The Monticellonian., 1917-12-14

That Is why the Red cross wants 15,000000 members. It is not so much the S2 or the $10 or the $25 or the S100 or the $1 fee that membership costs, though that has its importance. It would be even more necessary If membership did not cost q cent. But in this case the fee Is small consid- eration. What is needed Is an army of 15,000,000 true-hearted Americans who will stand back of the army and navy, and supply them with everything they need to keep them well and cheery. and to give them every chance for life If they get sick or are hurt. Confidence in his backing is a mighty factor in a fellows spunk 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 S100 in one sum, and the in- terest on that money accrues to the Red Cross every year. A life member pays S25 in one sum, and the interest suffices 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 "Maga- zine Member" It costs $2, each year. but it brings with it the Red Cross Magazine, published every month with 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 $2. the annual membership costs but $1, 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 great effort will be to enroll the $1 and S2 people, for it is numbers and not mon ey at this time that the Red Cross wants.
 When the membership has climbed to the 15o00,000 mark, then will come the call for members to help turn out supplies. There is no compulsion- nobody has to pledge himself to give any money except his dues, nor to give service nor anything. But of course you will want to help, and you will have a world of opportunity. Whether you can knit, or sew, or roll bandages, or run errands for those who can do those things, or give mon- ey to help them buy supplies of yarn and muslin and gauge, you can help. It will be your part to do the biggest thing you can to back up the fighting boys over there.
 The first thing is to become a Red Cross member Take somebody in with you if you possibly can. Help the 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 ali-it 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 garment made and entrusted to it. Every penny and every stitch goes to some American soldier or some destitute one whom the Red Cross is trying to keep alive.
 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 chatierers with no sense of responsibility, who would ill the same spirit repeat q islander 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 Washing ton. every head of every bureau in everyone of the thirteen divisions 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 recent public speech on this subject, Henry P. Davison, chairman of the Red Cross war council, de- eIared that of every dollar given the Red Cross for relief, about $1.02 is spent for relief. Not only are the ex- penses met from funds provided for that purpose, but the money contributed draws interest while in bank, and the interest also is applied to relief work.
 The Red Cross is led by the biggest and brainiest and most unselfish men the nation could find. Trust them.
 They are doing the very best that brains and money and determination can do to prevent human suffering, and to take care of Pershing's boys. Help them. Your own may be there soon.