Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-12
THE OFFICERS RESIGN
Disruption Of the Women's National Cuban
League.
Director General Brown the Only Of
acer Left-What the Mem-
bera Say.

The Women's National Cuban League is
officerless and practically memberless, with
the exception of the director general, Mrs.
Clara Bell Brown. This fact however, does
not effect the actual existence of the ieag,.e,
for under it's constitution the organization
is perpetual and the terms of the Offices of
those who care to continue holding them is
likewise without an end during natural
life. The league was formed about year
ago by Mrs. Brown for the purpose OF Gre
ating practical interest in the sufforings Of
the Cuban insurge nts and raising funds for
the purpose of feeding the hungry and at
tending to the wants of the SEX in the
desolated island.
Mrs. Brown prepared and published in
the daily papers the program it was in
tended to follow and this was followed by
the announcement that a meeting had been
held, and that the Women's National Gu
ban League formally organized. with Mrs
Clara Bell Brown, director general; Mrs.
NJ. ID. Lincoln, vice director general: Mrs.
Alice Lee Moque, adjutant; Mrs. Martha G.
Hunt, treasurer; Mrs Clara Colby, secre-
tary. and Miss Mabel Clayton. correspond
ing secretary. The constitution of the
tody was drawn up by Judge ,Moulton, an
attorney of this city, and was adopted at
a meeting attended by the officers and two
or three other ladies'
A Military DespOtfsm.
The head and front of the league was
Mrs. Brown, and it soon developed. it is
said. to the satisfaction Of the officers
and the few other members who had join
ed, that she was director general in every
sense Of the word. Mrs. Brown claimed
that the system which should govern the
league should be military" and that a
OR
any member. who might be guilty of in
suhordination, while the authority of the
director general, she declared to be ST.
preme.
An Inclination Toward Inquiry.
Some of the members of the league about
this time began to regard it as singular
that no report was made of the amount or
the disposition of the funds collected from
different sources, but no specific action
was taken, as the treasurer" was absent
from the city.
Things went along for a few weeks ana
meetings were held at the Riggs House,
which were attended by anywhere from
half dozen to sixteen people, and dis
satisfaction became more and more ap
parent all the time. The treasurer, Mrs.
Martha c. Hunt, returned from the west,
where she had been for four months.
About this time the first practical illus
tration of the discomfort that existed in
the organization was given by the resigna
ton of the secretary, Mrs. Clara Colby,
who resigned in July last.
Resignatfons Publicly Announced.
The officers who had resigned and the
others who had stopped attending the
meetings and had given up all connection
with the affairs of the league, as well as
the members who had also become discon-
tented with the course of affairs, talked
the matter becoming publicly talked of,
Mrs. Brown announced, only few days
ago, that there were no dissensions in the
league. and that it was progressing finely.
These representations caused the issuing
of a public statement, that was published
today, and signed by Mrs. NJ. D. Lincoln,
vice director general: Mrs. Alice Lee Moque,
adjutant Mrs. Martha c. Hunt, treasurer,
and Mabel Clayton, secretary. These ladies
stated that they had resigned from the Of
fees lately held by them in the Womens
National Cuban League, and had also sew
cred membership with the organization.
They further stated that taeir sympathies
were still with the Cubans, but for personal
reasons they preferred to exert their efforts
In other directions for their relief.
Mrs. Lincsln's Statement.
A reporter Of The Star called on the first
three ladies named today and had an in
teresting visit. The ladies were naturally
averse to talking over the affairs of the
Woma-.'s National Cuban League, but
naturally did so before the calls were con-
cluded. Mrs. Lincoln stated that she had
remained with the organization as long as
she consistently could, and that she be-
lieved 1t had generated into a farce. In
response to a question If any report had
ever been made of the funds received and
the disposition made of them, Mrs. Lincoln
said she did not know of any such reports
being made.
Ia sal no CHI
collections at the first Sunday meeting at
the Columbia Theater amounted to about
500. Mrs. Hunt had never been the treas
u1er except in name, and had Immediately
resigned and declined to act treasurer
when she returned from the west four or
five months after she had been elected to
the office during which entire time she had
been out Of the city. Mrs. Lincoln said
that she understood that SIS had been
given to Dr. VIM. to be sent to Cuba but
that no report of it had been made to any
meeting. She said that Mrs. Brown had
actco as treasurer, and had told her four
OR five weeks ago that she had deposited
the money in hand in the Washington Loan
and Trust Company. and more recently had
said that Judge Moulfon had told her (drs
Brown that she had authority to draw out
the money on her account whenever she
might think it necessary for the benefit of
the league.
Talk With "Treasurer" HuMt,
N1IS. Ttiid u f1unI received Inc Star
reporter in the parlor of her handsome
residence. 1851 r street, just off New,
Hampshire avenue. She was very much
disinclined to speak about the affairs of
the Woman's National Cuban League, but
consented finally to do so.
Il was never the treasurer of the orRani-
zation.' said Mrs. Hunt, land 1 never at
tended meeting of it in my life 1 be-
came acquainted with Mrs. Brown just
about the time that she was forming this
lee que. was compelled to go west on
important business. While l was west
Mrs. Brown wrote me that the league had
been formed. and that she thought it would
be nice II 1 should take some active part
In 1t. and wanted to have me elected treas
0rer. wrote back. saying. that would
not take the Office but got another letter
from her, stating that l had been elected
to 1t.
When I returned to Washington. four
months later, absolutely declined to have
ANYTHING to do with the 1Aice or To har-aio