The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1918-10-24
WHAT RED CROSS
DID LAST YEAR
Report Of War Council Surely
Will Thrill the Hearts of
All Americans.
WOMEN GIVEN HIGH TRIBUTE
Contributions Of Materials and Time
Have Been Practically Intending
Figures Tell Of Work Done
by the Various Chapters.

SSSU 's&~sby SbStsout0
Figures Tell Of Work Done
by the Various Chapters
October % the 1854 chapters Of the
Red Cross held their annual meetings
to elect officers and make reports. To
be read at all these meetings through
out the United States, the Red Cross
Wal Council sent the following an
nual message covering the work Of
the Red Cross for the past a
To the Chapters of the American Re-
Cross:
The War Council sends greetings to
the chapters of the American Red
Gross on the occasion of their annual
meetings for 1918.
With these greetings 90 congratula-
tons on the great work of the chapters
during the past year and, above all
things, on the wonderful spirit of sac
rifice and patriotism which has per-
vaded that work..
The strength of the Red Cross rests
upon its chapters. They are Its bone
and slnew. They supply Its funds,
they supply its men and women, they
supply It's enthusiasm. Let us. then,
review together the Red Cross story
of the past year.
Some idea of the size to which your
Red Cross family has grown may be
gathered from the following facts:
On May 1, 1917, just before the APP
pOintment of the Wal Council, the
American Red Cross had 1876, i34 mem
bers working through 562 chapters.
On July 81. 1918, the organization
numbered 20,64S.1O 100 annual members,
besides 100000 members Of the
Junior Red Cross-a total enrolment
OF over one-fourth the population Of
The United States.
Since the beginning of the war you
of the chapters have co-operated with
the War Council In conducting two war
fund drives and n 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 rave amounted
to more than $115, 100000. The sub
s~criptions to the second wal fund
amounted to upwards Of z 100000.
From membership dues the collec-
lions have amounted to approximately
$24,5OO,O 900.
Splendid Work Done by Women.
To the foregoing must be added that
very large contribution Of materials
and time given by the millions Of wom-
en- throughout the country In surgical
dressings, in knitted articles, in hos
pital and refugee garments, in canteen
work, and the other activities the chap
tiers have been called upon TO perform.
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 1. 1918,
American Red Cross chapters. through
their workroOms, had produced:
Q ,120 refugee garments.
7,123.621 hospital supplies.
TO- ,4S9 hospital garments
40, 1874, Sol knitted Articles.
1e2, 74S, 107 surgical dressings.
A total OF 221 .282, 1873 articles-of m
estimated aggregate value Of ut least
$44.O0O,OOO.
These articles were largely the
product Of women's hands. and, by the
same token, infinitely moro precious
thar could have been the output Of
factories or machines. These articles
going to the operating room of the hos
pitfalls, to homeless or needy refugees.
and carrying comfort to our OWE boys
IN the field, convey a message Of love
from the women of this country entire
ly Distinct from the great money va,de
attaching to their handiwork.
Money Spent in Work.
BY the terms under which the first
Red Cross war fund was raised, the
chapters were entitled to retain Is per
cent Of the amount collected, in order
defray local expenses. to carry on their
home service work, to purchase ma
teriaIs to be utilized In chapter produc-
tion and otherwise to meet the numer-
Gus calls made upon them. The chap
tiers were thus entitled to retain nearly
$29,O00.000. AS q matter of fact, their
actual retentions amounted to only
about $22.00 .0O0.
Out Of collections from annual mem-
berships, the chapters have retained
about $1l. OO0. 1000.
From this total sum-. therefore. of $685.
100000 retained by the chapters, they
have met all the oftentimes very heavy
local demands upon them, and In add
ton have provided for Use by national
headquarters products valued, as
stated above, at upwards Of $4,000
O0O.
The chapters hsve In effect returned
to the Wal Council, not alone the $780,
100000 retained out of the war fund
membership dues but, in value Of
actual product, an additional contribu-
ton OF nj least $11.00O.O00.
II Will thus been seen that during
the eighteen months which have
elapsed since the United States en-
res t-he&Anaeriean people
will have either paid In or pledged to
the American Red Cross for its work