The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-11-03

nurses and assistants in foreign
wars, down to the more recent
assistance rendered to sufferers
from fire, flood, cyclones and
disasters in our own country, as
we'll as the unselfish, noble work
of the Red Cross In the war
stricken countries of Europe.
Nothing could be more de-
serving Of the assistance and CO.
operation we can all do to help
this humane work, but just now
is not some of the Red Cross
work a bit hysterical and beyond
reason?
For inasmuch as 1t will be
necessary for the United States
to practically both feed and
clothe the allied soldiers dur
ing the period of war, would it
not be wise to confine the work
of relief to the getting ready the
actual necessities for the relief
and assistance of those wound
ed on the battlefield in Europe
rather than consuming time and
thousands of yards of cotton
cloth in making travelling kits.
work-bags, etc., for the SOL
diers (even Russian soldiers I
understand) who will probably
need a suit of khaki far worse
within a short time, and this
making of all these cumbersome
unnecessary things for the SOL
diers now. reduces the supply Of
materials just that much. Thus
forcing up the price of all the
material we buy, thereby work.
ing a hardship upon all except
the manufacturers Of cloth and
material.
Our soldiers (God bless them)
do not now need, nor the Rus
sian soldiers do not need travel
ing kits, nor will they for some
time to come. So why this
hysteria over unnecessaries?
There is so much else to be
done, God knows.
Soldiers who went to Mexico
during the recent skirmish tell
of how certain mufflers, etc.,
made and sent by the Red Cross,
sisters and sweethearts, were
used by the soldiers to wipe
their guns with and thrown
away and other useless articles
thrown aside as cumbersome.
Heaven forbid that the writer or
anyone should seek to discredit
the unselfish, humane work of
the Red Cross in relieving the
suffering and supplying the
needs of the sufferers in all dis
asters and war, but that is quite
different rom many phases of
so-called Red Cross work at
present, and it is these latter
that has brought forth the criti-
cism and discredited motives.
Anent "A Readers" question
on the subject of the library
fund and your reply, while there
are very few of us who would
not gladly make some sacrifices
for the welfare OF our soldiers,
very few of us are able to stand
the drain on our small reserves
for the numerous demands made
upon us just now for this and
that for our soldiers which
seems to have developed into
an emotional mania land some
thing of graft also).
The writer feels that we are
all doing our war bit to a great
extent In paying the prohibitory
prices for all food and other
necessities and while knowing
this only benefits the food gam
blers and big manufacturers of
all supplies, and benefits the
government and our soldiers
not at all, SO long as the Shy
locks are permitted to demand
and get their pound of profit
and we perforce must pay 1t, we
are deprived Of the privilege Of
showing our patriotism in more
direct ways toward our soldiers,
or In buying Liberty bond, for
knowing that our living and
supplies are In the hands of and