The National tribune., 1893-07-27
" CALL A HALT"
Mrs. Wittenmyer Speaks Strongly Upon
Current Issue.

Current Issue.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: I have read
the article "Call Halt +" in your issue of July
13, aud / must say l am astonished. There
were many complimentary statements abont
the Woman's Relief Corps, which were true and
well deserved, but there were many dagger
thrusts hurtful to the life and reputation of
that Order
The Woman's Relief Corps has had mar
velous growth. and is without peer among
womens' societies as far as the business manage
ment is concerned. 1t had self-sacrificing
workers in the beginning, and has them yet.
aud has gained in that respect hundredfold.
"They not in it for what they can get"
Nearly every member Of the Order is giving
aud doing to her utmost. The official records
show that as plainly as possible. There are
but two salaried officers-the Secretary and
the Treasurer; they each get 5000 year, max
ing the salaries paid 81 200 for one of the
largest societies in the world. TIE Treasurer
is under bonds for $4,000, although she seldom
has more than $4,000 on hand. There have
been no frauds. or financial scandals; every
cent has been accounted for We have only
had two Treasurers Lizabeth A. Turner, of
Boston, Mass, and Armilla A. Cheney, of
Detroit, Mich. Both these noble women are
above suspicion. The books of the society are
open to all. Our women have made splendid
record for integrity and business ability. The
amount of money xpended in relief work, and
turned over to the Posts last year. was $751;
S11.97. The amount expended in this way in
the last 10 years is nearly a million dollars.
And yet at the close of last year the amount on
hand in the Corps Treasures was: Relief fund,
$77,5l717. and the general fund, 1922, 535. 81 !;
making total of $20O,052.9 We are in it for
what we can do aud not !" for what we can get
out of it,"
need not defend the Departments. Surely
the women who have wrought SO grandly
in this work are able to take care of their own
honor. And yet / will say that am familiar
with the work of the Order and if Irregular
ties exist / know nothing about them outside
of Ohio. which that Department should be
able to settle to her own credit, and, no doubt,
will in time.
There were two frauds the first year of the
organization. one in Pennsylvania and the
other in New York Departments. They paid
that. The Departments that are free from the
charges made should at once be set right before
the public The officers should not allow their
Departments to rest under such serious charges.
if they are innocent. The honor of the society
and the interests of the sacred work we have
ON hand demands their vindication.
We have had such wonderful success in
every way, that the officers and mem bers have
reason to be proud of their record. On their
10th anniversary let it be recorded in letters
of gold that the Woman's Relief Corps does
not owe q dollar, and that in addition to her
grand relief work OF nearly million dollars,
she has in all her Treasures about 5000, 900;
that The has National Home worth at least
S65000 that she has built aud supported De-
partinent Homes; that she has helped Army
Nurses and secured law by which they are
entitled to pensions; that she has helped to
build GAR. Hall and soldier monuments, and
paid all running expenses and yet comes to
her 10th anniversary free of debt. What
greater proof of prudence and economy could
anyone ask? Everybody has the privilege of
giving advice, but everybody else is free as to
whether it is accepted or not Every delegate
must use her own best judgment
There is truth in one of the charges, aud
that is in regard to gush and soldering. The
great mass of our women are free from 1t. but
there are those who gush, and one in particu-
lar who can do enough Of that for the whole
Order. Yes. the pen is mightier than the
sword, but it is mighty for mischief as well as
for good.
1t is due the W.RC. that THE NATIONAL
TRIBUNE make amends honorable.
Annie Wittenmeyer Saratoga, Pa.