The Colorado statesman., 1918-10-26


Ied Cross chapters throughout the
country held thoir annual meetings
October 23, mt which the following
,aeSsnge from the War Council was
read:
10 the Chapters of the American Red
Cross:
The War Council sends greetings to
the chapters of the American Red
Gross on the occasion of their annual
Hcetlngs for 1918.
With these greetings go congratula-
tinns ON the great work of the chapters
during the past year and, above all
tbings, on the wonderful spirit of sac
riicc and patriotism which has per
vaded that work.
The strength Of the Red Cross rests
upon its chapters. They are its bone
and sinew. They supply its funds,
they supply Its men and women, they
supply its enthusiasm. Let us, then,
review together the Red Cross story
"f The past year.
Some iden of the size to which your
Red Cross family has grown may he
On May l, 1917. just before the ap-
i."intneut of the War Council, the
American Red Cross had -iSt' l94 mem
bcrs working through 562 chapters.
Ca July II. 1918, the organization
numbered 2O.G4S. lO3 annual members.
besides S,0UO.OOO 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
cf the chapters have CO-Operated with
the War Council in conducting two war
fund drives and one membership drive,
IN addition to the campaign on behalf
>.f the Junior Red Cross.
The total actual collections to date
from the first war fund have amounted
to more than $115,OOOO0O. The sub
scriptionS to the second war fund
amounted to upwards of SlT6,O0O,000
From membership dues the collec-
ions hive amounted to approximately
$2I.5OU, 900.
Splendid Work Done by Women.
70 the foregoing must be added that
very large contribution of materials
and time given by the millions of wom-
"u throughout the country in surgical
dressings. In knitted articles. in hos
pitnl and refugee garments, in canteen
work. aud the other activities the chap
ters have been called upon to perform.
1t Is estimated that Approximately
S.0UO,000 women are engaged in can
teen work and the production of relief
supplies through the chapters.
For the period up to July /, 1918
American Red Cross chapters, through
their w0rkrOOmS, had produced:
400. 120 refugee garments.
7.123,621 hospital supplies.
lO,7S6, 4S9 hospital garments.
10.134,501 knitted articles.
1872 2,74S,lO7 surgical dressings.
A total OF 221 ,2S2,S3S articles-of an
S44OO0.OO0.
These articles were largely the
product of women's hands, and. by the
same token, infinitely more precious
than could have been the output of
factories or machines. These articles
going to the operating room of the hos
pitnls. to homeless or needy refugees
and carrying comfort to our own boys
in the field, convey II message of love
from the women of this country entire
iy distinct from the great money value
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 % per
cent of the amount collected, in order
defray local expenses. to carry on their
home service work, to purchase ma
terials to be utilized in chapter produc-
tiOn and otherwise to meet the numer-
Gus calls made upon them. The chap
ters were thus entitled to retain nearly
S29.00000 AS matter of fact, their
actual retentions amounted to only
ubout SD 100000.
out of collections from annual mem
berships. the chapters have retained
about S1l 900. 900
From this total sum, therefore. of $780,
100000 retained by the chapters. they
have met all the oftentimes very heavy
local demands upon them, and In addi-
tion have provided for use by national
headquarters products valued. as
stated above, ut upwards of $1I .0OO,-
900.
The chapters have In effect returned
to the War Council. not alone the $33-
100000 retained out of the war fund
membership dues but. In value of
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