The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-09-21
SETTING At REST
SOME FALSE TALK
Statement Emanatlng From Local
People Regarding Knitting
Activities, Without
Foundation.
GO AHEAD WITH WORK
Boys in France Need MuffIers and
WristIets and Sweaters and
Socks, SO Keep
Work UP.
GO AHEAD WITH WORK

A number Of erroneous reports nave
been circulated as coming from Des
Moines and from local people as well,
regarding the knitting work being
done by Keokuk folks. These reports
have been investigated, and in every
instance could not be verified, because
there was practically no truth IN
them. AS a matter Of fact, none Oh
this knitting being done now for the
Red Cross is done for the selected
men in the cantonments. 1t Is In re-
spouse to the appeals from Major Gray
son M. P. Murphy Of Pershing's stafr,
for the men in France.
The following official statement was
issued when attention Of the knitting
committees of the Keokull chapter
American Red Cross was called to the
numerous rumors flying around:
Please give no credence to state
ments regarding Red Cross work I'M
less such statements can be suostan-
tiated as truth by facts. For many
people are giving information and ad-
vice which, although they may be IN
nocent of intent to harm the work be-
ing done in Keokuk, is hurting the
work because their listeners are as
foolish as the vendors Of the news and
bodies are telling without foundation
One man made the statement few
days past that the boys in Des Moines
said that all the socks that they had
received were too big at the tops and
wouldn't fit. The remark was made
while a discussion of Red Cross work
was in progress and the inference
drawn by the listeners was that the
socks being made here evidently were
unsatisfactory and that therefore eff
fort was misdirected. The Red Cross
have sent no socks to Des Moines.
Individuals may have sent uninspect-
ed work to friends as personal gifts.
But the local Red Cross have sent
socks only to Red Cross headquarters
in Chicago and to the men in the
Rainbow division on Long Island.
"A young lady recently returned
from Des Moines communicating intel
ligence to the effect that the boys
didn't want mufflers and convinced a
number of people who were Loyalty
knitting mufflers that they were doing
something useless. The men in Des
Moines probably don't want mufflers;
they don't need them. But the muff-
lers the Red Cross are now making
are to go to France where they are
wanted and badly needed Perhaps an
explanation Of how mufflers are used
will interest the reader. They are to
be made eleven inches wide and sixty
eight inches long. The center of the
muller is placed on the middle Of the
chest and then wrapped around the
body under the arms; the ends are
crossed and brought up around the
neck, folded one over the other and
tucked into the part of the muffler
which encircles the chest.
And while we are speaking Of muff-
lers-they must be inconspicuous in
color If we do not want to offer the
enemy target for vulnerable spots.
1t is more interesting doubtless to
work in rose, lavendar or gold Gudg-
ing from the amount Of yarn we see
in those shades in knitting bags
though THERE may still be people who
are selfishly knitting for their own
adornment, but it is more patriotic to
obey orders and knit in khaki or grey
If you can obtain those colors; If not,
In a neutral shade.
But If you are sincerely interested
and want to know what is being done
and you have the right to be in
quisitive, ask some one who is en-
frightened and don't pick up your in
formation on the streets.
"KEOKUK CHAPTER A R. c."