The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1918-08-16
WHY RED CROSS
SUPPLIES HAVE
BEEN CURTA|lED
WOMEN OF UNITED STATES HAVE
FAR EXCEEDED FoNDEST
HOPES OF ORGANIZATION.
PRODUCTION or SOME GREATLY PLEASED WITH OUTLOOK
Inventory Being Made to Ascertain
What Articles are Most Needed
Mrs. Wooten Received instructions
From Headquarters.

In explanation of the shortage of
material for Red Cross work in the
county the following letter from C. +.
Lovett, director OF the allotment IL
vision, to Mrs. John T. Wooten, direc-
tor of woman's work in the Maury
county chapter, was made public to-
| day:
Mrs. Jno. T. Wooten.
Director Woman's Work,
Maury County Chapter, A. r. c..
Columbia, Tennessee.
Dear Mrs Wootens
Your letter of August 7th, received
August Sth. We have duly noted
same, and desire to thank you for The
splendid spirit of enthusiasm, which
is manifested in your letter. We note
that a number of the sewing rooms
in your county are clamoring for
work. This is certainly splendid to
US to see such a desire on the part
of your women to work
However, when your women come
to you for work, you should tell them
four things, which are as follows.
First: The Women of the Unitei
States have far exceeded the fondest
expectations of the officials of the
Red Cross in the making of articles
of Red Cross Production. AS a con-
sequence of this splendid enthusiasm
and service, Red Cross Warehouses,
wherever they may be, are full to
overflowing. We have a right to be
proud of this accomplishment. Be
cause of it the American Red Cross
is ready to meet any emergency that
may present itself.
Second: National Headquarters IS
now having an inventory made of fin
ished articles on hand in every Red
Cross Warehouse. When the report
of these inventories is compiled we
shall then know exactly how many ar
ticles OF every kind the American Red
Cross has on hand. We will then
make any article that we are a little
short on. OF course many of the ar
ticles are very much over-produced,
which means of course, that we
should not make any of these articles
Third; 1t is essential that the Red
Cross produce only those articles for
which there is an urgent need, be-
cause of the serious shortage in raw
materials, and congested transporta-
tion problems, which the whole world
is facing. You can readily see that
it would be almost criminal to MAKE
anything for which there is no urgent
need in view of these facts.
Fourth: 1t is essential that the sup,
ply situation be controlled In order
to help in this respect the American
Red Cross has given its word to the
United States Government that Chap
ters will buy raw materials only from
the Division Bureau of Supplies. In
return for this promise the United
States Government has guaranteed to
the American Red Cross that it will
receive supplies as long as the United
States Government is able to get
them. We know, of course that no
Red Cross chapter will fail to hold
up the hands of our National Organ
ization in this respect.
We have noted what each of your
Auxiliaries can make. As soon as we
can we will be glad to give you an
allotment, and we hope you will be
enabled to keep your workers busy.
We cannot do anything until we get
allotments from National Headquar-
ters
We know that under these circum-
stances, the Chapters have fard sit
uation to face but we trust that you
will have patience, and will see the
importance of controlling the supply
situation, in order to conserve mater
ials. We are all like soldiers, and
must obey orders from our chiefs.
With our sincere good wishes, we
beg to remain.
Very truly yours.
c. Z. LOVETT.
Allotment Division