The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-05-17
AN OFFER TO THE RED CROSS.

The editor OF The Forum, just as an
experiment, wants to make an offer to
the Fargo chapter of the Red Cross
on behalf of himself and some half a
dozen friends.
They agree to pay regularly on the
first OF each month the sum Of 81
apiece to the Red Cross society, the
monthly donation to be increased If
the needs Of the chapter increase.
This money is to be sent in by mail
or delivered in person without any
solicitation on the part of the Red
Cross chapter. It is a monthly liabili-
.esty for the duration of the war. There
will be no overhead expense Of collec-
ton to be charged against it.
In return for this monthly donation,
the Red Cross chapter is asked to give
each Of the signers a card stating that
he Is doing his bit for the Red Cross,
and that the Red Cross officers do not
expect him to contribute to any bene-
At that may be given under Red Cross
auspices. The commercial club
patriotic bureau is specifically exempt
from this classification.
That doesn't mean that the bearer
of the card can't go to an Elks-U. c.
4. ball game IL he wants to, or that
he won't be at the one Saturday, but
the society does not expect it Of him.
The 81 would cover eight 25-cent
benefits a month; four 50-cent bene-
fits; or two 81 benefits. That is more
that the Red Cross is likely to offer
in any one month, so 1t, in effect,
guarantees the bearers attendance at
all benefits given. In addition, the
wouldbe monthly contributors are
now regular members of tn Red Cross.
The Forum will also undertake to
advertise the existence of these cards
so that others may purchase them for
like sum or even for 81 a month, or
whatever minimum price the directors
of the chapter place on them.
It is hardly necessary to explain the
purpose of the offer. It is to find, II
possible, a more adequate and more
businesslike way of financing the Red
Cross society in Fargo; to relieve 1t
of the necessity of constantly appeal |
ing for funds: to give it an assured
income; to endow it instead of making
1t a mendicant; to save 1t the wasted
energy Of repeated canvasses of the
city to sell tickets; and lastly, though
this is a minor consideration, to per-
NIT those who make the offer to do
their share without being called upon
unexpectedly for money they had set
aside for other purposes. No good
American wants to refuse to buy a So
cent or a dollar ticket for any Red
Cross benefit, but no man on a salary
can afford to do 1t always. If he could
set aside a certain sum each month,
and then adjust his expenses accord
ingly, he could give more and feel 1t
less. When the time comes that the
Fargo chapter is called upon to make
heavy expenditures for the relief of
men at the front or their families, the
monthly payment could and would be
increased to IS or SO or more.
II 1000 such cards were distributed
in Fargo. there would never be any
necessity to show one of them. Until
such a necessity is removed, every
benefit staged In Fargo would be the
best possible boost for the sale Of the
cards. II each Of the six original hold
ers Of the cards explained his system
for beating the benefits" to six 9TH
erS. and let this continue in an end
less chain, The Forum believes that
the Red Cross chapter within a.
month, would be the most effectively
financed chapter of the society in Am
erica, and that is just the position
The Forum wants to see it in.