Omaha daily bee., 1896-04-13
CAUSES OF DISAGREEMENT
Ballington Booth Issues Statement Con-
oerning the Split in the Army.
ARBITRARILY RULED FROM LONDON
General Booth In Every Way Showed
His Distnstc for America and
Amcricunizing Influences in
the Army.

statement tonight:
"Since our statement written in response
to the urgings we received to inaugurate a
new movement was issued, we avoided maxi
ing any reply to the inaccurate statements
which have from time to time appeared
in print from the present leaders Of the
Salvation army. In this attitude of silence
we have been endorsed by our friends and
the public. 1t was our intention to main
tain this silence, but during the last few
days news has reached us that portions of
our private letters are being shown by Lon
don representatives, who are putting their
own interpretations upon our reasons for
our present position. Hearing of this our
friends and our officers, who wish their po-
sition at our side to be understood urge
! us to state some Of our reasons for deciding
not to take another command under inter-
national government.
I'VE have appealed to the American peo-
pie for help and support and we cannot for
get. decent respect for the opinion OF
mankind requires that we declare the causes
which mpeled to this separation. 1t
must, however, be conceded that our posi-
tion has been and is a very delicate one,
from the fact that there is a personal ele-
ment which we cannot eliminate from the
controversy because Of our ramily relation
ship with the founder Of and leader Of the
Salvation army. 1t has been frequently
asked why we do not make public our letter
of January 81, which has been so wrongly
quoted as our resignation. That letter being
a private communication from son to father
and brother, we have not felt that 1t could
honorably be made public. The receivers of
the letter are at perfect liberty to do So,
provided they print 1t intact
I'm justice to our present position, 1t
must be stated with emphasis that no one
letter embraces all our reasons for our in
ability to accept another command, but
that letters covering period OF nearly two
years past, and also those of later date
than the 31st of January, are necessary
to the understanding of the situation, es-
pecally the letter of April s, 1896. Upon
receipt of orders to leave America we wrote
letter, dated January 10, asking IL inter
national headquarters had taken into con-
sideraton all the consequences of the
| changes of command at that particular time.
The feeling then existing toward England
| in this country, the heavy financial respon-
sihiiity of our new building and our own
peculiar and unfortunate relations with the
general, from whom we had received no
communication of any character for nearly
| six months, made 1t, appear to us most
unfortunate and ill-advised step. This let
ter was followed by others from us stating
/ that we were prepared to fulfill them or
ders and to relinquish our command.
GAVE LONDON THEIR REASONS.
"On January 81 we wrote London stating
| some g our reasons for being unable con-
| sc'entiously to accept another command but
making plain that we did not wish to in
| jure the army. To preclude the possibility
| or the statement being made that we were
unwilling to obey orders or the prospects
| or leaving this country was the cause CT
| dissatisfaction, we wrote the following par
| agraph In this same letter (January 31D:
| 1t must not be said at any time that we
|
| leave America. This would be untrue for
| we have made no remonstrance. nor have
| we refused
1T should be carefully remembered:
| Ihat London's representatives, after
| they had precipitated the whole transa ction
| and forced us from our position. so prevent =
| ing our quiet farewell and retirement. made
| the definite statement that we said we had
| lost confidence in the general and in the
international administration which reasons
| aLone, py their own showing, would prove
lhat we could not consistently accept another
| held under the circumstances. 1t should be
| distinctly understood that our feelings re-
garding the matters of controversy were
known by London prior to the sending of our
| farewell orders. Many letters passed bet ween
us and the general after our interview with
| MIN In this country, previous to the time
| when direct communication from him to- us
| ceased.
y. The generals visit to us was the pr!-
mary Cduse VI tne MISUNDERSTANDING between
| us and himself First to last he impressed
| us with his displeasure. and satisfaction
with us personally and with our method of
administering affairs. While we lived in and
| understood this country, he exhibited preju-
dlces and mlsconceDtlOn of 1t and its people
he objected to the display of the national
flag upon our badges and in our halls and
homes He said the time had arrived to
cease carrying the stars and stripes at the
head OF our parades. He objected to the use
OF the eagle upon cur crests and constantly
spoke depreciatingly of the country its peo-
pie and it's institutions. Our constant defense
and remonstrance in answer to his attacks
| only increased the difficulty With our af-
fection for and knowledge of America, this
placed US in most unfortunate position
He, in consequence, showed but little interest
and sympathy with us personally. He spoke
no word In public or private in approval of
| our toll zeal or success and- in other ways
we need not mention made the visit one of
the btterest experiences of our lives.
NEITHER WISE OR PRACTICAL.
"3. During our experience in Americs, we
have gradually became convinced that the
system of governing the work in this coun-
try from foreign center by laws made by
those unaware of the needs and conditions
OF the country Is neither wise nor practical
Constant friction has on this account existed
between US and the international headquar-
ters.
~. Our judgment has been forced upon
points that we do not approve, and we have
been made to feel that the government was
such that. so far as we were personally con-
cerned, we could not accept and command
where we should have to administer the
affairs when we. ourselves, could not agree
with the rules 1t demanded, and enforced.
In many ways our authority was limited; no
books could be published until revised by
London no prominent, no important move,
even no change in detail of uniform, ETC.,
could take place under this rule without
corrs sspondence to gain permission
"5. The rules and regulations governing
the army to the minutest detail were being
made In England, and the commissioners of
foreign commands were obliged to enforce
them, though they had themselves in nowise
been consulted on the formulating of the
same. Some time previous TO our orders to
cay farewell, two more volumes came to
hand. Portions Of theze volumes we did not
approve, yet such rules and regulations we
should have had TO enforce In some other
countries. II not In this one
rs. For years We had not been consulted
on the important moves and innovations of
the army, although supposed to be two OF
its prominent and responsible officers. Great
schemes involving large sums of money had
been formulated aud launched by interna-
tonal headquarters, and our first intimaton
Of the same was through some publication,
though through their policy Of change of com
Iuht H. Fnt,, hox, q ba