Evening star., 1939-12-13
Norman H. Davis
Renamed Chairman
OF Red Cross
Membership Climbs to
7,047,25l, Record
For Peueetime

~
7,047, Isl, Record
For Peoeetime
Norman H. Davis has been reap
pointed chairman of the American
Red Gross, it was announced at the
annual meeting Of the organizations
governing boards and chapter dele
gates. The appointment was made
by President Roosevelt.
At the same time, officials re-
vealed that Red Cross membership
for 1910. totaled 7,047,251 as result
Of the annual roll call last month
This represented a new record for
peacetime membership and was an
increase of "a per cent over last year
Mr.. Davis, introduced by Chief
Justice Hughes, vice president of
the Red Cross. made a report on ac-
tivities, describing war relief meas
ures by the Red Cross in European
nations and setting forth his con-
hdence that the American people
would respond generously if any spe-
cial campaign for war relief funds
should become necessary.
= Other reappointments to the Cen
tral Committee by the President in
eluded r. Walton Moore, counselor
Of the State Department.; Maj. Gen.
DANES Carre Magee, surgeon general
Of the United States Army; Rear
AIy,,iro1 Doee AEovof;ro e,,~~oo,,
general of the United States Navy;
John w. Hanes. Undersecretary of
Ghe Treasury and Robert H. jackson,
solicitor general.
Reelected to the Central Commit
tee were Mrs. Henry P. Davidson of
New York and Henry Upsen Sims of
Birmingham by the chapter dele
gates, and James B. Forgan Of Chi
cago and George L. Harrison of New
York by the Board of Incorporators.
= Three Vacancies Filled.
g Three new members were elected
TO the Board of Incorporators to fill
Vacancies caused by death of two
members and resignation of another
Those elected were Edward A..
o'Neal, president of the American
Farm Bureau Federation: DR..
Thomas Parran, jr.. surgeon general
Of the United States Public Health
Service, and John L. Lewis, president
IF the C. I. o.
: Mr.. Davis, in his report, COM
mented on increased activity during
the past year and announced the
increase of 1,378,571 members. He
said the Red Cross had spent
$508000 for relief in 1913 disasters
during the year. Speaking of Eu-
ropean relief, he said:
Since the outbreak of war in
Europe on September /, we have all
been actively engaged, chapters and
national organization alike, in meet
Ing the responsibility placed upon
us by the Treaty of Geneva in CIV
ing aid to the victims of war.
II believe I am safe in saying
that we have so far met our full
share of emergency needs and we
are continuing to do so without
neglecting our important duties in
the field OF relief within our own
country.
Two Principles Remain.
'Two principles remain the same
for us today as they were Is years
ago. First, we must be strictly
neutral in all that we do, and second,
in the distribution of relief in the
countries involved there must be
absolute impartiality. with no dis
elimination because of race or re-.
ligion. We are adhering steadfastly
to these two outstanding Red Cross
principles"
Mr.. Davis said the greatest need
in the war zone at present was
among civilians, particularly in Po-
land and Finland. He said requests
for aid had come from the French,
British, Polish and Finnish Red
Gross and said that the German
Red Cross, which stated there was
no need for aid in that country,
had asked for medicines and hos
pital equipment for the Polish peo-
pie.
Surgical dressings, made by large
city chapters during the past three
months, are being shipped to France
and England as rapidly as possible,
he reported, and said that by jan
uary the Red Cross expects that
more than 100000 sweaters, dresses
and hospital garments will be ready
for shipment.
Medicines Bought in London.
Mr. Davis said large quantities of
medicines had been bought in Lon
don by the American Red Cross and
sent to the Finnish Red Cross and
$4,000 surgical dressings were on
their way.
The chairman said contributions
to the Red Cross have totaled $273,-
600 of which all but SIS 900 has been
designated for use of the Polish war
victims. The Central Committee of
the Red Cross made available s1,OO0,-
900 additional of which $250,0O0 has
been allocated for relief within Po-
land.
1T has been our hope" he said,
"that it would not be necessary to
conduct war relief fund campaign.
We had hoped that increased re-
ceipts from the roll call and con-
tinued gifts to the war relief fund
would, for reasonable time, take
care OF the necessary work.
obviously, much depends upon
the future course of hostilities and
the developing needs. I have every
confidence that if overwhelming
needs should develop the American
people will wish to carry our full
share of the relief burden, and that
If and when necessary for us to
make a major campaign for funds,
tho reSpopeec u,ill ha &C oo,,aro,,.