The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1918-10-25
WHAT RED CROSS
DID LAST YEAR
Report of War Council Surely
win Thrill the Hearts Of
All Americans.
WOMEN GIVEN HIGH TRIBUTE
Contributions OF Materials and Tins
Have Been Practically Unend.ng
Figures Tell Of Work Done
BY the Various Chapters.

1@iubfs sd tue sS,StAs cnHptefS OF the
Red Cross held their annual meetings
10 elect officers and make reports. TO
be read nj all these meetings through
out the unircd States. the Red Cross
War Council sent the following an
nual message covering the work OF
the Red Cross for the past year:
10 the Chapters OF the American Red
Cross.
The War Council sends greetings to
the chapters OF the American Red
Cross on the occasion OF their annual
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
ritice and patriotism which has per-
ynded that work
The strength OF the Red Cross rests
upon Its chapters. They are its bone
aud slnew. They supply Its 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 10 which your
Red Cross family has grown may be
gathered from the following facts:
On May /, 1917, just before the APP
pointment OF the War Council, the
American Red Cross had 1856, 1914 mem
beers working through 5G2 chapters.
On July 81. 1918, the organization
numbered 20,G4s,103 annual members,
besides 100000 members of the
Junior Red Cross--a total enrolment
Of over one.fourth the popuation 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.
la addition 10 the campaign on behalf
Of the Junior Red Cross.
The total actnnl collections to date
from the first war fund have amounted
10 more than Sl150OO.00O. The sub
scriptIons TO the second war fund
pmounted to upwards of S1T8,000000.
From, membership dues the collec-
lions have amounted TO approximately
S2l 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 WON.
on throughout the country In surgical
dressings, in knitted articles, In hos
pltal and refugee garments, IN canteen
al aIK
tCrs have been called upon TO perform,
II Is estimated that approximately
s000,OoO women are engaged In cam
teen work and the production Of relief
supplies through the chapters.
| For the period up 20 July |. 1918,
American Red Cross chapters through
their workrooms, had produced:
490,l20 refugee garments.
T.i23,62l hospital supplies.
10.7S6.4SD hospital garments.
l0134,5Ol knitted articles.
. i92, T4s.i0T surgical dressings.
A total OF 22t .2S2, S3s nrticles--of an
estimated aggregate value Of at least
S44, 100000.
These articles We're largely the
I 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 60 the operating room Of the hos.
I pitfalls, 10 homeless or needy refugees,
and carrying comfort to our own boys
In the field convey message OF love
I from the women Of this country entire
/ ~ distinct from the great money value
attaching to their handIworE,
Money Spent in Work.
ny the terms under which the first
ited Cross war fund was raised the
chapters were entitled to retain % per
cent Of the amount collected, in order
dcfray local expenses. To carry on their
home service work. TO purchase ma.
terials TO be utilized Ia chapter produc
/ ton aud otherwise 60 meet the numer.
Gus calls made upon them. The chap,
tiers we're thus entitled to retain nearly
sos, 100000, AS matter Of fact, their
actual retentions amounted To Only
about S22.O0o.pOO
Out of collections from annual mem
hersh,ps, the chapters have retained
about Slt.O00.OOo.
From this total sum. therefore, OF S;S3.
Oo0OOO retained by the chapters. they
have met all the oftentimes very heav,
local demands upon them. and in add
,lon have provided for use by nationa
headquarters products valued al
stated above, at upwards of $4,000.
600
The chapters have In effect returne,
IL the Mar Council. not alone the S;l3.
100000 retained out of the war fun,
membership dues but. in value o
actual product. an additional contribu
tion OF AZ least SIT 100000.
u will thus been seen that durInl
the eighteen months which hav
elapsed since the United States en-
tered the war. the American peopl
, win have either paid IN or pledged {
the American Red Cross for its worl
, Of relief throughout the world, 4
money or In material values. ne
total OF at least $S25, O00.O 600.