New-York tribune., 1918-12-16
Marshall Is Chief Speaker
at Metropolitan Opera
House Rally of Workers
Col. Whittlesey Attends
SsLost Battalion Command
er, Charles E. Hughes and
Mrs. Belmont Speakers

Because famine and disease stalk
through the PROSTATE countries of the
old world from Belgium to the Levant,
the Greatest Mother in the World-the
American Red Cross-began yesterday
the roll call of those of her children
who possess dollar and heart.
The membership muster roll began
officially at an afternoon meeting at
the Metropolitan Opera House, with
foYmer Supreme Court Justice Charles
E. Hughes presiding, with Vice Presi
dent Marshall present as the chief
speaker and the auditorium we'll filled
with representatives of those $4,000
Red Cross workers who are to conduct
the membership campaign on Manhat-
tan Island
Besides Vice~President Marshall
the flag of the President of the United
States hung in his honor from the
central parterre box-the speakers in
cluded Lieutenant Colonel Whittlesey,
of "The Lost Battalion; Mrs. ADJUST
Belmont. Dr.. Woods Hutchinson and
Chairman Hughes.
Sailors Play and Sing
These were reinforced numerically
by the Pelham Bay jackies' band, a de-
tachment of singing sailors and Miss
Margaret Romaine of the Metropolitan
Opera Company, who also sang, and
lnally by the audience itself, under the
leadership of Signor Camlieri.
In the churches yesterday there were
special Red Coss services, This was
true also of the. synagogues. AS for
outdoor New York, it was changed over
night to a vast sign board for the dis
play of the blood-red cross that has
been the emblem of humanity since
the first crusaders pinned it to their
bucklers.
Vice President Marshall's trip to
New York was solely to lend his voice
to the cause of the Red Cross. He
arrived in the Pennsylvania station
from Washington via the Baltimore &
Ohio Railroad at /: 30 p. m. yesterday,
accompanied by Mrs. Marshall and
their small adopted daughter, and the
Thistlethwaite, and Mrs. Thistlethwaite.
The party was met by Ethan Allen,
chairman of the Atlantic Division of
the American Red Cross. They were
taken to the Gotham Hotel without at
tracing the attention of sidewalk
crowds.
Cheered by Great Crowd
After luncheon at the Metropolitan
Club, where Mr.. Marshall, with twenty
two others, was the guest of Walter
Jennings, chairman of the New York
County chapter of the Red Cross, the
Vice President was taken to the Metro
politan Opera House.
AS he came on the stage, escorted by
Mr. Hughes, the smartly uniformed
women ambulance drivers of the Red
Cross, the canteen workers and soldiers
and sailors who were seated there rose
and saluted him This was a cue for an
outburst of cheers and applause from
the floor and galleries.
Mr.. Hughes was presented as chair
man by II. D. Campbell. Mr.. Hughes re-
minded the gathering that the assem-
blage marked the beginning of the last
and best of the Red Cross drives. He
said:
"No longer do we wait in the torture
of suspense for fresh reports of battles
and devastation, Of ruin and death
Thank God, that is over. What we met
we met without hinching. What prepa-
ration was required was given. But this
drive is Victory's drive"
Here Mr.. Hughes was forced to stop
until the applause and cheers died.
Guarantors of Peace
Our boys are crossing the Rhine
Again he was interrupted and then pro.
ceeded
But they are crossing as the guar
dians of liberty and the guarantors OF
peace" More applause and cheering
and them
eve have a note of exaltation to-day
in the call of the Red Cross.
at is an appeal Of joy. 1t has its
note of pathos but the dominant note
IS of joy. The Red Cross goes forward
to repair the ravages of war, to binc
up the wounds of those who have suf-
feerd in this cause. The Red Cross
goes forth with its special message OF
humanity to world now blessed By
peace, and the Red Cross goes forward
to this special mission with a back
ground of extraordinary achievement,
which makes its record the brightes
page IN the history of the last fou]
years"
Discussing the significance of the
present roll call, Mr.. Hughes said:
we propose to make the people OF
he United States and the members OF
the Red Cross interchangeable terms
we propose new expression of the
unity of the American people. We
nave reJoiced as We have lost thought
of creed and of race, Of difference ir
circumstances, of vocation or profes
sion; as we have forgotten all the bar.
r1ers OF prejudice and bigotry we have
rejoiced in this new found conscious
ness of unity
Vice-President introduced
In introducing the Vice President he
said:
The best of any Office is not in Of
ilcial duty but in unofficial privilege
made possible by tenure of office: anc
in the absence of the President Of the
United States it becomes the peculia,
privilege Of the Vice President Of the
United States to utter the thoughts OF
America, particularly at this time ir
connection with this great humani
tartan enterprise"
This war has taught me many grea
lessons" began Mr.. Marshall after
few pleasantries. "It has taught M
some things l never knew before
Then he plunged into a statemen
that was interpreted by some of thos
present as his view Of the Senate Com
r'ittee's investigation Of the working
of the German propaganda machine /,
the United States and aid given it b,
certain publishers.