The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-10-23

New York, Oct, 23.-The American
i people have either paid in or pledg'
ed to the American Red Cross for it!
work of relief throughout the world
| in money or material values, a ne
| total of at least 1926, 100000.
| The American Red Cross has to-
! tai membership of 20.64S,103 and, ir
addition, 100000 members in the
| Junior Red Cross: a total enroll
ment of more than one-fourth the
population of the United States.
American Red Cross workers
produced up to July 1 last total
| of 21,282.S3S articles of an estimated
value of $44,000,000.
About 100000 women are engag-
ed in canteen work and the produc-
ton of relief supplies.
The American Red Cross is dis
tributing aid in ten countries-the
United States, England. France, TIA
ly, Belgium. Switzerland. Palestine,
Greece Russia and Siberia. Besides
it has sent representatives to Serbia
Denmark and Madeira. ...
More than 5000 Americans will be
working under the Red Cross in
France by Jan. 1, next.
These facts were laid before the
1854 chapters of the. Red Cross in
Council of the Red Cross when the
chapters throughout the country to-
ray held their annual meetings to
elect officers.
Announcement was made in the
message that every. man, woman
and child in the United States would
be asked at Christmas time to en-
roll in the American Red Cross.
The message, signed by Henry P.
Dawson, chairman of the war coun-
Gil, said in part
"Since the beginning Of the war,
you of the chapters have co-operat-
ed with the War Council in conduct
ing two war fund drives and one
membership drive, in addition to the
campaign on behalf of the Junior
Red Cross. The total actual collec-
tons to date from the first war fund
have amounted to more that $115,-
100000. The subscriptions to the
second war fund amounted to up
wards of $176,000,000. From mem
bership dues the collections have
amounted to approximately $24,500,-
900.
ITO the foregoing must be added
that very large contributions of ma
terials and time given by the mill
lions of women throughout the coun-
try. For the period up to July /,
1918, American Red Cross chapters,
through their workers had produc-
ed: 490,120 refugees garments; T.,
1854 hospital supplies; 10,786,4S9
hospital garments; 10,134,501 knitted
adticles; 192,748,107 surgical dress
ings; a total of 21,282,838 articles
of an estimated value Of at least
$44,0O0,0O0.
These articles were largely the
H..
the same token, infinitely more prec-
ious than could have been the out
put of factories or machines. These
articles going to the operating rooms
of. the hospitals, to homeless or
needy refugees. and carrying COM
fort to our own boys in the field,
convey a message of love from the
women of this country entirely dis
tinct from the great money value at
taching to their handiwork.
BY the terms under which the
first Red Cross war fund was rails
ed. the chapters were entitled to re-
tain 20 per cent of the amount col
lected, in order to defray local ex-
penses, to carry on their home serv-
ice work, to purchase materials to
be utilized in chapter production and
otherwise to meet the numerous
calls made upon them. The chap
tiers were thus entitled to retain
nearly $29, 100000. AS a matter of
fact, their actual retentions amount
ed to only about $22,000,000. Out Of
collections from annual member
ships, the chapters have retained
about $11, 100000
From this total sum, therefore,
of $50, 900, 900 retained by the chap
tiers they have met all the oftentimes
very heavy local demands upon
them, and in addition have provid-
ed for use by National Headquar-
tiers products valued at upwards of
$4,000
THE chapters have in effect re-
turned TO the war Council not
alone the $33 100000 retained out Of
the war fund and membership dues
but, in value of actual product, an
additional contribution of at least
Sill 100000.
1T will thus, be seen that during
elapsed since the United States en-
tered the war, the American people
will have either paid in or pledged
to the American Red Cross for it's
work Of relief throughout the world
in money or material value, net to-
tai of at least $325, 600, 900.
"This outpouring of generosity in
material things has been accompa--
MED by spontaneity in the giving
by an enthusiasm and devotion in
the doing, which, after all, are
greater and bigger than could be
anything measured in terms Of time
or dollars
ut has been because of this spirit
| which has pervaded all American
Red Cross effort in this war that thu
aged governor Of one Of the stricken