Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-08-26
woMAN's RELIEF CORPS.
Portions Of the Address Delivered by the Ma
tioDaI President.

BUFFALO, New York, August 26.--
The fifteenth annual convention Of the
Woman's relief corps of the United
States was called to order, this morn
ing, by the national president, Agnes
Hit, Of indianapolis. After the usual
exercises, in accordance with the
ritual, the president proceeded to de.
liver her annual address, which was
largely made up Of recommendation
concerning changes in the rules and
regulations, ritual and other details OF
the order In the early part of her ad-
dress, the president threw cold water
upon the proposition to present ties.
timonial to Mrs. Vittenmyer, the
"Amtrican Florence Nightingale. =
Upon this point, Mrs Hitt said
In The month of May, circular was sent
Co the natl nal headquarters for approval,
signed by three members OF the depart.
ment of Pennsylvania, two members OF
the Woman's relief corps home board, and
the chairman OF the national executive
board containing an appeal to the mem
bers Of our order for contributions to q
birthday testimonial to our past national
president, Mrs Wittenmye er. Mrs. Witten-
myers services during the civil war in hos.
pitas and camps for the alienation of our
suffering soldiers-thousands of suffering
soldiers being provided with good food
through ber success In establishing special
diet kitchens-her work for army
nurses in procuring pensions and
her untiring efforts in bshalf
of the National Women's r. lief Corps
home, ell call fer our highest recommenda-
fiun, and no testimonial could be more
wor,hiy bestowed. Corps doubtless have
responded as we'll IS they could, consider
ing the stringency OF the times, and the
NAM demands upon their treasures. But
the pneeus appeals that have come to us
since, from two widows of soldiers. one
asking for SO 0 and the other for 1900 to
pay the mortgages off their homes, and
our inability to respond, lead us ITO make
: this recommendation: That hereafter, no
such appeal, however meritorious, shall
be sent auf, uoless it emanates from ma
tlonsl beaaquarters, through the national
president, with the advice Of the national
cuuncil.
While the national seesetary's repor,
will show loss OF members in good stand
ing, it will also show IN the aggregate
gain of twenty corps and over 1900 mem.
bers, makiog in all 1928 corps and l4e,sS'
members. However, for the last two years
the order, while holding its own, has mo-
increased as 1t should There are many
reasons tor this, one being the inancia
depression throughout the country.
For nu nber of years resolutions hav,
come to tle national convention asking
that the comrades of the grand army o
the republic be mitted TO membership II
our order. Considering that we owe ou
existence to the grand army of the republl
and that the sons of veterans and al
other allied societiss edmit them Il
MN rary membership, II seems onl.
right that we should exten
70 them the welcoming hand. In orde
that we may euter into this new line o
thoughtin a dignified, ,considerats manner
I offer this recommendation, that the TO
loving additions bs made to the rules an
regulations: Corps may admit to associat
msmb- rship any member OF the gran
army Of the republic. An associate mem
ber shall be admitted when proposed bY
member Of the corps. who shall vouch fo
his eligibility, and elected by Q majorit
rising vote II members present and votinf
Af.pr ticking the obligation OF assSciai
m mbsrs, they shall receive the pas
" ID. As ocinte members may he pres
aatat any business 5. ssi a. but shall nc
bs entitltn t woe at any time, an
sh,llnot he alIawsd TO enter Up IN
XII cu~~ion. un Nss invited TO do so nv
,ta II the corp, ASS ci4se members ma
be elected aud o5 igateS ct departmeE
Or national conventions