Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-17
$500 AUGUSTA PEOPLE GIVE
PLEDGE TO JOIN RED CROSS
All Stand Up atMass Meeting that Fills Every
Available Inch of Room at City Hall-Hall Is
Decorated with Colors of America and Her Al
lies-Ringing Speeches by James G. Blaine,
Jr., and Corporal Holmes

Two thousand five hundred people OF
augusta are pledged today to join the
American Red Cross.
This pledge was given last night at
IN" Red Cross mass Getting at City
hall when crowd that occupied ev-
rr" seat on floor. gallery and stage
aah that packed every inch of stand
ing room a crowd estima ted by the po-
i,',' as the very largest that ever gath
"',G within the portals of this big
uil0lnR stood III answer to Manager
Bunnack's ringing appeal. Everybody
Who intends to join the Red Cross to-
Unorrow stand UP.
~ was d heartening start in the cam
Jaign to raise 5000 members in Angus
/; ~ campaign characterized by the
Wa Funds oommittec as the hardest
tEat Augusta ever faced-the hardest
T., cause II seems the easiest.
DiSrcGardinc bitter weather and as
~cmblinc long hefGi'" the appointed
hour tho people of Augusta swarmed
:" the building. They damned every
Lit OF available space and before Chair
man Norman Eassctt rose to introduce
tho first speaker the police had been
forced to close the door and turn away
additional hundreds who were gather
message that has been delivered her"
since the beginning of the Great Wa.
The attendance was a worthy tribute
TO James 6. Elaine, Jr.. Corporal Derby
Holmes and the greatest cause the
country has been asked 10 support
since its fUundation-the American
I:cd Cross
It was Il stirring picture-the halt
decorated with the colors Of America
and her allies. ON the platform, besides
the Spca kcrS. were the members of the
choir and the ministers of every rei-
@ious denomination represented in Au-
+. .,usta--both Protestant and Catholic.
Near the stage was the National Sol
4 dier>' Home Band and next them the
team captains and their workers. The
rest Of tho building was crowded as
% rcN'r before with the people who vii!
today he enrolled in the Red Cross-to
stind ns the country's second line of
d, Tense the people who will give their
hcarts and their dollars for the relief
of suffering humanity.
The first speaker of the program was
James &. Blaine. Jr., grandson of Au-
gusta's illustrious citizens and Amer
ira's great statesman. He was intro
duced. with feeling words by Chairman
Norman Bdssett.
Purposes Of Campaign
MIR Bassctt Sketchcd briefly the purposes
OF the christmas campaign for 10, 900, 600
additional members. lie told of the belief in
Germany tina, the Red Cross fund of $780,
, uo" ooo wae raised by a few rich men and of
he need OF showing Germany that another
. I",0uo 900" citizens OF the Republic stood be
, hnd the Red Cross which he characterized
. as ''the mobilization of all the forces of the
people for relief lie explained that the
, membership cntailed no obligation and no
responsibility to serve--that its purpose was
show that tho people were behind the
Red Cross movement-now and TO the end.
~ lie explained that this movement had called
= 10 it, coors of the strongest men in the
. nation among them James c. Blaine. Jr.
James G. Blaine, Jr.
with sincerity ] can say said Mr.
a, IIlatnc IN beginning. his address. that know
: OF no city in which would rather speak
,ban in Augusta The American Red Cross,
2 which | represent. is conducted TOR the peo
. plc II Is Your Rcd ross-and as it is you
. are entitled TO know what ii is doing and
, what it proposes 10 do and what your OBJ
p legation 10 II is
. MIR Blaine then sketched briefly the pres
INT activities OF the Red Cross and the work
, Or i, doing for the future--a story familiar
IN whole in part to the people of Au-
pu~ta. but 50 clearly outlined, so strongly
4 presented to give picture OF its great
humanitarian work never before fully APP
prcciatcd by Mr., Banes hearers.
After telling what the Red Cross has
dorc aud l. doing, Mr. Blaine spoke of the
needs of the future-for more supplies and
more money But the Red Cross is not
worrying" he said our boys will never
-uner from any lack of generosity from the
American people. He paid his respect IN
hitting terms to the propaeandists. who cir
,ulate stories against the Red Cross and
characterized them as traitors to civiiiza-
ton
ia closing. Mr. Blaine explained thai the
E.d Cross work Of relieving suffering and
promoting morale would last as long as the
american people gave to the Red Cross. we
are the last rich nation. he explained and
We must give until the end. so that free men
IAN walk with their heads up Well stay
,n ia until this is accomplished. Don't wait
, to give Until the casualty lists come IN
Nov is the Time Nothing YOU can do Is
900 good TOR the man who is willing to risk
ms. no to protect your home. II We can
flash the news n christmas day 10 our boys
and our Anee that we have l".ooo.ooo more
F members well YOU cant give them any
= better christmas pr, Sent-and II VIII not pe
hapry christmas in Berlin, either.
IA Introducing Corporal Holmes. Mr. bas-
LIT quoted from -. John. Greater love hath
no man than This. that a man lay down MS
NE for his friend. pointing out that TINS
Gallant Young American had offered his HE,
, nj. dearest treasure, FOR his trlends-tne
american pcoplc-.h.t he had been battered
and wounded and that he knew" hrst hahu'
what the Red cross is aud does. and closed
vith IN, words corporal we are ready to
follow YOU into the trenches
Corporal Holmes
, A,d INTO the trenches is exactly where
corporal Holmes DARBY the Aank' as
'his ,ockney friends in the 22d London
battalion called him-carrled his preath-
,less usteners-into the trenches, up over
the top across no-mans land INTO 'he
German duCouts--until you could fairly
hear the hideous sounds and breathe the
tainted air OF that awful battle. line.