Evening star., 1949-04-01
Speakers Cite Peril
OF Cancer in Opening
S14,5OO,OOO Drive


S14,5OO,OOO Drive
A warning that cancer is likely
to become an even larger problem
than it is today, unless every one
works now to fight it. was sounded
last night by Dr. Leonard A
Scheele. Surgeon General of the
United States Public Health Serv-
ice.
DR.. Scheele and other speakers
asked the public to give financial
support to the l949 fund-raising
campaign of the American Cancer
Society for research. prevention
and treatment Of the disease.
About $500 Washingtonians
who will participate in the Dis
trict drive for funds heard DR.
Scheele make his prediction at
kickoff rally in Constitution Hall
ushering in the campaign.
Mrs. Oveta Culp Hobby. promi-
nent newspaper executive and
national vice chairman of the
society's 1949 campaign, stressed
. that "a sense of urgency and i'm
mediacy sends us surging into our
campaign. ready TO ask money
from all We meet-the money
which will finance the research
our scientists are ready TO
pursue"
Another speaker was Eric John
ston, president of the Motion Pic
ture Association OF America and
chairman of the Board Of Direc-
tors of the American Cancer
Society.
For every dollar we invest in
: this war on cancer, we would earn
: . million dollars back in the long
reach of the years ahead" he said.
Warning that 200. 900 Americans
will die of cancer this year, Mef-
. ford r. Runyon, executive vice
president of the society, said 49,
900 900 people now living will fall
victims to the disease before they
die. unless progress is made
against the disease.
., 80 you see why the American
Cancer Society and its work must
have the support Of every one in
carrying out its humanitarian
purpose. he explained.
Also speaking was DR.. John R.
Heller. tr., director of the Ma
tional Cancer Institute of the Pub
lie Health Service, Federal Secur-
ity Agency. He emphasized the
Importance of spreading the
truth that early cancer is durable
and of alerting the public and
the medical profession to the signs
and symptoms of the disease.
Other speakers were DR.. H. H.
Kerr. president of the District di-
vision of the society; Edward F.
Bartlett, Assistant Treasury Sec
retary and the society's national
chairman for Federal employees;
Elmer Bobst, national chairman of
the Campaign Committee, and E.
Cleveland Giddings, vice president
of Capital Transit Co. and chair
man of the l949 District division
campaign.
Earlier in the day Mr.. Runyon
and Mrs. Hobby said so cents of
every 81 contributed during the
campaign will remain in the State
or District where it was collected
for local educational and service
programs. About 25 cents will 60
directly for national research and
Is cents to the society for admin
istrative and educational pro-
grams.
A national goal of $14,500, 900
has been set. The l948 campaign
netted a total of $4,000, 900.
against a goal of $l6.000o00. Mr..
Runyon said.
Last nights talks were alter
mated with special program of
entertainment. featuring stage,
screen and radio artists who came
from New York to give their serv-
ices free. Among them were Art
Brown. master of ceremonies;
Johnny Boutwell, and his orches-
ira; Burrus Williams and the
Cancer Concert Orchestra; Nina
Foch. of the screen; Larry DAN
iels, satirist; Lou Wills. jr.. come
dian; Bill Lawrence, singer; Mel
anie MacNeil. singer, and Jack
Fletcher and Bill Shelby, come
dians.
Also entertaining were the
American Cancer Society Orches-
ira. directed by DR.. Henry Gold
stein. and the Washington Male
Chorus from the District Chapter
of the Society for the Preserva-
ton and announcement of Bar
Der Shop Quartet Singing in
America, with DR.. Robert Howe
i i