The morning times., 1896-02-25

BtIUTc
New York. Feb. 4--Bailington Booth and
his wife have retired from the command Of
the Salvation Army in America. Eva Booth
has been placed i'll command temporarily.
Such Instructions We're cabled TO her today
from the London headquarters
Mr.. and Mrs Booth accepted their dis
missal very quietly. They were asked il
they would go to England or remain in
America.
We Will remain here" said the ex-
commander. We are American citizens.
Our children are Americans and we do not
intend to go TO England"
Unquestionably decided anti-En2liSh
feeling has strongly manifested Itself in
the ranks OF the Salvation Army in this
city Taken all in all the end oOks ominous
for the American army. A representative
of the United Press put the question 10
BalliHgton Booth This evening, if his de-
cision OF today to accept the situation and
retire from the army was final. The eX-
commander paused moment and then said:
We'll that is my decision today. / do
not know what will be my decision tomor-
row.
ARMY MAY SPLIT.
1t is claimed by many SaiyauOnists that
if the commissioned Officers of the army
in America should decide to rebel against
English domination, aud SUNNI on 10 lead an
American Salvation Army Ballington Booth
and his wife. they will willingly respond.
pathetic scene occurred as Mr.. and Mrs.
Baiington Booth were leaving their Old
quarters in the armOry Mrs. Booth came
running over to her husband just as he an-
pounced that he would retire from the
army's command. She nestled close to his
breast and, looking up into his face, said:
But you are still my commander
''oh, yes, replied Mr.. Booth, ''anu you
are my queen
Some one then proposed three cheers for
Mr. and Mrs. Booth, and they were given
with will.
Today was lively day at the head
quarters of the army. on Fourteenth street.
From 10 O'Clock in the morning until late
in the afternoon heated conference was
I held in the auditorium. The most promi-
nent staff officers in America were present.
After the commissioners from abroad had
stated their side OF the case, Mr.. and Mrs.
Booth Were sent for to give their statement,
From 10 O'Clock in the morning until late
Mr.. Booth spoke for an hour and his wife
occupied the same length of time. The
newspaper men were excluded, and what
transpired could not be learned.
AT O'Clock this evening ex-Commander
Booth called the reporters into his wife's
former office and made the following state
ment:
WORKERS PRESENT.
The session today was composed of the
most prominent staff Officers on the Ameri
can field, therefore most efficient, most
| responsible and most representative. Some
| 40, 900 adherents were represented. 1t
1 was a gathering not OF my calling together
| but one convened by the said staff to which
| Mrs. Booth and myself We're invited I hat we
might give out our version of the case after
| the same staff had heard the field commits
| SioBer. Eva Booth, and Col. Nicors SIDE of
| the story.
Il emphaticaiIy denied the statement that
! l was not dismissed, in proof of which
l gave the following:
| First Col Nicol told Mrs. Booth ard my
! self to prepare for the worst after having
/ met Eva Booth on her arrival.
Second-tCommaUdant Herbert Booth
| stated that he was empowered to ask Mrs.
| Booth and myself for our keys, portfolios
| and offices. 1 at once replied: Com
mandaut, l must have your authority from
| the chief OF London for that He replied:
| You can have them before l . o'clock
! This was last Thursday.
Third He asked two things. One was
whether | would go TO London. l replied
! no, except on our conditions. First, that
| three brigadiers from America be present
! at all interviews in London; second, that
! Col. Eadie be at once withdrawn to Eng
| land third. that Commandant Herbert go
! back to London and remain there during
| my absence, and not return under any Cir
| cumstances or preteXt whatever until my
return to the United States.
THOSE THAT WERE REFUSED.
.AFourth-That Col. Nicol, the generals
representative. remain here and assist in
| commanding.
''Fifth-That Commissioner Eva return
| to London with me.
| ''Sixth-That no one else be sent here in
my absence until l returned.
Seventh to return week after my
arrival in England.
"Eighth-That Mrs. Ballington Booth re-
| main at the military helm OF the warship
in the United States during its existence"
THE second. third and fourth conditions
of my request were refused. They said
| l must go before court OF inquiry in
| London. To go before court OF inquiry
| means court-martial. / have nothing TO
| be court-martialed for.
Then came the painful episode OF Herbert
Booth demanding my keys. 1 was then
served with brief from London, which
| empowered my removal. We were dis
| missed. They were empowered to do so.
! '.Since today's session Mrs. Booth and
| myself have been waited upon and ques-
| toned as to our plans. We propose TO
quietly retire. We accept our dismissal.
We will probably turn over all the property
| in our possession. We will first, however,
! consult lawyers and some of the leading
citizens in the United States
Mr.. and Mrs. Booth shook hands with
the reporters, bade them farewell and drove
away from the building in cab.
/ The following dispatch was posted at
army headquarters this afternoon:
Toronto, 2, "a, '96.
| "CcI, Nicol, West Fourteenth street.
"Elucdate TO officers and post on bull
letin board. Send copy to editors.
"Comrades-The press has been misin-
formed concerning my visit 10 New York.
Have done my duty with prayers and tears.
as a brother to prevent Il breach in the fam
lily hitherto unbroken and preserved from
an irreparable calamity. A brother can do
no other than leave consequences with God
and time. You have my truest sympathy
in this hour of trial. You may be relied
upon, / know to maintain the worldwide
union OF the Salvation Army, which is as
dear to American Salvationists almost as
is the Union Of their beloved land.
''HERBERT BOOTH"