Evening star., 1948-03-01
Red Cross Starts
Campaign With
Truman Plea
Broadcast to RoIIy
Here Urges Support
For 75-MiIiion Drive

For 75-MiIiion Drive
Spurred by President Trlmans
call for whole-h support, Red
Cross workers throughout the Ma.
tion today began the task of rais-
ing $75.00o,000 In a month-long
campaign.
Urging the Nation to support the
campaign in a radio broadcast
from Key West. Fla, last night, the
President declared: I'm this great
cause 1t matters not how we may
differ on the pressing issues of the
day. Beneath the flag of the Red
Cross we are united people"
The Presidents talk was part of a
special program at Constitution
Hall. where Secretary of State Mar
shall and Secretary Of Defense For.
restal also spoke in behalf of the
campaign.
A feature of the special program
was the presentation of the Tneater
Guild on the air production OF THE
Barretts Of Wimpole Street." star
ring Madeleine Carroll, screen star
and former overseas Red Cross
worker; Brian Aherne and Frank
Allenby
The area campaign, including the
District, Alexandria and Arlington,
Fairfax, Prince Georges and Mont
gomery Counties, seeks to raise ST.
08o,0 900.
Generosity Seen Only Limit
Mr.. Truman, honorary Red Cross
chairman, said the results Of ths
campaign should be limited not by
its stated objective, but only by the
generosity Of the American people.
Certainly, no price tag can be
fixed upon the comforts given or the
hopes relit by the Red Cross" he
asserted. "Its services, particularly
in these days, are priceless to our
way of life"
He said the organizations great
est strength lies in the fact 1t be-
longs ito the people" and reaches
into every community.
Describing the varied program OF
the Red Cross, he told how the
organization launched its national
blood program while aiding victims
of a Gulf Coast hurricane, an
Oregon flood, New England forest
fires, a plane crash in Georgia and
southeastern tornado, and also as
sisting distressed Navajo and Hopi
Indians in the Far West.
Secretary Marshall Speaks.
"When catastrophe strikes" he
said. "the Red Cross moves with the
precision of well-trained army to
bring order out of chaos. It pro-
vides aid to stricken people without
weakening their self respect. Alto
gether, it has handled $3.50 disasters
lin its time. as9ss& .@.s
These errands of mercy repre-
sent shining chapter In the an
mails of relief giving" he added.
/ Secretary Marshall. whose ap-
pearance brought the audience
packing Constitution Hall to its feet
in tribute, said he was "embar-
rassed" by the frequency of the ap-
peals he makes-for the Red Cross,
for the Community Chests or for the
people of other nations.
But I do feel" he added, that
in each instance the appeal is COM
pletely justified by the great pur-
pose for which 1t is intended"
Drive Seen Reminder of Duty.
He said he saw the annual Red
Cross drive as much more than q
campaign to raise funds for benifi-
cent purpose-"It is an annual re-
minder of our duty toward our
neighbor."
"It reflects. I think. the willing
ness of the American people to work
together toward common humans
tartan purpose" he declared. 1T
reflects the generosity of the Ameri-
can people and their sense of de-
cency."
This year, he went on, the shrink
ing dollar and the spiraling prices
make it increasingly important that
the drive be oversubscribed.
He urged that hospitaiized serv-
icemen and veterans and men in
military service overseas be remen1-
bered as being among those assisted
by the Red Cross.
Secretary Forrestal urged that the
Nation remember the words OF a
Walter Reed Hospital patient who
suffered the loss of his son and his
own health in the war but still
wanted to get back in service, shat
there's no such thing as enough,
as it faces future full of trials.
Grew Presides Over Program
"In the months and years ahead,
the heart, wisdom and deternlina-
ton of the United States will be
tried deeply" he said. I'm those
trials there will be many appeals
/ and many drafts made on our
strength and on our charity
Joseph c. Grew. former Ambassa-
dor to Japan and general chairman
of the Washington area campaign,
presided at the program.
although the dollar may have
shrunk," Mr.. Grew declared, human
needs have not. Only If we meet
our goal can we continue to meet
those needs"
Basil O'Connor. president OF the
American Red Cross, pointed out
that the dedication of the Red Cross
to the service of people rather than
to the service OF things" was the
ideal that inspired every volunteer
worker enrolled in its service.
Blood Program Discussed.
Discussing Red Cross activities, he
said the new national blood pro-
gram engaged the organization in
the most far-reaching health pro-
gram in peacetime history"
Chairman John Clifford Folger OF
the District Chapter outlined plans
for a new chapter house, bringing
together its 27 services in a model
Red Cross workshop to be erected
between Twentieth and Twenty
first streets at e street NV.
Also urging support OF the drive
were Miss Carroll, who said she had
seen at first hand how wonderfully
the Red Gross does its job both in
war and in peace" and Irving 8.
Olds, chairman of the board OF the