The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-12-14
dsi ell
CONSTRUCTION OF TIE LAW.

| of the Interior, as was noted in The NATIONAL
| TRIBUNE at the time IS the official who gave
the equitable construction Of the Army Nurse
Bill, allowing the devoted women of the Diet
Kitchens to share in its, privileges.
Secretary Reynolds having been thanked by
Mrs. Wittenmyer. on behalf of the W.R.C,,
makes response as follows:
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, |
| WAsHINaToN, Oct. %, 1893. J
| MRS ANNIE WITTENMYgR Saratoga, Pa.
| Ny DEAR MADAM: Returning to my office
| after an extended absence I find your letter of
| the 10th instant. ] am greatly pleased that in
| the discharge Of public duty. in constituting
| the law as | understOodit, | have met the in
| tent of the framers and assure you of my high
| appreciation of the kind words in which you
| have extended to me the thanks of the
! Woman's Relief Corps for my part in giving
| just Interpretation of this law.
] am, with great respect, yours very sim
cerely,
John M. Reynolds, Assistant Secretary.
TRIBUTE TO THE RELIEF CORPS.
Edith Train, National Instituting and In
Sailing Officer W.R.C., and ready writer on
all that pertains to the advancement of women,
says the organized charities of the United
States, which are carried on by women, have
been school of training to those whose time
has been given because of the good they might
do. Also, that the thorough method adopted
for conducting these charities, the intercourse
with talented women who have been pioneers
in these good works, the meeting together and
exchange of ideas have frightened and polished
the great mass of women who have associated
themselves together.
Mrs. Train believes this to be particularly
true of the Woman's Relief Corps, and desiring
to know how the matter might present itself
to Others she addressed an inquiry to Gen.
Given veteran of the Mexican war and of
the war of the rebellion, and present Judge of
the Supreme Court of Iowa, receiving from
him the following reply, which every Relief
Corps woman will read with pardonable pride:
SUPREME COURT CHAMBERS,
DIES MONIES, Iowa, Nov. IS. 1893.
Miss EDITH TRAIN, National lnstituting and
Installing Officer, W.RC.
MY DEAR FRIEND: You ask me if approve
of the WOman's Relief Corps and if so, why?
/ approve of it with all my heart because in
this age of charitable organ izations it is the
grandest. AS auxiliary to the GA. K. it judici-
ously distributes the largest charity that is
administered by any charitable organization,
and mainly to the most deservng-the needy
veterans of the Union army and navy.
The necessity for the organization arises out
of the inability of the men of the GAR, be-
cause of their numerous engagements, to judi
cously administer the large charities of the
Order.
1t was with the GAR as in the sixties, when
men undertook to distribute the generous dona-
tions of the loyal people in the hospitals and
camps in the front, confusion marked the en-
terprise, and the most needy were frequently
the least favored
Itwas not until loyal women like Mother Bick-
erdyke. Mother Wttenmyer and Aunt Becky
fusion, and the sanitary supplies so lavishiy
contributed reached the sick and wounded. So
it was with the GA. L. until the women through
their organization came to the rescue.
1t is evident that as the veterans grow older
the demands on Posts and Corps must increase,
hence every Post should sec to it that Corps
is organized to aid in its charitable work, and
every woman who is eligible and desires to he
in the way of doing more good than she can
otherwise possibly do, should join the Relief
Corps. l am, very respectfully, yours in f., C.,
and L.-Josiah Given. -5I
DEPARTMENT OF CALIFORNIA.
DEAR TRIBUNE: This is the time Of year for
the Inspector to make her annual visit to the
Corps, and all communications whicifrcach this
office are filed with words of praise and COM
mendation for the good work being done by
Department Inspector Flora Il. Bowley. She is
winning friends wherever she goes.
She inspected Appomattox Corps 5. Oakland, /
and complimented them upon their work. At
the close of the inspection President Cannon
presented her with a magnificent bunch of
roses, tied with red ribbon, the Department
coors.
Gov. Morton Corps 40, Calistoga, sends word
of pleasant inspection. In the evening Mrs.
Capt Simmons gave reception to the Depart
ment Inspector at her residence The members
of Post and Corps were out in large numbers
and most enjoyable evening was spent. This
al dan ized
handsomely for their relief fund.
Kearsarge Corps, 81, Ukiah was inspected at
a special meeting. In the evening the Corps,
Post, and friends gathered at the home Of Corps
President McGowan TO greet the Department
Inspector, and conversation, music and literary
exercises were enjoyed By all. delightful
supper was served.
Corps GA gave successful Blue Jay Supper.
Each person upon entering the hall was given a
blue bearing certain number. For diver
sion there was music Rotations, and the |
shadow pantomime, Little Red Riding Hood. |
Each person then found partner according to
number and marched to the supper-tabe.
Assistant Inspector Adalissa Baugham in
spected Vicksburg Corps 81. Fifty-twO men,
bers were present, and the work gone |
through with most thoroughly and satisfacto-
rily. In the evening Past President Sarah
Sanders entertained the Inspector the Corps, |
and their friends at her beautiful home This |
Corps is doing splendid work, because of the |
harmonious spirit prevailing.
The Board of Directors of the W.R.C. Home |
held their monthly meeting at San Jose. when |
all the inmates reported in good health. |
Treasurer reported receipts from the Corps |
during the month $I61. The Board voted to
give the inmates real old fashioned Thanks
giving dinner.
Jessie Ensign, Secretary of the Board, stated
she had the pleasure of visiting the National
W.R.C. Home while East, and while she found
some things there superior TO our Home, in
many things she thought ours the BEST
Antietam Corps, rs, Petaluma, has been
called to mourn the loss of their beloved and
gifted President Belle Johnson. Antetam
Post served escort to the grave. The floral
offerings were both profuse and exquisite, Lin
coin Corps, Of San Francisco, sending beauti-
full design. President johnson was noble
woman; her life a bouquet of beautiful,
kindly deeds
Word comes from the Corps at Santa Monica
our sister by the Southern sea" of successful
social to replenish the treasury.
Col. L. ID. Baker Corps, Newcastle, was in
spected by the Department President Johnson
Under GOOD of the Order" fine program
was given. Although but a small place, the
Corps numbers 40 earnest, active workers. Ice
cream and cake were INDUCED in. The hall
was handsomely decorated
Lyon Corps, 6, Oakland gave fraternal