The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1918-10-25
TO CHAPTERS or THE
AMERICAN RED CROSS

The War Council sends greetings tt
the chapters of the American Re,
Cross on the occasion of their annua
meetings for 1918.
With these greetings go congratu
lstions on the great work of the chap,
tiers during the past year and, above
all things, on the wonderful spirit Of
sacrifice and patriotism which has per-
vaded that work.
The strength of the Red Cross rests
upon its chapters. They are its bone
and sinew. They supply its funds
they supply its men and women, they
supply its enthusiasm. Let us, then,
Z review together the Red Cross story OF
the past year.
Some idea of the :,Le to which your
Red Cross family has grown may be
gathered from the following facts:
On May /, 1917, just before the APP
pointment of the War Council, the
American Red Cross had 4S6,194 men,
bers working through 562 chapters.
On July 81, 1918, the organization
numbered 2O,64S,103 annual members,
besides 100000 members of the Jun
ior Red Cross-a total enrolment of
over one-fourth the population of the
United States.
These members now carry on their
Red Cross work through 1854 chapters
which again divide themselves into
some 10000 branches and auxiliaries.
Since the beginning Of the war, you
of the chapters have co-operated with
the War Council in conducting two
war fund drives and one membership
drive, in addition to the campaign on
behalf of the Junior Red Cross.
The total actual collections to date
from the first war fund have amount
ed to more than $115,000,000. The
subscriptions to the second war fund
amounted to upwards of $4,000, 900.
From membership dues the eollec-
lions have amounted to approximately
$24, 100000.
To the foregoing may be added that
very large contribution of materials
and time given by the millions of wo-
men throughout the country in surgl-
cal dressings, in knitted articles, in
hospital and refugee garments, in can
teen work and the other activities the
chapters have been called upon to per-
form.
1t is estimated that approximately
100000 women are engaged in can
teen work and the production of relief
supplies through the chapters.
For the period up to July /, 1918,
American Red Cross chapters, through
their work rooms had produced:
490,120 refugee garments.
7,123,621 hospital supplies.
10,786,4S9 hospital garments.
10,134,501 knitted articles.
192,74S,1O7 surgical dressings.
A total of 221 ,2S2,S3S articles--of
an estimated aggregate value Of at
least $44,000,000.
These articles were largely the pro-
duct of women's hands, and, by the
same token, infinitely more precious
than could have been the output of fac
tories or machines. These articles GO
ing to the operating rooms of the hos
pitfalls, to the homeless or needy refu-
gees and carrying comfort to our own
boys in the field, convey message of
love from the women of this country
entirely distinct from the great money
value attaching to their handiwork.
By the terms under which the Red
Cross war fund was raised, the chap
tiers were entitled to retain rs per
cent of the amount collected, in order
to defray local expenses, to carry on
their home service work, to purchase
materials to be utilized in chapter pro-
duction and otherwise to meet the nu-
merous calls made upon them. The
chapters were thus entitled to retain
nearly 100000. As a matter of fact
their actual retentions amounted to
only about $22,OO0,00O.
Out of the collections from annual
memberships, the chapters have re.
tanned about 100000.
From this total sum, therefore, of
$33, 100000 retained by the chapters,
they have met all the often-times very
heavy local demands upon them, and in
have provided for use by Ma
tional Headquarters products valued,
as stated above, at upwards of S44,-
10000.
The chapters have in effect return
ed to the War Council, not alone the
$33, 100000 retained out of the war
fund and membership dues but, in ac-
tual value of product, an additional
contribution of at least $11 100000.
1t will thus be seen that during the !
rs HENn R~~