That persons who use the name or emblem of the Red Cross illegally, do
so, as a rule, in ignorance of the federal law prohibiting such use, and
are quick to discontinue the violation when their attention is called
to the statute, is a fact frequently demonstrated. A recent instance in
point was that of the William Windhorst Company, of Cincinnati. This
company had issued some attractive advertising matter which contained
the Red Cross emblem. As soon as it was informed that this was in
violation of law, the company took prompt measures to recall and destroy
the objectionable printed matter and to inform its customers that it
holds the American Red Cross in the highest respect and would, under no
circumstances, knowingly infringe upon its rights.
Another striking illustration of the same spirit was that in which Mr.
Arthur Letts, proprietor of a large department store in Los Angeles,
not only discarded all use of the Red Cross in his own advertising, but
issued an order to his buyers that no goods bearing the name or emblem of
the Red Cross should be purchased or sold in his store.
Members of the American Red Cross everywhere who observe locally the
use of the name or emblem on signs or tags or vehicles or for other
advertising purposes are urged to call the attention of the users to the
federal law which prohibits such use. The secretary of the Red Cross in
Washington will always be pleased to learn of such efforts and their
results. If a user declines to discontinue the practice, the member of
the Red Cross who has called his attention to the law is invited to send
the user’s name and address to the secretary in Washington, together with
a description of the character of the violation observed. A copy of the
law will be sent to any one on request.