The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1917-10-17
Efforts Made to
DisCredit Work
Red Cross Exposes Element
Which Lays False Charges
Upon It's Workers
WORK is NECESSARY
Knitted Goods Are Much Needed
in Spite of False Rumor
to Contrary

The following extracts are re-
printed from an article in the
Minneapolis Journal Of Sunday,
at the request of Margaret Lit
tie, chairman Of Redwood Coun-
ty Red Cross Chapter. The ar
ticle is from Red Cross head
quarters and is unquestionably
authentic.
Reports that the Red Cross
is selling articles donated to it,
that supplies are thrown away,
that knitted articles are not ac-
cepted by the army and navy
have been coming in with such
rapidity that the northern divi-
sion has been forced to the con-
clusion that there is an organ
lied effort to discredit the work
of the Red Cross, and by lower
ing it's efficiency, to hamper the
work of the medical forces of
the United States army and
cause dissatisfaction among our
troops in the field by keeping
from them comforts which
would be supplied through the
Red Cross" said a statement
issued by the division.
This conclusion was reached
reluctantly, and only after doz-
ems of such reports have been
investigated and found to have
no foundation. As fast as re-
port is denied effectively in one
community, it springs up in an
other, and a second report is
circulated in the first town. Let
tiers are received daily from
towns in Minnesota, Montana,
North Dakota and South Dako-
ia telling of this thing or that
thing that is hindering Red
Cross work. In every instance
these reports have been found to
be malicious. Even the larger
cities are not free from this
hysteria. Almost anything, it
would seem, derogatory to the
Red Cross, can sweep through
the district like wild fire.
Articles Not Sold.
"The report that articles do
mated to the Red Cross are sold,
sometimes to soldiers and at
other times to civilians, is a
most prevalent one, despite the
denial of every person connect
ed with the Red Cross.
'gThis false report has been
denied time and time again, but
it continues to reappear. Just
recently H. D. Gibson, general
manager of the American Red
Cross, telegraphed to all divi-
SiOns:
"a story is being Industrious
" circulated to the effect that
sweaters, socks and other arti-
lcles knitted for the Red Cross
are sold either to the public in
shops or direct to the soldiers.
1t is very important that you
should issue notice at once to
each chapter denying this as
vigorously as you know how. No
articles whatever, either knitted
or otherwise, made by Red Cross
workers and turned into any
Red Cross chapter, branch or
auxiliary, or to any supply ware
house, are sold either to the sol
diers or in shops. If any wilful
lease of this sort should come to
the attention Of headquarters
the charter Of the Red Cross
chapter or subsidiary sanction
ling it would be Immediately
withdrawn, with full publicity.
Every variant of this story
reaching the Red Cross is being
investigated. In no case has the
Red Cross as yet found any
truth in the stories.
Nothing Is Discarded.
Tt can be stated with abso
lutte certainty that nothing il
discarded by the Red Cross, ant
| nothing is thrown away. Ever.
single article sent to the divi
i sional supply depot is used. a
the Red Cross supply depot fol
the northern division is a recort
Iof every article sent in by chap
tiers, branches and auxiliaries
.IAnother record shows exactl,
the number Of articles forward
ed to the shipping warehouse
in New York city. Those tw'
roco,.1c chncl Anv infnroStol