Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-10-05

Stories are fn circulation impugn-
ing the honor 81 the Red Cross. None
of US should be shocked over what we
have heard The wonder is that tbe
work carried on under the auspices
of such large organization. its work
ers volunteers chiefly should have
gone ahead as effectively and har~
nonIousIy as 3t has these several
months without q breath or scandal
breaking
There have been and SIN are
chances for the uuscrupu to gain
an unfair advantage 5u Red Cross &C
tivities Humanity lis weak even in
war times when temptation arises
We are familiar with the sacrifices
that The good women of the land have
made and are making in behalf Of the
Red Cross, giving OF their funds and
Of their time in promoting the eff
cheney OF the great humane and mer-
eifuI agency that must be maintained
Incident TO this terrible business OF
destroying human lite. The women
are not alone volunteering for nursing
duties behehd th= lines, but those re-
manning at home are giving sap their
spare hours. spending them over the
sewing basket putting together arti-
cies of wearing apparel tor the boys
az the front ana iu making first aid
kits to be used by the surgeons adj
ministering to the battJe-wounded.
The first public acknowledgment of
rumored Irregularities Ia connection
with the Red Cross work That has
come from the general headquarters
OF the society has To 40 with 5 report
that sweaters knitted by volunteers
had been Systematically collected and
disposed of at retail stores and TO in
dividual soldiers those engineering the
enterprise pockatinE the proceeds.
Where these alleged tbefIs took place
is not revealed. but the impression
that they had actually occurred be-
came SO persistent that numerous tn-
quiries asking Tor confirmation were
received at the Rock Island headauar-
ters of the Red Cross "A reply COM
ing to the local chapter from general
headquarters declares that there has
been established no proof that any
branch Of the society had countenanc-
ed any such act as had been reported
neither. so far as it has been possible
TO learn, has any branch Of che organ
ization knowledge that q member OF
the society has been guilty OF stealing
garments made by the workers OF the
society and selling TO merchants or
soldiers The local chapter was as
aured that If it was discovered that
any branch had been guilty Of shield
ing any such violation il would be-
promptly reprim8nde8 publicly and
disfranchised as a unit OF the general
organization
Yet it would be unfair to CON
denim great undertaking Der
.E.a r- g
commit some dIsreputabie act. The
Red Cross. when the Cosm0DOl- i
itan character of lis personnel
lis weighed, is surprisingly free from
CORFU tiveneEs. 1t is representative of
the best impulses Of patriotism, loyal
~ and readiness 30 sacrifice. alike on
the part Of those who give of their
wealth and those who volunteer their
labor There may crop oat now and
then manifestation Of the presence
within the ranks Of some unpriucipled
persons. but he or she is one la mil
lions. and SO the revealed transgres-
sion should be passed over lishtly, uu-
less, as suggested by headquarters, it
Is established that tee officers Of a
local branch might be identified as
aiding IN promotion OF violations Of
the laws governing the conduct OF the
work of the Red Cross society Then
of right there would be publ& eG-
posture. with fun arraignment of those
found to be culpable,
None Of US should withhold our sup
nort of the Red Cross merely because
of the wrong of some los individual
We have abundant evidence Of the no
BILE work that the society is doing II
we are at all skeptCal we have but %
drop into the headquarters of the local
chapter and see with our own eyes
what the good women are accomplish +
ing there You owe IT to Yourself to
find out And If you are woman and
you have an hour or more q day that
you can spare. you owe it TO- your
country 70 give that hour to sewing
for the Red Cross