The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-11-19
PRAISED LOCAL LABORS
RED CROSS WORK HERE IS
IN HIGH FAVOR
Edwin EckIund Spoke Before
Unit At Luncheon; Coming
Roll Call


ly conducted chapter than this one,"
said Edwin Ecklund. director Of the
department of civilian relief Of the
Northern division Of the American
Red Cross, or Minneapolis in his talk
to those who had luncheon at the
Griebel Tea room on Saturday OF one
o'clock. He said that he has been
impressed with the work done In
Mankato. and that it IL about the
first chapter to give to its territory
service of SUCH useful type.
The meeting. was for the purpose Ct
discussing preliminary plans Tor the
1921 Red Cross membership drive and
besides the Manlato officers the
Amboy. Good Thunder and Minnesota
Lake branches were represented, and
the three ladies from these branches
pledged themselves to conduct the
campaigns at those three places and
also their townships. Some Of the
officers of the Mankato Chapter will
either call up personally or by phone
the other chapters to inform them OF
the plan and to secure their Coop
GRAFTON In the drive. There are TWEEN
ty branches still left in the Mankato
chapter, four of the branches having
sent in their money and gone out OF
existense.
Work Being Done Elsewhere.
Mr.. Ecklund told Of Red Cross work
being done in other counties. Some
have health centers, and also the Red
Cross generally is most active In disas-
ter work such as forest fires, the dis
aster at Fergus Falls, and in the state
OF Montana. where Mr.. Ecklund spent
last winter, they helped farmers who
were suffering from actual want, due
to poor crops. The Red Cross Is
now prepared to undertake further
active part in disaster work in regard
to the matter Of raising funds and
sending out nurses and great many
other things. Five million dollars is
now Icing held In reserve in the ma
tional fund for this purpose.
Work for soldiers is not yet finish
ed by any means, during the month
Of October 1000 new cases were re-
ported to the northern division in
regard to disabled soldiers, who want
ed help. Mental and nervous break
downs seem to be more common now,
and some of the chapter are taking
on specialists for giving treatment to
such cases. This work will continue
for at least. five years, and prob
ally at that time the division win
have had many more cases than 1t
has now.
mo one in the Red Cross is work
ing for their own good, but are going
out and sacrificing time In pure
spirit of service, spirit which will
make the United States the great
country in the world" he concluded.
Mr. Ecklund said that unfortunate
ly in some communities the Red Cross
is controlled by retrospective class
OF people, and in these places the
roll call will be hard to put over, but
in a community of the character of
Mankato and vicinity 1t should be not
at all difficult. Fifty per cent OF the
one dollar subscriptions are sect to
Washington and only twenty per cent
of the five dollar subscriptions, so 1t
pays to get as many five and ten
dollar, memberships as possible.
The Advertising Program.
Mrs. F. ]. Sperry, city chairman OF
the drive, announced this morning
that the stores will be supplied. with
posters explaining the drive, and that
only limited supply of booklets on
Red Cross service could ce procured
and this morning they were given to
the clubs to use at the afternoon
sessions, with the understanding
that they will be kept In circulation.
School children will also aid the
cause by doing Red Cross paper cut
ting. Those in the city who will act
as chairman of the various sections
are Mrs. Charles Hoerr. Mrs. George
G. Smith, Mrs. Theodore Williams,
Mrs. Olaf RosQuist, Mrs. G. S. Pet
terson, Miss Matte Jewison, Mrs
Walter Sanborn, Mrs c., G. North
run, Nrs. c. e Wise, Mrs. John
Page, Mrs Nellie Samnelson. Mrs
Roy Allison, Mrs.. Charles Wyatt,
Mrs. A. r Pau, Junior, Ers e, @.
Ekerholm, Miss Clara Stahl. and MrA
Frank Hoerr.