Albuquerque morning journal., 1922-12-04
RUSSIANS CLAD
IN FILTHY RAGS,
MAYER STATES
Relief Worker Who Has Re-
turned to New York De-
Clares Clothing Is More
Precious Than Gems
S, ecini 10 The journal


New York, Dec. 3,--The most
ragged people in the world shiver
in Russia today declares Raymond
c. Mayer, chief OF the communica-
tions division of the American Re-
lief administration in Russia, who
has just arrived in the United
States.
Clothing is more precious than
gems, a whole lot" explained Mr..
Mayer, who was of the opinion that
the clothing remittance plan, which
will provide for the sending of
textile materials to the clothing
needy in Russia, will be one of the
most effective life-saving acts ever
undertaken by friends and relatives
in the United States on behalf Of
these unfortunates across the seas.
Naturally it was a wonderful
experience to return to the United
States after four months in Russia
and that delight was increased by
the knowledge that plan had been
inaugurated to send clothing ma
terials to the thousands in Russia,
who, unless they receive clothing
materials soon will perish from the
cold and the hardship that cloth
ing lack will cause in u country
where food is far from abundant
and living conditions are poor be-
cause OF little or no heat and all
this added to questionable santa
ton.
"Never have I seen a people SO
desperately in need of something TO
cover their frail bodies, bodies
which are even now susceptible TO
the attacks of diseases which fol-
low upon famine and its aftermath.
Anyone who buys a twenty dollar
clothing package through the
American Relief administration
AZ Broadway, which organization
will forward 1t to the persons they
designate in Russia, will ! e as
much a life saver as the person who
rescues another from drowning.
1.-THE clothing scarcity has Great
ed a pitiful condition in Russia, in
every part OF that big country.
Flour sacking is seized upon eag-
erly by mothers whose children
crouch and shiver because their
skin is blue with cold. / have seen
children without parents in un-
heated institutions whose only COW
erings were thin shirts that hardly
reached to the waists. Think of
such poor kids going out into the
zero of Russia winter weather TO
get food at an American kitchen.
Colonel William N. Haskell, di-
rector Of the A. +. A., in Russia,
did not put it any too strong when
he cabled Herbert Hoover that un-
less clothing came all other relief
work might have it's good nullified.
Our own Russian personnel are
workers so sparsely clad that they
beg us for blankets that they may
make clothing from them"
Il had the pleasure of helping
to decide upon the contents of this
clothing package which may be
bought for twenty dollars. This
package contains sufficient clothing
material to furnish suitable winter
garments for one adult or two
children. II makes me feel asham.
ed to see splendidly clothed people
in the streets Of Brooklyn with the
picture fresh in my mind Of men,
women and children of Russia in
filthy rags which they must needs
wear at night.
Americans have performed a
great service to humankind in the
work they have done in Russia as
members OF the A, r. A. Ono
Brooklyn man, George Leon Tur-
row, recently inherited a fortune
but did not stop his work as a re-
lief agent. He is still in Russia
among the disease and death.
Another American inherited a
fortune while he was in Russia. He
stopped his task Of feeding long
enough to go out and buy an auto
mobile which would carry him to
the points where he knew the need
was greatest. The Ford he had
before had worn out because of his
long trips.
After carefully Observing con-
ditions In Russia | would say that
while there has been a general i'm
Drovement that the real need now
next to food is clothing and that
it is up to Russian and Jewish rel
atives in America in spirit oI
Thanksgiving TO send them clothing