Evening star., 1949-03-01
Az "THE EVENING STAR, Washington, D. C..
l.,
S6O,OOO,OOO Drive
By Red Cross Opens
With Plea by Truman

The Nation wide Red Cross
campaign for s60,0O0,0O opened
today with a call from President
Truman for public support of "a
movement which works for all the
people all the time"
The 1949 drive. with a $924,0
quota for the District, had its for
NAL kickoff in Chicago last night
at a ceremony in which Gen,
Eisenhower addressed 5000 volun-
teer workers. The President
joined in with a broadcast from
here.
MI. Truman, in an address de-
scribing the Red Cross as "a part
nership of the people and urging
the people to oversubscribe the
goal, said:
"On the eve of the 1949 fund
Campaign of the American Red
Cross. I consider it not only a
duty but a genuine privilege, to
call upon all men and women of
good will to support this humani-
tartan cause.
Messages Dramatized.
Earlier tonight. millions of you
heard stirring Red Cross messages
dramatized by some of Americas
finest talent. During the month of
March, citizens throughout the
United States and Canada will
hear and see other programs dedi-
Gated to this annual campaign.
Keeping the Red Cross strong is
a part Of our overall job.
This afternoon I renewed my
annual membership in the Red
Cross, just as I have done for
many years. AS evidence of en-
rollment 1 was given a small but
ton for my lapel-a Red Cross
emblem on field of white. Here
is a symbol we can all wear
proudly, with full confidence that
IT. stands for movement which
works for all the people all the
time. Wherever there is trouble.
there. too. is the Red Cross-a
partnership of people-translating
our dollars into good deeds.
The Red Cross commands the
respect and gratitude of all of us
And small wonder that it does
when we review its record of per-
formance.
The past fiscal year proved to
be one Of the most significant in
the organizations long history.
For example. in its disaster relief
role the Red Cross answered the
call of the distressed in 303 sep
arate emergencies. Comparative
ly few of these were catalogued as
major catastrophies. Let us re-
member. however. that whenever
disaster strikes the havoc wrought
is just as devastating and be-
wildering to those individuals af-
fected, whether there are 100
families or 100000 families over
whelmed.
Aids Men in Services.
Through its services to our
armed forces and to our veterans
and their dependents. the Red
Cross has remained a counsellor
and stalwart friend of our troops
as we'll as all eX-servicemen.
Through it's home nursing and
first aid and water safety courses
it has spread better health habits
and reduced the accident toll
throughout the land. Through
Junior Red Cross members in the
schools, it has promoted better
citizenship and world under
standing among our youth:
Through a vast network of local
chapters, the Red Cross provides
q service which reaches the COM
munity-the Nation-the world.
welcome the volunteer solici-
tors who soon will call upon you.
They are giving not only their
funds. but their energies as well.
Let us oversubscribe the 1949 goal
of the Red Cross. Let us keep this
partnership of the people ready
and at full strength. -
Eisenhower Lauds Agency.
Gen. Eisenhower, in his speech,
praised the Red Cross as the best
prepared of any American agency
for quick, trained and abundant"
action in fire. flood or other crises.
Every contributor is an active
participant in Red Cross relief
work" he said. More than that,
every one of us may some day
owe his life to the American Red
Cross"
The program was carried over
national network facilities OF the
American Broadcasting Co. and
televised. Helen Hayes, actress,
and James Stewart, motion pic
ture star, took part in the program.