Evening star., 1949-02-28
Truman 10 Open
Red Cross Drive
ByRadioTonight
$e24,0O0 Goal Here
In March; so Million
SoughtThrough Nation

WI NtuISHy OO "ItlIOH
Sought Through Nation
President Truman will deliver
his Red Cross message by radio
tonight on the eve of a Nation
wide drive for $60,000,000 which
seeks a Washington-area goal of
$924,000 during March.
The Presidents talk will be
made in the last five minutes of
a half-hour program beginning at
$50 pm. over Station WMAL and
the ABC Network, and will be
picked up by other major net
works.
The program. originating in
Chicago. will include Basil O'Con-
nor, president of the Red Cross;
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, James
Stewart, Helen Hayes and Wayne
King and his orchestra.
The s924,000 metropolitan area
goal is the combined objective of
Red Cross chapters in the District
and Alexandria and Arlington,
Fairfax, Montgomery and Prince
Georges Counties.
1000 Attend Rally.
Although tomorrow is the official
opening Date. many volunteer So
licitors made an early start in
obtaining Red Cross gifts during
the week end. An early response
from personnel of the Iranian
Embassy brought contributions
totaling $92, according to Ran
dolph G. Bishop, campaign di-
rector.
Some 1000 persons attended a
kickoff" rally last night at Con-
stitution Hall, where Vice Presi-
dent Barkley declared the Red
Cross appeal "is a call Americans
cannot fail to answer"
The Red Cross, he said, "f1tS
into the pattern of American
life" Its ideal is service to hu-
manity, he added, and "in that
word humanity. there is no recog-
milton of differences in race, color
or creed"
Speaking of the work Of the
organization he said, That kind
of greatness is needed desperately
today by the Nation and the
world"
A message by Paul G. Hoffman,
Economic Cooperation Admins
traitor, urged contributions lust
little bit larger than we had
previously planned"
Maddox, Olds Speaks.
Other speakers included H.
Randolph Maddox, fund drive
chairman, and Irving S. Olds,
president of the board of United
States Steel, sponsor of the broad
cast of the Theater Guild on the
Air presentation of Payment De-
ferred," which was part of the
program.
Appearing in the play. heard
over the ABC Network, were
Charles Laughton and Jessica
Tandy.
Residential Unit volunteers who
will solicit the Mclean Gardens
area were to attend a final plan
ming and instruction meeting at
the home of Mrs. Arthur More
head, area chairman, of $500 Rod
man street NV. at 2 pm. today.
State and Treasury Department
groups are among Government
employees planning "kick of"
meetings tomorrow.
Peurifoy to Preside.
John E. Peurifoy, Assistant Sec
retary of State. who is department
chairman for the drive, will pre-
side at a meeting of his Red Cross
office chairman at II am. tomor-
row in the new State Building at
Twenty-first street and Virginia
avenue.
Thomas H. Englesby, Red Cross
vice chairman for the State De-
partment will meet his ''key men,
at 2 pm. tomorrow in the same
building.
Treasury employees taking part
in the drive will attend meeting
at $50 am. tomorrow in Keith's
Theater, where they will view a
Red Cross campaign film, 1T Can
Be You"
Internal Revenue employees will
meet in the Departmental Audi
torium tomorrow and Wednesday
mornings, with George J. Schoe-
neman, Red Cross departmental
chairman for the Treasury, pre-
siding.
More Responsibilities Cited.
The Red Cross today made
public statements by several Cabi-
net officers in support of the cam
paign.
Secretary of Defense Forrestal
said that events of recent years
have "pyramided the responsible
tiles of the Red Cross" among
them "the mounting volume of
indispensable services to veterans;
the programs for the armed serv-
ices, expanding in step with our
gradually increasing military
strength.
Postmaster General Donaldson
pointed out that ut is the Red
Cross to whom individuals and
entire communities look for Sue
cor and aid in time of stress, suf-
fering and want.
Attorney General Clark said
that war, tornadoes. food, fire
and famine "ravage humanity too
often" and ito the aid Of the
victims instantly comes the Red
Cross"
Snyder Praises Work.
Secretary of the Treasury Sny-
der called the Red TrocS tho Hoood