The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1917-12-19
25,OO0,OOO TOTAL n
RED Cross HOST
BY XMAS LIKELY.
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 the
Army's Right Hand.

make Red Cross membership as
universal as citizenship is the new
slogan Of the Christmas membership
campaign committee OF the American
Red Cross for the Southwestern diyi-
sion, comprising the states OF Mis-
souri, Arkansas, Texas, Kansas and
Oklahoma From the enthusiasm with
which the prelininaries 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
Ders to be doubled
In fact, if there are oBly l0,00O,00O
new members added TO the 5,0C0,000
already enrolled officials will be dis
appointed, according 10 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
100000.
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 1O,000,O00 mem
bers, is allotted 100000, bur Chair
man Johnston predicts his division
win pass this figure by 100000, ap-
portioned as follows. Missouri. 1850.
900; Arkansas, 25O,0U0; Texas. 1,OOO.-
600; Kansas, 100000; Oklahoma, 5O0,-
600.
Already the headquarters of the
Southwestern division membership
committee has begun to assume the
aspect Of 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 py
letter and telegram, for supplies, cir
culars, posters and general informa-
tion are even more numerous. An ex-
ira corps Of stenographers is kept
busy forwarding information, issuing
directions and sending telegrams and
letters.
The storeroom at division rsadquar-
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-
nition to be used in the big drive.
What Service Flag Is.
One Of the most striking emblems
Of the campaign is transparent win
dow card designed as a service flag.
A large Red Cross on white base Il
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 it is planned to have a
lighted candle placed behind these
flags If the canvass equals the ex.
pectations Of Red Cross leaders there
will not be home in the division
Christmas eve that does not have one
of these flags in the window
Boy Scouts Are to Join.
Boy Scouts are being organized to
gain memberships School programs.
sienalizing the coming Of the holidays.
viii have an appeal for the Red Cross
The work OF the children. ned 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
aevoting their time, or have promised
10 do SO, making auto trips throughout
he country, stopping at every home
ana urging every member OF the fam
lly to take out Red Cross member
ship.
In some cities census is being
saken Of every block. number Of
1ouses and apartments in the block be-
ng registered The squad assigned
o a particular block is given a number
81 service flag cards equal in number
10 the numberA Of families in its
erritory. Every flag worker (
caves in a window is counted as 4
'ictory on his score. Every flag he
1rlngs back is chalked up as a defeat
In other cities merchants have
'romised the assistance Of thek clerks
lurins days Of Christmas shopping.
every purchaser will be urged to In
lude a Christmas membership among