Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-12-20

knitted goods for our men and their
allies and the civilians in France has
had to 90 untitled because we could
not get them fast enough to supply
our own men in cantonments.
Major Grayson NJ p Murphy, Red
Cross commissioner to Europe, recent
ly cabled that nothing else in the
world is Of as much Importance as
getting a big supply of bandages in
France for the men who are going into
the fighting lines. He declared that
disaster and a national disgrace await
America If II is not done.
In Rumania right now they are
dressing wounds with sawdust. That |
must mot happen to American sol /
dierg They must have bandages
Z The Red Cross is doing its best, but |!
1 II cannot make them as fast as they /
are needed.
+ That is why the Red Cross must !
have more members 1t must have /
more loyal hearts and swift, willing |
hands at its command. or our boys |
over in the trenches will suffer need /
J lessly and we will be shamed forever. |
That is why the present campaign is
made for 100000 MEMBERS
must be had to turn out these sup
plies, and back up our fighting forces,
and help the suffering civilians to
keep alive until the German is driven
home
There is also an immense work for
the Red Cross in our own land. The
dependent families of our fighting men
must be cared for They must not
be permitted to suffer cold and hun
ger or want in any form They must
be kept from evil associations. Their
standard of living must not be low
cred Most OF our fighters are coming
home some day and they must not
find that their loved ones have been
neglected The Red Cross has been
designated by the government to do
this work-and II must have mem
bership of not less than $4,000 900.
Rock Island has been asked to fur
nish $500 new members as its quota
of the grand total Of $4,000 600 Sure
ly in city Of between 10000 and 49,
GOO inhabitants, there can be found
that many-there should be more
who will support this wonderful and
, unprecedented organization with their
, contributions, both in money and NOR
!, al support The Red Cross button is
badge of distinction. 1t is very
eheaply Won A Christmas member
ship costs only S1-less than one-third
of cent a day, or 10 cents month.
e The woman or the man who cannot
p give any time to the knitting of sweat
: ers. helmets or other articles, or the
2 making of baudages and dressings, is
$ the very one who should help with
D the dollar It is a blessed privilege
D and will make your Christmas mer-
e. rier one. Enlist today in the Red
:, Cross army.
o The committee handling the local
y end of the Red Cross Christmas mem
bership campaign offers the following
suggestions for the inspiration of the
workers who will devote next Sunday
81. afternoon to helping put Rock Is
land across" in securing its quota of
q abe 100000 new members. The SEN
= timents expressed will appeal with
equal force to the community at large
& and should be carefully considered. In
u this great effort, the committee says
It There is no defeat except in no
- longer trying. There Is no defeat ex-
cept from within oneself.
IF you were an American soldier
It fighting on the fields of France, for
n the principles for which America has
" always fought, you would want the
folks back home to remember you in
T. real deeds. not mere talk, wouldn't
you? Deeds that would help you win
n the fight?
.- If you were anywhere in the whole
,e wide world and were helpless or hun
s. cry or homeless, suffering or in sor-
e row, you would want the great. rich
s. generous, American people to express
~ to you the spirit and substance oil
= brotherly love, wouldn't you?
IN Then make the most of opportu-
J. nifty by working just as hard as you
,, can to secure new Red Cross members
M next Sunday, Remember you are mol
e. peddling some cheap commodity, you
j. are offering a privilege. 1t is a real
III privilege to be permitted to join this
RS great organization and take a little
$ part in the magnificent work the Rec
~ Cross is doing wherever there is sui
a fering and sorrow and need for hell
~ in the world
"a Rock Island has never yet failed
he to "go over the top" in responding t
A. the demand of the hour The pFesen
a Christmas campaign for the Red eros!
he will prove TO be no exception
d must not The army of solicitors wht
AZ go out next Sunday will not have Il
~ whine and plead for members. The,
Y are offered privilege to the people
Ii not trying to sell them lightning rods
in It is hoped that they will be cordial,
tr received and that Rock Island cal
s. again say: I'VE put it over"
ne Yesterday a woman asked: "Oh
Gu does the Red Cross do things for PEG
We pie in this country people who ar
in not in the army?"
H And another woman asked: IF
ge donate this dollar. can you assure m
b., that IL will go direct to help a sol
lie der in France?" This was the repl
s- she received: Certainly cannot Civ
st YOU any such assurance. II this tow
burned tonight and most Of the pee
Ia pie here were left without shelter
your dollar would help carry on re
II 10 lief work right at home"
These questions indicate a lack c
il understanding of what the Red eros
O. is really doing both at home an
ed abroad.
he What are the facts? While neglect
- ing none of the needs OF our own boy,
ist here are some of the things the Re
eft Cross has already done in France:
Given $1,000000 for sick and need
th French soldiers and their families
an Established fp1r Iarca military bps