cross provided immediate shelter
food, clothing and care for the sizes ant
dying. and thousands Of stricken peo
pie Temporarily disabled distributing
more than S15,00o,0O0 in money anc
supplies.
Should Have Million Members.
Fourth. the Rcd Cross should have Z
100000 members. II is modifying th'
nations generous impulses. preparing
20 meet. not only the possible disas
tiers Of war. but also the inevitable
disasters Of peace.
Fifth. Japan, with 100000 people
has 100000 Red Cross members
Should the United States. with lOo'
COO 900. LAG behind -
Harvey J. Hill, experienced in Young
Mems Christian Association work anc
in the direction of many campaigns
has been placed in charge Of the ma
tional campaign.
Membership in the Red Cross is Of
four classes. Annual members pay y
a year. Sustaining members pay $40
Life members pay So IN one payment
and patrons pay 500 in one payment
"Thc annual payment OF ST. Mr.. Taft
said. "makes 1T possible for the citi'
zen OF even moderate means 10 become
member Of his country's Red Cross,
Among those who have been asked
70 lend their aid in conducting the Ne"
York campaign are Robert Bacon. Otto
Rannsrd. Cornelius \. Bliss. G.. {
Boldt. {. A. Coffin. Daniel GugSen.
helm. Darwin 2. Kingsley. Charles j
Murphy. Morgan !. O'Br.en, Frederics
Pratt. Sheriff Al Smith. Cornelius Van.
derbilt and Major General Leonard
Wood.