Gilpin observer., 1917-12-13
TIE RED CROSS NEEDS
ITEN NH Ion NEW
alI alIl ~ MEMBERS TO HELP
l SlkSIJEfERING HUMANITY

-
That is why the Red Cross wants
15,OOO.OOO members, 1t is not 30 much
the 50 or the $40 or the $15 or the
$1OO or the 81 fee thatrlnembership
costs, though that has its Importance.
It would be even more necessary II
membership did not cost a cent. But
In this case the fee Is small consid-
eration. What is needed is an army
Of 100000 true-hearted Americans
who will stand back of the army and
navy, and supply them with everything
they need to keep them we'll and
CHEEKY. and to give them every chance
for life If they get sick or are hurt.
Confidence in his backing Is q mighty
factor in a fellows spunk when he is
fighting $500 miles from the home he
is defending.
Now word about the different
kinds of membership: A patron mem.
ber pays 500 in one sum, and the in
terest on that money accrues to the
Red Cross every year. A life member
pays $25 In one sum, and the interest
suftices to keep his membership alive
so long as he lives. But the most
stress is not to be laid on these forms
in this campaign because, as I have
said, money is not the chief object.
Everyone who can possibly afford II
ought to be what Is called a "Maga-
zine Member" 1t costs 81. each year.
but 1t brings with 1t the Red Cross
Magazine, published every month with
wealth of pictures of Red Cross
work, and inspiring articles telling
what the Red Cross is doing all around
the world.
For those who cannot spare 81, the
annual membership Costs but 81, and
one who has this membership Is just
as much a Red Cross member a. any
one, the only difference being that he
does not get the magazine. The great
effort will be to enroll the 81 and q
people, for it is numbers and not mon
ey at this time that the Red Cross
wants.
When the membership has climbed
to the $4,000. 600 mark, then will come
the call for members to help turn out
supplies. There is no compulsion-
nobody has to pledge himself to give
any money except his dues, nor to
give service nor anything. But Of
course you will want to help, and you
will have world Of opportunity.
Whether you can knit. or sew. or roll
bandages, or run errands for those
who can do those things, or give mon
ey to help them buy supplies Of yarn
and muslin and gauze, you can help.
1t will be your part to do the biggest
thing you can to back up the fighting
boys over there.
The first thing is to become Red
Cross member. Take somebody In
with you If you possibly can. Help the
membership team that comes to you
for your name and your dollar or two
dollars. Remember, it is not, in the
final analysis, the Red Cross you are
helping at all-it Is the boys who are
over there fighting for you. Nobody
concerned with the Red Cross ever
gets penny out of anything given for
relief, or from any garment made and
entrusted to 1t. Every penny and
every stitch goes to some American
soldier or some destitute one whom the
Red Cross is trying to keep alive.
You will hear-if you have not al
ready heard-a dozen stories about
graft in the Red Cross. They are lies,
everyone Of them. They were started
maliciously, and have been peddled
ever since by gossips, some malicious,
some merely chatterers with no sense
of responsibility, who would In the
same spirit repeat slander about a
good woman.
You have heard, or will hear, that
the high officers of the Red Cross get
most of the money given 1t for relief.
Exactly the reverse Is true. Every
member of the war council, every head
Of every Red Cross bureau In Washing
ton, every head OF every bureau in
everyone Of the thirteen divisions Of
the Red Cross In the United States,
Is giving his time free, and is spending
money of his own while he does the
work.
In recent public speech on this
subject, Henry p. Dawson, chairman
of the Red Cross war council, de-
clared that of every dollar given the
Red Cross for relief, about S1.O2 is
spent for relief. Not only are the ex-
penses met from funds provided for
that purpose. but the money contributed
draws interest while in bank, and the
interest also is applied to relief work.
The Red Cross is led by the biggest
and brainiest and most unselfish men
the nation could find. Trust them.
They are doing the very best that
Drains and money and determination
can do to prevent human suffering, and
to take care Of Pershing's boys. Help
them. Your own may be there soon.
idoIatry on the Decline.