The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-06-21
It Is Not Question of Giving to the Red Cross Nor Is It Question of Charity, But Question
 of Duty to Our Country and to Our Boys

and Philadelphia have been asked to collect $6oO0,0OO each; Pittsburg, s35OO,- 900; Cleveland. 5000, 900; St. Louis S270O, . O0O; Detroit s2000,O00; Buffalo, sl,S00,0 GOO; Kansas City, S1,50O, 900; Minneapolis S1,- 25O,OOO; Providence, $1,250 000 Rochester, Sl,OOO,OO0; Cincinnati, $1OOO,OOO, and other cities lesser amounts.
 Among the southern cities, Atlanta, Savannah Charleston, Birmingham and Montgomery have undertaken large amounts to be raised and everybody is doing their bit as witness the fol- lowing statements:
 A competition is on between Savannah and Charleston to raise the largest fund for the Red Cross. Both cities have been apportioned s1O0,OO0 Montgomery is also in d race with Macon.
 Atlanta, recovering from a fire loss of several millions of dollars, sent the fol- lowing telegram to headquarters: Mayor Candler designates Wednesday as Red Cross Day. Red Cross planning a pa rade Thermometer, Get the Fever, Watch the Temperature Rise" sign to be erected 40 feet square at principle inter- section Atlanta's five corners to indicate daily progress Arranging street car pos ters, trolley wire banners and street lamp Red Crosses. Atlanta Journal cartoon ists drawing series for papers"
 Birmingham, after the launching of the campaign Monday evening last, can send out reports of her splendid contribu- tions up to the present moment and ev- elybody is going to be proud of what we will do, because it is all done with so much loving loyalty and dutful sympa- thy.
 MT. Charles s. Ward, secretary of the Red Cross War council, whom Birming- ham remembers vividly when he con- ducted a whirlwnd campaign here a few years ago for the Young Mems Chris tian association, sent out the following bulletin last Saturday about his work in New York city:
 The situation in New York Is far bet ter than I could have hoped New York is often charged with selfishness, ex- travagance and lack of that unity of civic purpose that is the valued possess sion of some smaller cities. However, 1 notice that New Workers rise to every emergency that calls upon their charity and patriotism. You have to count on New York for nearly half of every big enterprise that calls upon the country for support. We are not going to be disappointed in New York this time. The committee workers are captains of H. nance and industry and leaders of church and society. The chairman of the finance committee, Cleveland H. Dodge, gave the movement a splendid start with his sub-
 
 gifts of $25, ,0O0 $10 900 and $25,00O have been most encouraging for the spirit in which they were given
 A few days ago in Montgomery General Leonard Wood in an address said:
 We ought to back up the Red Cross in every way possible. You can do no finer, nobler work and you can give your money in no other way that will do as much good The Red Cross is the big brother of the armys medical department, the one official agency of the war depart ment in handling the sick and wounded. The work extends from the battle area back to the home and the relief covers the caring for the men on the battlefield and in the hospitals, then to the trains or ships and on through their convales- cence."
 True patriotism is shown in the report from Red Cross headquarters of a little town in New York state of less than 12 900 population which has contributed toward the war to the present time sS7S,- 900. These contributions have been made in Il ambulance units, two aeroplanes, Y. M C. A. rest home and AZ nurses have been supported. Three thousand dollars also went toward a hydroplane. Not content with these donations the residents who are largely foreign are now conducting a campaign in behalf of the Red Cross war fund.
 So there you are; even if you can't go to France as a Red Cross nurse your self, women of Birmingham, you can 'do your bit' by Red Cross work here at home: if you can't shoulder gun, if you are too old, men of Birmingham, yos can contribute to the comfort of some young soldier who can.
 One answer to the latter question comes in a little story which Is told of an old msn-too old to carry gun but anxious to ''do his patriotic bit" who wrote to Red Cross headquarters offering to as- sist in any possible manner in raising the war fund of $1OO,0Oo00o. The parent writes: we are all enthusiastic over the Red Cross campaign. For myself, l am too old to be of service as a soldier, but my only son is at the officers reserve camp and feel that the next best thing can do for my country Is to serve the Red Cross"
 Will you "do your bit' today, men and women of Birmingham, by serving the Red Cross?