The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1918-10-24
THE AMERICAN
RED CROSS HAS
2O,648,lO3 MEMBERS
Is. Doing a Philanthropic
Work i'm Ten Countries
OVER 5000 AMERICANS
WORKING IN FRANCE
Mr.. DayisOn's Message to
the 1854 Chapters

/ New York, Oct. 23-The American
people have either paid in or pledged
to the American Red Cross for its
work Of relief throughout the world,
in money or material values, net
total of at least $325,000,000.
The American Red Cross has a
total membership of 20,648,103 and,
in addition, 100000 members in the
Junior Red Gross; total enrolment
of more than one-fourth the popula
ton of the United States.
American Red Cross workers pro-
duced up to July 1 last a total of
/ 221, ,282,838 articles of an estimated
value of $44,000,000.
About 100000 women are en-
gagged in canteen work and the pro-
duction of relief supplies.
The American Red Cross is distri-
buting aid in ten counties-the
United States, England, France,
Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, Pales-
tine, Greece, Russia and Siberia Be
sides it has sent representative to
Serbia, Denmark and Madeira.
More than 5000 Americans will be
working under the Red Cross in
France by Jan. /, next.
These facts were laid before the
1854 chapters of the Red Gross in
the annual message of the War Coun-
Gil of the Red Cross when the chap
ters throughout the country today
had their annual meetings to elect
officers.
Announcement was made in the
message that every man, woman and
child in the United States would be
!, asked at Christmas time to enroll in
the American Red Cross
The message, signed by Henry P.
, Dawson, chairman of the war coun-
Gil, said in part
''Since the beginning of the war,
you of the chapters have cooperat
ed with the War Council in conduct
ing two war fund drives and one
+ membership drive, in addition to the
campaign on behalf of the Junior
Red Cross The total actual collec-
! tions to date from the first war fund
| have amounted to more than $115,-
: SECOND war fund amounted to up
wards of $176,000,000. From mem
l bership dues the collections have
} amounted to approximately $24, $780,
= 900.
"To the foregoing must be added
T that very large contribution of ma
: terials and time given by the mil
: lions of women throughout tie coun-
try. For the period up 70 July 1,
Y 1918, American Red Cross chapters,
l through their workrooms had pro-
L duced: 490,120 refugees garments
4 7,123,621 hospital supplies; 1916, ,489
Y hospital garments; 10,134,501 knit
ted articles 192,748,107 surgical
), dressings; a total of 221, ,282,838 az
! ticles-of an estimated aggregate val
S ue of at least $44,000,00O.
: "These articles were largely the
:. product of women's hands, and, by
: the same token, infinitely more preci-
h Gus than could have been the output
Of factories or machines. These az
ticles going to the operating rooms
of the hospitals, to homeless or needy
refugees, and carrying comfort to ou1
own boys in the field, convey a mes
It sage Of love from the women of this
country entirely distinct from the
great money value attaching to theil
handiwork.
"By the terms under which the first
Red Cross war fund was raised, the
i chapters were entitled to retain 2!
per cent of the amount collected, il
II order to defray local expenses, tt
carry on their home service work
= to purchase materials to be utilizet
" in chapter production and otherwise
. to meet the numerous calls made UP
on them. The chapters were thu
- entitled to retain nearly $29,000,000
- AS a matter of fact, their actual re
- tentions amounted to only about $22,
= 100000. Out of collections from an
y nual memberships, the chapters have
- retained about S11,000,000.
- From this total sum, therefore
Of $33,000,000 retained by the chap
: ters they have met all the oftentime
y very heavy local demands upon them
! and in addition have provided for us'
=, by National Headquarters product
q q valued at upwards of $44,000,000.
"The chapters have in effect re
NJ turned to the War Council, not alon
the $33,000,0O0 retained out of tn
war fund and membership dues but
in value of actual product, an addi
tional contribution of at least S11,
- 100000.
"It will thus be seen that durin,
the Is months which have elapse'
If since the United States entered tn
At war, the American people will hav
j. either paid in or pledged to the Am
10 erican Red Cross for its work of re
at lief throughout the world in none,
as or in material values, net total of a
r least $325, 100000
Continued on paEa a