The Benson signal., 1918-10-26
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
ave Been Practically Intending .
Figures Tel! 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
War Council sent the following an
nual message covering the work Of
the Red Cross for the past year:
To the Chapters of the American Red
Cross:
The War Council sends greetings to
the chapters Of the American Red
meetings for 1918
With these greetings go congratula-
lions 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 it's chapters. They are it's bone
and sinew. They supply it's 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 War Council, the
American Red Cross had 1856, 1914 mem
bers working through 562 chapters.
On July 81, 1918, the organization
numbered 2O,64S.1O3 annual members,
besides, 100000 members of the
Junior Red Crosse 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 one 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 have. amounted
to more than SIS, 100000. The sub
scriptions to the second war fund
amounted to upwards of $176,O0O,OOO.
From membership dues the collec-
tons have amounted to approximately
$24, 100000.
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
ters 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 workreoms, had produced;
490,12O, refugee garments.
7,123,621 hospital supplies.
1O,7S6, 4S9 hospital garments.
1O134,5 sol knitted articles.
192,74S, 107 surgical dressings.
A total of 221 ,2S2, 1888 articles-of an
estimated aggregate value of at least
100000.
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
lc
and carrying comfort to our own boys
in the field, convey a message of love
from the women of this country entire
ly 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
teriaIs to be utilized in chapter prOduc-
ton and otherwise to meet the numer-
Gus calls made upon them. The chap
tiers were thus entitled to retain nearly
| S--J.OOOOOOs AS Il l1ldltCl VI lat, lllClI
actual retentiOnS amounted to only
| about $22,OO0,O00.
| Out Of collections from annual mem
| berships, the chapters have retained
about $11,OOOOOO.
From this total sum. therefore, of $33,-
100000 retained by the chapters, they
have met all the Oftentimes very heavy
local demands upon them, and in addi-
ton have provided for use by national
headquarters products valued, as
stated above. at upwards of $44,00O,-
| coo.
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
actual product, an additional contribu-
ton of at least $11 100000.
1t will thus been seen that during
| the eighteen months which have
elapsed since the United States en-
tered the war, the American people
will have either paid in or pledged to
tho American Red Cross for IFS work