Evening star., 1940-09-26
Red Cross Gains
.1,133 Members
Despite Rain
Government Units
Account for Fourth
Of Total of 5, TT

With Government units account
ing for nearly fourth of the men,
bershipS, the District Red Cross
Roll Call went into the third full
day of its drive with SIT enroll
ments to date.
Despite yesterdays rain volun-
teer workers reported 1,133 mem
berships for the day. The Govern
ment units led the days collection
with 713, bringing the total of Gov
eminent memberships to 1,2l9.
Terming the Government units
the backbone of the local campaign,
Roll Call Chairman Edgar Morris
expressed satisfaction with the
early returns from the Government.
At the same time he urged busi-
ness and residential groups to give
the Red Cross the support they have
accorded it in the past. Mr.. Morris
pointed out that booths at 81 diff
ferent locations were for the con-
venience of all who wanted TO join
the Red Cross.
100 Per Cent Enrollments.
Among the groups reporting 100
per cent enrollments were the chief
clerks Office of the Public Health
Service, first Government Office to
report perfect score, and en-
ployes of the Greater National Cap
ital Committee, the Sulgrave Club
and the Capitol Fur Shop.
An employe of the Treasury De-
partment sent in SO check and
poem to the effect that, while she
couldn't crochet or knit, she wanted
to do her bit.
Brig. Gen. Albert L. Cox. chair
man of the Roll Call Speakers Bu-
reau, announced that every local
radio station had agreed to present
a full program of Red Cross speak
ers, with each station allowing time
for one or more speakers daily. The
first of these will be Confer Bailey,
a member of the Speakers Bureau,
who will broadcast an appeal for
the Red Cross over Station WOLF
at GAS o'clock tonight.
Miss Gertrude Rest OF the Agri-
| culture Department was the honor
Roll Call worker" during a broad
cast by Gordon Hittenmsrk from
the Rail Call booth at 1913 Four
teenth street NV. today. Miss
Rest was recognized for her out
standing work in each of the an
nual Red Cross Roll Calls.
Red Cross Skit Rehearsed.
Members of the Washington Thea
ter went into rehearsal today for
/ a Red Gross skit of eight minutes
duration which will be presented
/ to club and organization meetings
/ throughout the drive The skit was
written by William F. Baker. who
directed the Community Center
Players during the summer and is
executive assistant to Gen. Cox in
the Speakers Bureau.
| Miss Betty Leaf is the only men,
Der of the cast of 13 to return to
the Skit for the third successive
year.
An appeal for support of the Red
Cross as one of the great agencies
serving in the national defense was
made to the Lions Club yesterday
by Livingston Blair. assistant di-
rector of the American Junior Red
Cross.
Mr.. Blair pointed out that the
Red Cross not only has an obliga-
ton as a humanitarian agency to
take care of the suffering abroad
/ but also has prime obligation to
serve this country in great ma
tional disasters. to preserve life and
to equip people with the knowledge
to care for the injured
Calls for Expansion Emphasized.
He emphasized that industry, la
Dor and the Government have all
called on the Red Cross greatly to
expand its work as a part of the
national defense program. He cited
the fact that industry has asked
the Red Cross TO teach first aid to
its workers, and that one Govern
ment agency alone asked for first
aid training for a third more per-
sons than we're trained in the en-
tire program last year.
This expanded contribution to
the national defense" said Mr..
Blair. "is possible only through a
greatly increased membership in the
Red Cross. There is no alterna-
tive"
He pointed out that the Red
Cross has been supported by the
people entirely since its beginning,
that it is entirely dependent on
this support for its programs.
The speaker was introduced by
Hugh v. Keiser, first vice presi-
dent of the Lions Club. who pledged
100 per cent support of the Lions.