Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-07-25
More Workers Needed
By Red Cross to Get
Out Big War Orders
Labor Falls on Shoulders of Few Women Who Toll Inces-
sanity Wives and Mothers of Men Under Fire
Could Help Boys in Time of Need

material. Make a front-line parcel
and you save a soldiers life," is the
slogan sounded and not exaggera
tive. Word from surgeons prove that
its value In real aid is incalculable.
Harrisburg cannot get its quota
made here because the workers have
dropped away in such quantities.
Kits In Demand
What next7 Why soldier kits are
in great demand, and the present is
nothing to what 1t will be In few
months when thousands of Uncle
Sans heroes lie on hospital cots.
There was a time. not far back, when
soldier did not leave this city
without his comfy" kit and 1t has
proved to be an uncommon useful
thing in camp and at the front. The
work of making these for the Har-
or five women from the very begin
ming and thehe women as they wanly
admitted ARE about played out"
A third commodity. now in espe-
cial demand, is the refugee garment
Thousands upon thousands of for
eigners, of a dozen races, are prac-
tically without clothes and the win
ter coming on. America has been
good to these unfortunates and the
Red Cross through it's mighty reach
ings has been able to eliminate much
distress. But garments are not COM
ing in as they did some months ago,
and this surely should not be at
tributed to hot weather.
The Red Cross folk are so earnest
and anxious over this situation that
they seek causes for selfblame. If
any methods could be suggested
whereby the organization could get
''closer" to the general public they
would be cheerfully considered. In
our city we have thirty auxiliary
chapters and the outside district
branches" as they are called num-
ber thirty-five. The slump has had it's
effect in all chapters and representa-
tives, as they come into headquar-
ters, tell the story in different accent
ever yday. One town of fairly good
size only few miles away has but
ten regular workers and for while
1t fell so low as to have only six.
Everything has been done to stir up
the community, but with no results
One of the officers to-day narrated
some of the excuses. We have to put
all our time on a war garden" is one
prime alibi, which is rather difficult
to combat, Many women argue that
they have only time to take care of
their young children. A third excuse
offered, fortunately by very few, was
Il never could work ui.der a boss,
and l understand that the Red Cross
is very strict" A last cause which
this woman eXpatiated on somewhat
was the old Snawing green monster,
jealousy. Bitterness over some ones
prominence in the work often has
its dismal effects. 1t should be noted
here that some of the branch Of
ficials have pointed out that only
some of the churches show any ac-
tivity in this noble humane cause.
Many congregations offer no help
whatever. There have been cases
where church started to give sys-
tematic aid and where some petty
jealousies established cliques so
that the work was stopped.
Work on new Shoulders
The disproportion of Red Cross
work as manifested to-day in this
city would rile a man like Charles
M. Schwab, who insists that each
worker deliver the goods. Toiling for
two straight years at Red Cross
headquarters there are nearly one
dozen women of this city who have
not had one days vacation in that
time, and that without a cent of pay
the shipping department may be seen
half dozen women, mothers If you
please, who do the heavy work of
porters and stevedores. The Red
Cross establishment is a great hive
of industry, similar to any factory.
run Systematically. There are two
women who for twenty-three months
have done nothing but wrap up sup
plies for sending to the various aux
iliary and branch chapters. All work
regular hours and a good proportion
of the faithful do not intend to take
any vacation this summer.
The financial report of Harrisburg
Chapter shows that there is over
$4,000 worth of material on hand,
stored in the Eager building, the Lii
brary basement, at a garage and
P. R. r. depot. 1t gives every detail
of expenditure, so that If a federal
examiner is sent to look over affairs
he will find clean slate. In the
last few months splendid system of
keeping record of all products from
each auxiliary has been instituted,
and Harrisburg Chapter is in fine
shape now to move as fast as Per-
shings troopers. providing only that
the women and girls of our city lend
hand.
1t is indeed a sad commentary that
up-to-date sewing machines present
ed by patriotic citizens are often idle
because no one volunteers to run
them. Hospital bed Jackets, Iayettes,
bed shirts, underwear and a dozen
other items of necessary clothing are
being bought in bulk, cut up here
and then wait weeks to be sewed
This is comparatively simple work
and a woman. even taking her vaca-
ton, could help out the local chapter
by taking on job of this sort.