Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-24
CHEERED COMMANDER BOOTH
Called at Army Headquarters for the First
Time Since His Deposition.
SECRET CONFERENCE WITH THE LEADERS
Parties Present Refuse TO Divulge
what Took Plnce-Succcssor An
pOunced from Gondon-Dis-
clnimcr from Herbert Booth.

ters tonight for the first time since he
ceased to be the commander Of the army
of the United States. Neither Colonel Nicoll
nor Acting Commander Eadie had been told
that Booth would be at the meeting. Major
Glenn Staff Captain Crafts and half a dozen
others, all strong supporters of the deposed
commander, took a stand on the pavement
in front of the building about o'clock.
They did not wear the army uniform and
did not enter the building where Colonel
Eadie was conducting a meeting in the large
hall
Ballington Booth reached the building
about o'clock and with his friends in wait
ing went to room 16 on the fourth floor.
The crowd that gathered outside the build
ing in anticipation that something was to
happen began to cheer for Booth Ex-Com-
mander Booth was not attired in the army
uniform, although he wore the usual mill
tary cape ccat His face was pale and
showed lines Of worry. Colonel Nicoll, who
was to have addressed the meeting, did not
appear, although he was in the building
all the evening. AS it was the crowd Missed
him on several occasions as he passed
through the corridors. Colonel Eadie was
Informed of the arrival of the Booths while
the meeting was going on. He at once left
the platform and hurried to the fourth floor,
after conference with Colonel Nicoll. The
meeting was then adjourned and the lights
in the auditorium turned out. Most Of the
crowd waited outside Of the building. The
news had spread that Ballington Booth was
in the building and they anxiously awaited
developments.
Some of the officers Of the army were
summoned to the room where Ballington
Booth had gone Among them were Briga-
dier Evans and Brigadier Fielding of Chi
cago, Major Stilwell of Michigan, Ensign
Taylor, Adjutant Damon and Mrs. Damon,
Major Glenn and Staff Captain Crafts. A
meeting took place behind closed doors.
Colonel Nicoll and Colonel Eadie were pres
ent for half an hour and then went to
Colonel Eadie's office on the floor below.
Soon after 10 o'clock word reached Colonel
Eadie that the Associated press had re-
ceived a dispatch from London announcing
the appointment of Commissioner and Mrs.
Booth-T Tucker to succeed Mr.. and Mrs. Bal
lington Booth. A few minutes after the fol-
lowing bulletin was given OUT
Commis. io1er and Mrs. Booth-Tucker have
Mrs Mrs. Baliington Booth, and may be ex-
pected to arrive in this country with all
'''p'.As1L ALEXANDER T. NIcoLL, Colonel
Immediately after the meeting, Balling-
ton Booth hurried from the building. He
refused to make any statement of what had
occurred in the meeting, as did all the other
WHO were present. 1t is known that he read
long paper.
STATEMENTS GIVEN OUT.
Colonel Nicoll, before the arrival Of Bal
lipgton Booth gave out statement He
said: 1.-The charges that General Booth is
opposed to the AmericaniSm OF this division
Of the army are absurd. The policy of the
army has always been to follow the habits
and customs of the country In which 1t was
located. In Africa, Africans. All things to
all mem is enc of our notices. / have
heard OF no dissenslons in the army. l do
not think that Ballington Booth will make
any trouble about turning over the property
of the army. We want him to so to England
and have conference with his father be-
fore he leaves the army"
Commandant Herbert Booth tonight tee-
graphed the Associated press from Toronto,
Ont, a denial that any of the affairs of the
Salvation army in the United States are un-
der his control, or that he has taken his
brothers place in New York. II am, as
hitherto" he says. directing the affairs OF
the army in Canada, and at present am en-
tirely ignorant of my future appointment"
Late tonight Ballington Booth issued the
following statement:
1t was furthest from our intention to
enter into any controversy regarding our ac-
tion but certain erroneous statements nave
been made public, and it IS only right and
just. both to the movement and to ourselves
First, Colonel Nico,ls statement, 1T is
untrue, as reported that C1mmandant Her
bert perempory demanded s,a ed nnnr,v that MS rs
The best denial to this is, the following
final episode in the discussion Thursday
last. After having said we should only
have the Sunday to say farewell AN and ,5hey they
1t could be arranged at short notice the
commandant finally said: There are two
propositions, which 1 am empowered to pace
First: THAT you withdraw your letter
We replied mo. we will not"
Second: THAT you go to England on Sat
We replied: mo. except upon our condi-
~ DEMANDED THE KEYS
'Very WE'LL" continued Commandant Her
bert with emphasis, ''in that case all have
to say is that ] demand that you hand over
your keys and portfolios by 10 o'clock to-
/ replied: 1--WE shall require to have the
authority of the chief of staff" Referring
to London headqusrterso ,.,o,. ,ooo,,so
! am empowered to give you the alterna-
j replied: "Then you shall have the keys
and the offices by 10 o'clock tomorrow"
mandant. Commissioner Eva nor Colonel
Nicholl demurred at the decision, and the
only words exchanged were good night
Did not silence give, consent?
1T is equally untrue that he ever dismisse1
Commander Ballington Booth. Neither
commandant Booth nor any other officer
invested in the general"
We have always understood that the
power of dismissal of territorial officers is
invested in the general. But the command
ant led us TO believe he and the other rep
resentatives had come fully authorized and
said they were backed with a definite brief
frcm London. Colonel NichoE said to us
directly after seeing Commissioner Eva that
We must be prepared for for the e,s worst noo orr
respective desks and yaeating headquarters
ccr sultation which resulted later In the day
In our expressing by cab egram the story
that we had received our dismissal at the
hands of the. commander and that any
further negotiations had closed.
Fourth after the above deplorable clrcum-
stances / hereby declare on Mrs. Booths
and my own behalf that we cannot under
any conditions whatever accept proposals
from London, nor enter again under the au-
thorlty or government Of international head
quarters In England. Mrs. Booth and Mrs;
Eva Batterly regret that we have not had
the opportunity of saying loving farewell
to our immediate staff and faithful oihcers
to say nothing of the thousands we dearly
love on this vide field. .,.
BALLINGTON BOOTH.
Stockholders Let Out.