The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-12-19
TEN MILLION GOAL OF BIG DRIVE
EXPECTED TO BE DOUBLED,
GIBSON PREDICTS.
BOY SCOUTS TO JOIN WORK
Merchants In Country Districts TO
Make Campaign In Automobiles
to Win Support for tn.
Army's Right Hand.

Red Cross for the Southwestern divi-
sion. comprising the states OF Mis-.
souri,, Arkansas, Texas, Kansas and
Oklahoma. From the enthusiasm with
which the preliminaries of the drive,
which opens Monday, Dec. II, continu-
Ing until Christmas eve. are proceed.
ing, officials at Washington expect the
original figures of 100000 new mem
bers to be doubled.
In fact. il there are only 10000, 900
new members added to the 5000, 900
already enrolled officials will be dis
appointed, according to a message re-
ceived at Southwestern division head.
quarters from Harvey d. Gibson, gen.
eral manager of the American Red
Cross. In Gibson's letter he said Of
ficials would not be surprised to see
the total membership for the nation
on Christmas eve reach total Of
25,000,00O.
According to John L. John
ston, chairman of the campaign for
the Southwestern division, the drive
in many counties already is under
way, especially in the rural districts.
100000 Members Wanted.
The Southwestern division, under
the original quota OF 10000, 900 men,
bers. is allotted 100000, but Chair
man Johnston predicts his division
will pass this figure by 100000, ap-
portioned as follows: Missouri, 75O..
900: Arkansas, 250,OOO; Texas, 1,OOO.-
GOO; Kansas, 100000; Oklahoma, 5OO,-
600.
Already the headquarters of the
southwestern division membership
committee has begun to assume the
aspect of a military headquarters.
From counties in the division where
the Red Cross armies already have
gone over the top in the big drive
messages are arriving reporting prog
ress and asking for supplies.
From counties where the intensive
campaign has not begun, but where
committees are making detailed plans
for their drive, the requests, both by
letter and telegram. for supplies, cir
oulars, posters and general informa-
ton are even more numerous, An ex-
ira corps of stenographers is kept
busy forwarding information, issuing
directions and sending kilograms and
letters.
The storeroom at division headquar-
ters carries the similarity to a mill.
tary base even further. Every mail
and express delivery brings parcels
and boxes of supplies from Washing.
ton, circulars, posters, handbooks,
buttons and window cards, the ammu.
milton to be used in the big drive.
What Service Flag Is.
One of the most striking emblems
of the campaign is a transparent win.
dow card, designed as a service flag.
A large Red Cross on a white base is
the central figure. Smaller crosses
for each additional member of the
family who becomes a member of the
Red Cross can be added to the card.
One of these card service flags will be
placed in the window of every home
where a membership is obtained. On
Christmas eve II is planned to have a
lighted candle placed behind these
flags. II the canvass equals the ex.
pectations of Red Cross leaders there
will not be a home in the division
Christmas eve that does not have one
OF these flags in the window.
Boy Scouts Are to Join.
gain memberships. School programs,
signalling the coming of the holidays,
will have an appeal for the Red Cross.
The work of the children, Red Cross
workers feel. will be an important fac
tor in the success of the membership
drive.
In country districts merchants with
wide acquaintance among farmers are
devoting their time, or have promised
TO do so, making auto trips throughout
the country, stopping at every home
and urging every member Of the fam
lily to take out Red Cross member.
ship.
In some cities census is being
taken of every block, number OF
houses and apartments in the block be.
ing registered. The squad assigned
to a particular block is given number
of service flag cards equal in number
to the number of families in its
territory. Every flag worker
leaves in a window is counted as a
victory on his score. Every flag he
brings back is chalked up as a defeat.
In other cities merchants have
promised the assistance of their clerks
during days Of Christmas shopping.
Every purchaser will be urged to in
clude Christmas membership among
the gifts for husband, wife, brother.
sister, parent or child.