The Key West Citizen

PEOPLE MAKE SPLENDID RESPONSE
The response of the people of Key West to the appeal of the American Red Cross for funds with which to assist the victims of the floods that recently afflicted the Ohio and Mississippi river valleys is encouraging and a cause for satisfaction.

While the amount Key West subscribed is small, it was like the widow's mite—all it could afford. It must be remembered that this city is living in the main off the largesse of the government.

The people of the United States, as a whole, responded nobly to the call of the distressed. Their generous giving put an end to the talk that everybody had given up private charity by laying the burden entirely upon the government. The fact that giving has been generous, however, is not enough. The question is, "has enough money been raised to enable the Red Cross to perform its task?"

Here the answer is negative. Despite the amounts that have been secured Admiral Cary T. Grayson, head of the Red Cross, calls attention to the use of $17,000,000 by the Red Cross in 1927 when the Mississippi flood affected 650,000 people. It is estimated that victims of the present disaster, even based upon figures available last week, will exceed a million persons. The need for greater contributions is evident. If there are readers of The Citizen who have thus far failed to make a donation we appeal to them to send in something to the local Red Cross officials. If there are those who have given lightly, while having the ability to give more generously, we urge them to make a second contribution that will help the Red Cross meet the exigencies of the situation everywhere.