The weekly Alaska citizen., 1918-04-29
WOMAkYS BUREAU ANSWERS MANY
 QUESTIONS RELATIVE TO WOOL
 DISTRIBUTION; NONE FOR SALE


 shortage of wool at the local shops many have wished to buy the Red Cross wool, to knit for friends who are enisting or are already in the army The Woman's Bureau has pre- pared answers to some of these questions which have been approved by the secretary of the Panama Val ley Chapter. Should others arise, please leave, in writing, in the ques- ton box at the Red Cross committee room.
 Question. Can l buy wool from the Red cros?
 Answer No The wool furnished the Chapter by the American Red Cross is supplied with the distinct understanding that the articles made from it are to be returned to the American Red Cross for distribution If the Chapter were to sell wool it would be breach of faith with the National organization; tn erlore, tha Red Cross has ruled that wool cannot be sold to individuals.
 Q. Why was this ruling made?
 A. For one thing, as q simple mat ter of justicc. This wool is bcu@h- with the peoples money. It is as much public trust as tax money. It is the gift of many people, f-orl all walks of life. II is 70 be made up by many people, in all wal of lie. There is a decided wool h. :~' If the Red Cross wool 5> o!d to those who can afford a--. those who cannot so afford F, { b. denied the pleasure and the privilege of knitting for our soldiers. There are private stocks of wool which can still be bought, tho at higher figure, b. any one wishing to make personal gift. Large sums of money have been given to the Red Cross because the people of this nation know and be- lieve that the American Red Cross is one of the most democratic organiZa- tions in the world. It is the one great medium thru which the heart of the nation may speak to the heart of another nation, cutting all the red tape of impersonal diplomacy IL is also the one great democratic medium between the people and the army of the United States.
 It is evident that money got from these sources and for these pur- poses must be used to accomplish the greatest good to the greatest number, and in no way be diverted to personal ends.
 Q. Are there other reasons why the Red Cross wool cannot be sold?
 A. Many other reasons. To sell this wool would not be fair to the local merchants, as ii would take away their trade in yarn almost en- tirely, for the actual cost of the Red Cross wool is much less than the price which they would have to NIldI St. T Ol lHtIt dit bDu4IlltSS l'ti' triotic men and women who have CO., operated 10 make the cost of the Red Cross wool far below that of any other wool of equal grade on the market today. If it were for sale, there are interruptions persons who would buy it up and resell it at considerable profit, still at a lesser price than the local merchant are forced to ask.
 o. Why is the cost price Of the wool lower for the Red croc2?
 A. Because the Red C. wool does not belong to any ? rson or group of persons, but to the public to be distributed in the most just and impartial na'.l possible under loc' conditions. Numerous persons ha given thei nd their exr knowlcdgc md have sacri1 = all profits, :l would not F 1e if some indi .iddal, and not thc nation as a whole, Were to profit th-y by.
 Wool growers and woo 'uyers all over the country have 2 . th~ic time and skill and se:virt. tl Q that the Red Cross had .rl nI at rock-bottom prices. .s D Jation companies have also ship ments free or at rcduc Y, -ces. The Red Cross shipments har been given precedence over everything except actual munitions of war. Thousands of patriotic American citizens have given their time and attention and business ability to the organization of the Red Cross, that there should be no heavy overhead charges, or hand ling charges, such as a local merchant would have to face
 0. Can a value be put upon the Red Cross wooI??
 A. The Red Cross officials can tell you the cost of the wool to them, yes. But to put valuation upon it, in the true sense of the word, would be a task beyond the power of any human reckoning. For there is more than wool that goes into every pound of it. There is love, and sacrifice, and pa triotism, and duty, and sympathy, and