Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-09-03
Loyal to Red Cross

IeCeIlC drLlCie In Inc OCar
regarding the blood collec-
ton row were Mortified by
the fact that individuals and
a handful Of hospitals would
attack the American Red
Cross and its blood program
publicly, thereby hurting the
community effort to obtain
this life-giving fluid.
Buoyed by its temporary
success in collecting blood, the
American Association Of Blood
Banks is advocating the Red
Cross leave this entire field to
them, and they honestly be-
i'eve they can keep the bank
filled by paying donors SIS
q pint or leaving it up to in
diyiduals to replace blood by
soliciting on their own.
The remarks labelling the
Red Cross effort as "socialistic"
are supposed to make real
Americans cringe and refuse
the aid that friends and
neighbors give without re-
Enumeration - In the same
manner. ! suppose, that peo-
pie who have donated to the
social security fund were sup
posed to refuse this help in
FDR's day because it, too. was
socialistic.
1t is the AABB that is
shrinking from a word and
that word is realistic" Since
time immemorial the ARC has
aided those in need with every
effort they could command.
Every catastrophe has been
lessened by efforts of the
ARC.
I represent one of those
groups which have expended
every effort to meet a quota
set by the Red Cross to fill
the bank. In Post 1856 Of the
Jewish War Veterans, with
q membership of 200, we
managed in the past year
to collect $50 pints free Of
charge. The AABB would
have paid out $3.50 for that
much blood from us, and we
are just one Of hundreds Of
groups. Those getting the
blood would have paid that
money back to them.
They say it is the only way
they can get blood. They"
represents six hospitals, and
the other Al are participating
in the ARC program. They"
would also have you believe
that the hundreds of "volun-
teerS" who aid the American
Red Cross cannot be relied
upon, and a visit to that
center might make it embar-
RAISING when they confront
volunteers with an arm full Of
stripes representing years of
free" service.
1t is my sincere hope that
everyone who has benefited
from the ARC blood program
will go or send a friend to the
Red Cross Blood Center at
2025 E street NV, during
September, to donate a pint
of blood in a show of con-
1idence to that organization
which has accepted a COM
munity responsibility and
continues to fight for its life
to serve you without the aid
of professionals.
Joseph Crown.
The local blood collection
row, so fairly reported by
Charles @. Brooks, really
describes q Nationwide
struggle between the Red
Cross and the pathologists Of
the American Association Of
Blood Banks over which shall
control the procurement and
distribution of donated. blood.
This fight began when the
Red Cross converted its un-
deniable wartime know-how
and its national organization
of volunteers to meet peace
time and disaster blood bank
needs. The larger purpose
was to keep a vital national
survival agency In standby
readiness for immediate, all
out expansion, should atomic
disaster strike the home
front.
This sensible project had
full support of every think
ing responsible group of citi-
zens and spolicy makers, ex-
cept AABB. From the day
it organized, the AABB
frankly stated that one of
its main detectives was to get
Red Cross out of the blood
procurement field. To un-
dermine confidence in the
Red Cross, AABB stressed
periodic blood-bank short
ages. It blamed these admit
teddy critical and dangerous