Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-11-16

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Klein Dress Co.
In 1s43 and 1914, all three had
donated as o firm and had q Red
Cross representative to speak to
their employees. In February, 1945,
the Red Cross literature was left
at the factories as usual. But when
> a few days later Mrs. Gross tele-
,phoned about sending a Red Cross
speaker and asked concerning the
collections she found that under
labor-union direction and without
notice to the chapter the Red Cross
supplies and all donations had been
sent to Easton (Pa) headquarters
of the representative of the Inter,
national Ladies' Garment Workers
Union Of the AFL-a Miss Grace
Sardegna.
Arrangement Outlined.
Mrs. Gross called up Miss Sardegna
and. she states, was told by Miss
:. Ssrdegna that she had instructed
the firms to turn over to her the
money collected instead Of sending
1t direct to the Red Cross; that she.
Miss Sardegna, would allocate a
certain amount to the Red Cross
c and to the Community Chest and
:. National War Fund; that she could
not agree to tell Mrs. Gross the total
. amount she had collected from any
q. Of the firms.
A little later Miss Sardegna sent
to the chapter q check for $500 rep
resenting the Red CROSS share OF
collection from the three firms
Feeling that this was a small pro-
portion OF the total collections for
the Red. Cross, Mrs. Gross phoned
. Miss Sardegna and told her Red
Gross instructions concerning Red
Gross and labor union cooperation
prohibited sharing collections with
other organizations and that the
total Rec Cross collections should go
to the Rid Cross.
Miss Sardegna, according to Mrs.
Gross, replied that If Mrs. Gross did
" not wans the $500 she could send 1t
back anG that II Mrs. Gross did not
like 1t that that did not matter.
Mrs. Gross explained that it was
not a question Of likes or dislikes
but a ruling Of the National Red
Cross that I'VE cannot share with
other groups In our collection"
Miss SaHdegna, Mrs. Gross said,
laughed 4 Id told her to tell your
story to National" and that she had
plenty of use for the money II Mrs.
Gross did not want 1t.
Manager Receives Letter.
After considerable correspondence
on the Eater, Mr.. Raymone Eaton,
Red Cross manager for the Eastern
area, on March az received this let
ter from Miss Sardegna: -
Dear Sir: I am tnclosing ma
terial used In our campaign for war
relief which very clearly indicates
this is our own organization drive
cut of which we allocate moneys to
me American Red Gross and the
other organizations listed on the
back of the inclosed card. I am
positive that you are well &C
ouainted with the drive conducted
by the International Garment
workers Union throughout the
United States. We have done 1t In
the past and intend to continue 1t
in the future. Any complaints you
nave you can take up with Presi-
dent David Dubinsky."
Finally, over protest OF Mrs,
Gross, the Red Gross area manager
advised that the $500 check should
be accepted. Then, on May %, Dr.
Walker wrote Miss Sardegna as FOL
lows:
1" sDear Miss Sardegna: Two years
ago the matter of holding combined
campaigns for the Red Cross war
fund and for the Labor Union War
Chest was thoroughly discussed, and
1t was decided that combined drives
of this sort would not be held on be-
half of the Red Cross. Therefore, it
a was necessary to obtain permission
rnfrom the Eastern area before &C
s|eepting your $500 donation which
in effect, was from such combined
: drive for various organizations.
would ask, therefore, that in con-
formity with Red Cross policy, fu-
= ture drives for the Red Cross be held
separately from your drives Tor
union funds and for other relief
= agencies"
-. Separate Drive Conducted.
:. To that, on June l, Miss Sardegna
= replied: Dear DR.. Walker. AS to
your request that we conduct a sep
=, arate drive for contributions to the
: Red Cross apart from other relief
=, organizations, I wish to inform you
! that we are part of an international
organization and therefore cannot
. comply with your request. II the
Red Cross wishes such action