The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1917-12-14
more was to be had.

these things must happen TO Perish
ing's boys. But it will happen unless
the American people get right behind
the Red Cross, and make and ship
those hospital supplies in a never.
ending stream. The surgeons at the
French hospitals say that sometimes
IL takes a whole box of surgical dras.
sings-7,000 Of them-:or q single
wounded man. They have been so
short at the French hospitals that
instead of throwing the dressings away
after using, they have been driven to
try to clean them and use them over
and over.
That is what Maj. Grayson M. p.
murphy had in mind a few weeks ago
when he cabled TO the Red Cross that
nothing on earth is now of equal i'm
portance to getting a big supply OF
surgical supplies into France. Unless
we do, he said, disaster and disgrace
are ahead for America-and the Red
Cross and the American people can.
not afford to incur that.
Money is not all the Red Cross
must have for this work, though it
will take millions of dollars. What it
needs most OF al is an immense nun.
per or members, and their personal
service. 1t needs, and has to have, the
whole American people, fathers and
mothers, sisters and daughters, and
the children, to back up the govern.
ment and the Red Cross in this work
That is why the Red Cross wants
l5,O0O,000 members in the country and
100000 in Michigan. 1t is not so much
the 81 or the $40 or the $25 or the
500 or the 81 fee that membership
costs, though that has it's Importance
1t would be even more necessary IL
membership did not cost a cent. But
in this case the fee is a small consid-
Grafton. What Is needed in an army
OF 15,O00,0O0 true-hearted Americans
who viii stand back Of the army and
navy. and supply them with every
thing they need to keep them we'll
and cherry, and TO give them every
chance for life IL they get sick or are
hurt Confidence in his backing is a
mighty factor in fellows sprunk
when he is fighting $500 miles from
the home he is defending.
Now word about the different
kinds OF membership A patron mem
Der 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
suflices 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 l have
said, money is not the chief object.
Everyone who can possibly afford it
ought to be what is called Maya
zine Member" 1t costs 81, each year.
but it brings with it the Red Cross
a 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 50, the
annual membership costs but 81. and
one who has this membership is Just
as much a Red Cross member as any
one, the only difference being that he
does not get the magazine
The first thing is to become a Red
Cross member. Take somebody in
with you If you possibly can. Help tho
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 ALT is the boys who are
over there fighting for you. Nobody
concerned with the Red Cross ever
gets a penny out of anything given
for relief, or from any garments made
and entrusted to 1t.
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 SANDER about q
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
Washington. every head OF every bu.
reau in everyone of the thirteen div.
isions 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 a 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 sl02 is
spent for relief Not only are the ex.
penses met from funds provided for
that purpose. but the money contri
buted draws interest while in bank.
and the interest also is applied to re-
liaf vOrIy