The general membership has been somewhat increased during the year. This is largely due to the generous co-operation of several of our members who contributed considerable amounts to a fund from which the expenses of a propaganda were guaranteed. Large accessions, it was hoped, would be secured by means of printed circulars and historical data generally distributed. While the propaganda resulted in the accession of several thousand new members, the net result of the efforts did not justify the hopes that had been entertained of a very large increase in membership. The cost of this work was paid from the fund created by the donors and without any inroads upon the resources of the Association.
At the International Conference, held in London last year, it was agreed that the Red Cross throughout the world should assist in the campaign against what has been aptly called “The Great White Plague,” i. e., Tuberculosis. Several Day Camps have been established by our Branches and are efficiently applying with most gratifying results the curative and preventative means for combatting this disease that have been advised by expert practitioners.
A Red Cross Christmas Stamp has been designed and will be sold during the holidays at one cent each, the profits thereby secured to be applied in aiding the tuberculosis campaign in localities where the stamps were sold.
A prominent military surgeon, who is a member of the Red Cross, has prepared a handbook for the Association on First Aid to the Injured and this book has been placed on sale. It is hoped that the Y. M. C. A. will adopt this work as a text book, a wish there is reason to believe may be realized and that every family in the country will be glad to have one. At the request of a prominent railroad official, we are preparing, for travelers and railroad employees, to be hung up in stations, a card containing suggestions for preventatives and remedial measures in respect to accidents.
Special instructions of relief columns have also been commenced. A plan is being developed through which the Federation of Trained Nurses may become affiliated with the Red Cross so as to provide qualified nurses as may be needed in cases of calamity, epidemics, etc.
The evidence is overwhelmingly convincing that where a great disaster has occurred contributions of the people are willingly and generously given to relieve suffering, but unlike the people of some foreign countries, our own do not seem to be as ready to join the Association in great numbers and by their annual dues supply the means for maintaining our organization in a constant state of readiness to respond instantly on call for help. Fortunately, the ordinary general expenses of conducting the business of the Association in Washington are small, since we have no rent to pay and no salaries to pay, save to the National Director, the Secretary and Treasurer, and for one or two clerks, but the stationery, Quarterly Bulletin, printing, telegraphing and postal charges are considerable. The annual revenues available for administration, derived from the half of the yearly dues, are not sufficient to properly conduct the work entrusted to the Association. The income from the Endowment Fund is also small because the fund is small and to the increase of this fund it seems to the Committee special effort should be directed.
Considering to what proportion the endowments of certain public institutions and beneficent organizations have grown through donations and legacies, it does not seem to be an unjustified expectation that the Red Cross Endowment should certainly reach a million dollars, yielding at least $40,000 a year, which sum, with other income, would be sufficient and ample to meet all administrative expenses and leave a considerable balance for application to emergency relief, before measures could be matured for securing gifts from the general public directly appliable to such relief.
With respect to this matter the Committee does not ask for enlarged powers, since the Central Committee a year since took action looking to the appointment of a Committee on Endowment, but for reasons all appreciate the time was not deemed propitious for undertaking the propaganda to this end, but members of the Board of Incorporators can, in their individual capacities, do much to forward the interests of the Association by their suggestion and personal influence.
The statement presented by the Treasurer will show the financial history of the Corporation for the year 1908.