The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1943-10-31
BY WEsTBROoK PEGLER

NEW YORK.-Many individuals who wrote
10 the Red Cross in Washington inquiring as
to Mrs. Roosevelts status on her trip to the
Paclflc have sent me copies of the replies
which they received. Taken all together, they
still leave some questions unanswered.
Let me quote from one received by a Toledo
citizen and published in the Toledo Blade
while Mrs. Roosevelt is on her present
mission as a delegate of the American Red
Cross" it said, 'her expenses are not being
borne by the Red Cross
well, why not? If her mission was legiti-
mate and as important as it was represented
to be, the Red Cross could have paid the ex-
pense without the slightest embarrassment It
should have done So Otherwise a few indi-
viduals who are able to pay their own way
are invited to receive Red Cross credentials
and 60 touring.
"On the contrary the letter continues 'the
syndicate which handles Mrs. Roosevelt's daily
column has announced that the proceeds from
ner column during her absence would be con.
tributed one-half to the Red Cross and one-haH
to the American Friends Society,"
How much was that? The syndicate refuses
10 say What has the American Friends So
clety got to do with it, anyway? What is the
matter with the Elks?
Mrs Roosevelt did not inform us that she
intended to make this contribution to the
AAiiiSAlIo 1leu OIOSS, is the next statement
have tried to connect this one with the sub
ject under discussion, but it doesn't seem to
ut. But know that the idea didn't originate
IN the syndicate, if that s what the Red Cross
means to suggest The syndicate merely COM
Piled with Mrs. Roosevelt's wishes The same
syndicate handles my copy and know Mr..
Carlln the manager, would never take it on
nmself to suggest that any of his trained seals
should donate a weeks or months royalties
fh-ff ca hof ~
seems to be mere stalling and filling and alb
solutely irrelevent.
The next sentence says Mrs. Roosevelt has
been honorary chairman of the national COM
mlttee on volunteer service of the Red Cross
for more than 10 years and has always taken
a deep interest in Red Cross work, visiting
many chapter workrooms and frequently Of
fering her advice and commentator on Red
Cross activities''
There are several angles in that one. First
honorary means complimentary, or for free
Mrs. Roosevelt is honorary chairman by virtue
of the election returns which are strictly po-
litical, whereas the Red Cross is supposed to
be strictly nonpoltical, and had better be
again. HAS always taken keen interest"
Does everyone who has always token keen
interest rate a personal Army bomber, with
necessary escorts and 40-some thousand gal
Ions of gasoline?
'Visitng chapter rooms and frequently Of
fering her advice and commentator. Was
this, then, a reward for past VISITS TO chapter
roons and advice and commentator? It was
supposed to be service mission What actual
service was performed!
..she has also done personal service through
knitting sweaters for servlcemen ana garmenA%
for relief through the Red Cross,
That also is past performance ana us men,
~, e,,rt,er suegests that this trip was per.
sona1 reward. but furthermore any knitting
factory could duplicate these sweaters and
i Garments for foreign relief in five minutes
H gs,1T much Knitting must girl do to rate