Tn Ohio the State agent for the Seals adopted a method of awarding prizes which is reported to have been extremely successful, not only as a stimulus to the selling of Seals, but as an educational factor. The agent offered to supply a visiting nurse for one month to each of the twelve cities in the State of Ohio which sold the largest percentage of Seals in proportion to its population. A trained visiting nurse was employed by the State agent for one year and was sent in turn from city to city among the prize winners, serving one month in each locality. Not only did this prove an extremely popular arrangement, but in six of the cities benefited by the plan in 1912, the public became so impressed by the value of the visiting nurse that they arranged to employ nurses permanently upon the withdrawal of the prize nurse.
It has been found by experience that the distribution and sale of Seals can best be carried on through the appointment of State agents, who in turn appoint, and are responsible for, the local agents. The State agents return to the American Red Cross 10 per cent of the gross proceeds of sales in their respective States. This 10 per cent is to cover the expense to the Red Cross, which manufactures and distributes the Seals and the large quantity and variety of advertising matter used by the agents. The conference discussed at length the question of the percentage which the local agents should pay to the State agents. This discussion resulted in the conclusion that it is impracticable to fix upon a percentage applicable to all States alike. Local conditions vary so widely in different States that a percentage which would be fair in one State might be unsatisfactory in another. The reports indicated that the percentages charged by State agents to their local agencies vary from 2½ to 20 per cent on gross sales, although in one or two instances the percentage required to be returned to the State agents has exceeded 20 per cent.
Many other subjects of material interest were discussed, and no doubt exists that the conference will prove to have been of material value to all who participated in it. The agents who were present were the following:
- Dr. William Charles White, of Pittsburgh.
- Mr. Frank H. Mann, of New York City.
- Mr. William J. Deeney, of Philadelphia.
- Mr. Karl de Schweinits, of Philadelphia.
- Dr. Hoyt E. Dearholt, of Milwaukee.
- Dr. R. H. Bishop, of Cleveland, O.
- Mr. D. Van Blarcom, of New York City.
- Mr. Ernest D. Easton, of Newark.
- Mr. Severance Burrage, of Indianapolis.
- Mr. H. Wirt Steele, of Baltimore.
- Mr. L. B. Meyers, of Charlotte, N. C.
- Mr. James Jenkins, Jr., of Brooklyn.
- Mr. William C. Smallwood, of Newark.
- Mr. Roy L. French, of Baltimore.
- Mr. Kendall Weisiger, of Atlanta.
Besides the agents above mentioned, there were also present Dr. Livingston Farrand and Mr. Philip P. Jacobs, of the National Association for the Study and Prevention of Tuberculosis, and Miss Mabel T. Boardman, Mr. Ernest P. Bicknell and Mr. Charles L. Magee, of the American Red Cross.
The National Association for the Study and Prevention of Tuberculosis, as in 1911 and 1912, has been appointed by the Red Cross as national sales agent for the Christmas Seals. The appointment of State agents, as in the past, will be in the hands of the national sales agent.
While it is not possible at this time to publish a complete statement of returns from the Christmas Seal campaign of 1912, the following figures will show the results reached by some of the leading agents:
Partial Statement of the Results of Christmas Seal Sales for 1912 Compiled from the Reports of Agents.
The important position which the Red Cross Christmas Seal now occupies as a means of support for anti-tuberculosis work in the United States is indicated by the fact that the sales of the Seal, since its introduction five years ago, have amounted to a total of more than $1,000,000. Every year the sale has exceeded that of the year preceding. In 1911 the total sale amounted to $339,656.08, and it is believed that the complete reports of the sale in 1912 will show a considerable increase over that amount.