Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-10-16
How Red Cross
Fixes Quotas for Cities

Al the close Of the campaign 10
raise funds for the victims OF the
japanese earthquake the Evening
News suggested 10 the Perth Amboy
Chapter of the Red Cross that it ask
the national headquarters on what
basis the quotas as fixed for the dir
ferent cities are arrived at. We call
ed attention TO the fact that cities
like Paterson and Passaic, both
much larger than Perth Amboy, did
not have quotas as large as Perth
Amboy's. and New Brunswick quota
was $2.100 less than the quota fixed
for this city. The local chapter of
the Red Cross sent the Evening
News editorial together with a letter
to national headquarters. and the
following reply has just been re-
ceived.
Mr.. Axel Olsen. chairman.
Perth Amboy Chapter. A. r. c..
Perth Amooy. y. J..
Ny dear Mr.. Olsen:
1 wish 10 acknowledge the receipt
Of and thank you for your letter OF
september -, with which you en-
closed an editorial clipped from your
evening newspaper of Wednesday,
september 20.
Your letter and the editorial raise
the question as to-how quotas assign
eO each of our chapters were fixed.
and particularly n w a rived Al =
quota Of $500 for Perth Amboy. I
think we can best answer you BY ex-
planning that we had from 5 o'clock
in the afternoon Of September 4 IN
til l. o'clock that night . fix quotas
for approximately $500 chapters
throughout The United States. We.
Of course, had the experience of our
war fund collections a..d our roll call
results since the war. Together with
these We endeavored 70 take into
consideration the population and the
wealth measured largely on an In
duStr.al basis. With these factors
We ende cred 70 set quotas on what
seemed TO rs 10 bs the fairest basis
possible n the length Of time that
We had to do the work. Now that
the drive IS practically oYe4, I viii
say that rs = whole the plan worked
wonderfully we'll. much better than
we had ever expected. However.
there were quite q few individual
cases where the quotas assigned
were either too large or TOO small:
I believe that / would be impossible
70 assign quotas 10 all Of our chap
tiers n The United States on any
basis whatsoever without experience
ing this same result. Your chapter
IS undoubtedly one Of the chapters
in which the quota was too hiEh.
when We take into consideration the
fact that the large industrial plants
in four city did not subscribe
through your chapter. but through
their headquarters Office.
Such conditions as these could. %
course. not possibly be f~orsseen in
the setting OF quotas On any bass
thar might be used.
1t IS indeed a pleasure 70 me TO
note that your chapter has raised
approximately $4,000 without any
siEeable contribution from the large
manufacturing enterprises IL your
city, and I think that your chapter
aud the people o. Perth Aulboy
should feel justly proud CT the rec
ord yen have made. The division
fully appreciates the fact that =
number Of our chapters who failed
70 raise their quotas have raised
sums which represent IN son cases
a more generous response 70 the
Presidents appeal than PAGES which
met their quotas or veu exceeded
them. The results OF the drive have
proven that the quotas assigned were
in no way a measure Of the interest
Of the people q this country in the
part which they wished 70 take IN
assisting the japanese people in the
time Of strife aud Sorrcw
Your chapter. representing an In
teEral part az cur Washington dsgf-
sion. Is justly entitled 10 share in the
pride which we feel owe The record
which has been made in TIE division
as q whole. irrespective % quotas
Yours very truly.
NJ. c. DoUGEERTT,
Mrs. John Allan Dousherty.
Manager. Washington Division.