Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-30

Department President Hendricks Discusse.
the Matter.

SHE INSISTS THAT THE ACTION TAKEN BY THE NA-
TIoyAL PRESIDENT WAS LEGAL AND WITH FULL
ArTHoRrTY-THE HISTORY OF THE CASE As 1T
HAS APPEARED BEFORE The NATIONAL BODY.
In conversation with STAR reporter Mrs.
Ida V. Hendricks, the department president,
Department Of the Potomac W.R.C said:
Since the PRONUNCIATION of the order from
national headquarters of the w.R-C.. Delavan,
Ill, October so. revoking the charter of Poto-
mac Corps, first published in THE STAR Of 25th
instant. much controversy has arisen as to the
legality Of the act. as 10 the causes which led
TO IL and as to its probable effect
In addition a great deal of discussion has
taken place, both unwise and not pertinent
to the case. which may have unfortunate ef-
feet upon the relations between the W.R.C. and
GAR, as well as between the comrades COM
posing the last named organizations To the
end that all doubt. controversy and miscon-
struetion may cease 1t would seem 70 me that
inasmuch as The STAR has been the innocent
cause of starting this discussion Its columns
should be open TO the case as presented from
the proceedings o. the various conventions of
the W.RC- and from its rules and regulations.
At the fourth national convention of the W.
r. C.. held at San Francisco, Cal, the national
president. in her address TO the convention. on
page "a of the proceedings thereof, speaks as
follows: 1T has been the constant purpose OF
the national convention TO strictly enforce and
adhere to all previous decisions, one being the
requirement that all corps be auxiliary TO one
post alone, and bear the name without regard
10 any wishes of the members OF said corps
1T became NV duty to refuse u Charter 20
the ladies of Washington, ID. C., who made ap-
plication for a charter 20 be auxiliary to all the
posts of the Department of the Potomac which
are all within the limits of that city. letter
to the department commander elected
a "a those
through general committee on relief,
its members being composed of representa-
tives from each post. and the commander sug-
gested that as there was great need OF the or
ganized efforts OF women in the relic! work of
the Grand Army the corps be auxiliary to
the department, making its report to the de-
partment commander instead OF post com
maEcler and Its relief committees acting under
advice from the general committee, as above
stated. Therefore. a. this is the only that
can ever come to as whereby We would be war
ranted in making such departure from our
rules and regulations. ] would most earnestly
recommend that this convention pass special
act authorizing the ratioual president to grant
a charter for u corps that shall be auxiliary to
the Department of the Potomac, to be known
as Potomac Relief Corps, No 2
so RECORD OF THE ACTION.
The proceedings of the fourth national con-
vention do not show that the special legislation
authorizing the issue of charter to Potomac
Corps was enacted A careful perusal of said
proceedings will show that the chairman of the
committee on presidents address Ilddo two re-
ports to the convention on said address. one
verbal and one written. In the verbal report
the special legislation recommended was passed
by without notice. In the written report the
only reference to said recommendation Is as
follows:
''As the voice OF The convention has acted upon
the authority TO grant II special charter to the
department CORPS known as the Department OF
the Potomac. il Is not necessary for your con,-
mittee to take further advice upon the matter.
(See page MS, proceedings OF fourth national
convention.)
Any act of an organization governed by
rules and regulations and convened from time
to time in furtherance of weil-formulated and
explicitly declared principles should be set
forth in the proceedings of its conventions in
unmistakable manner. and when an attempt
Is made TO change or modify organic laws 10
depart from established principles. no doubt
should be left as 10 the intent or meaning OF
the same.
The act of the fourth national convention of
the W. T. C. upon special legislation in regard
to Potomac Corps not only Is not shown i'll its
proceedings. but would be contrary to one OF
the vellestablished principles of the organiza-
tiOn, viz: Provided however. tina; corps
shall be organized except auxiliary to n pos.
(See section l. article 3. Rules and Regulations.
w. r.. c. This means, OF course. that CORPS
can only be organized as auxiliary TO a pos. 1t
Is the condition precedent to the formation of
corps throughout the country
The request for charter for corps must be
signed by a post commander TO which it is to
be auxiliary. This Is the organic law of the ".
r. e. 1t has been in full force since its birth:
all the decisions are in that line. A careful OBJ
servance of this law has contributed largely to
the success of the W. Il. e. ANY violation of
its letter or spirit will create confusion and has
already created it in this jurisdiction.
The effect OF such legislation places one corps
superior to all the others-a so-called superior
body. III which subordinate corps have no voice
either in the selection of its officers or in its
management. This has been the effect in this
jurisdiction. notwithstanding the decisI oc IN
Case %, page Isl. proceedings Of the fifth ma
tional convention. wherein tine question is
raised as to the superiority of Potomac Corps
over others in this jurisdiction. The decision
that point concludes as follows: . = But
the privilege did not give them any rights or
precedence over any other corps of the W. X.
e., neither did it preclude or prevent a depart
ment of the ". H. c. from being formed when
the requisite number of corps are organized"
Such condition of indie pendence or supe-
riority, growing out OF special legislation
would not be tolerated for instant in any
other organization nor in our own IN any other
department.
THE ORGANIZATION OF THE DEPARTMENT.
Since the organization of this department
", r. c. it has aimed to take its place in line
order. Standing committee has been formed
to cooperate with the department commander
and department relief committee of the G.. A.
r. IN all matters connected with affOrding re-
lief TO the needy and destitute appearing before
them. and this committee Of the W. l.. C. stands
ready TO afford such relief at all times. In
addition thereto an employment committee has
also been formed to assist IN kindred objects a
like committee of the g. A. T. Thus il VIII be
seen that whatever seeming necessity NAV have
arisen for the formation OF a corps AUXILIARY TO
this department Of tie q. A. Il. such necessity
has ceased 10 exist.
This depar tment was formed by Mrs. Annie
Wittsnmeyer, national presideut July 70, 1880
the application for the same being signed bv
nine post commanders Mrs. WIttenmever nj
that time invited Potomac Corps TO unite in
tts formation, which invitation was declined.
Immediately upon Its formation began the
friction with Potomac Corps.au inevitable con-
Sequence where two kindred organizations
Claim rights IN the same jurisdiction.
ACTION OF The LAST CONTENTION
The last national convention. believing that
the interests Of harmony could be better Sc
eureG. concluded to settle the matter by vest
ing the sole authority in W Il. C. matters in
this department. the corps forming it having
beer regularly instituted according to organic