The times., 1897-08-28


woman's Relief Corps, does not approve
Of the condition Of things hich, she says.
appears TO exist in the. Woman's Relief
Corps, department of the Potomac, auxi-
iary To- the Grand Army of the Republic.
At the annual convention, which met at
Buffalo Gil Thursday, the national presi-
dentcreared Z sensation by making pointed
reference 10 the troubles which have dis
turbed the organization for years. Presi-
dent Hit came down to Washington last
June with d view to untangling matters
in the Wonans Relief Corps, and finding
the combination too complicated, gave up
in despair. In her opening addre ess to the
convention President Hit said:
"A petition was received at headquart-
| ers a few months since from about one
sixth Cf the members of the Department
of the Potomac asking that the depart
/ nent be remanded todetached corps, giving
the reasons therefor. This petition was
signed by many OF the representative
women OF the department, a number or
whom We're past department Officers. This
was followed by a counter petition with
a larger nrniher OF signatures attached.
1
charges for and counter charges against,
/ entil the matter seemed so serious that,
with the advice of the national counselor,
| Committee composed of Mrs. l.. a.
! Turner and Emma X. Wallace, was ap-
pointed TO accompany me to Washington,
! u. c., TO investigate, and, If pUss ible,
bring order and peace out Of the discord.
"on Tuesday June 6, Mrs. Wallace met
nd MI
to the department headquarters, where
we gave the department officers careful
| and patient hearing. Nothing was de-
velopcd except TO confirm opinions al
rc; dy formed from the volurninous docu-
mcus received at national headquarters.
TIE department counselor suggested that
mass meeting of the corps be held,
Which was done Thursday evening, June
10. This meeting developed condition
of affairs that calls for measures that
viii settle once for all the ever-recu:ring
| dFfculties OF the Department Of the 70
/ tomac. Wherefore, for the advancement
Of the order in the dty of Washington,
and for the best interest and progress %
| tht Department OF the Potomac Itself, I
Cffer this recommendations That ag tie
ehd IF Ike present department adninistra-
1 llDu Atif ~ tB-t A4ilEll Ol Niit iOtbiiAGC bt
| remanded TO detached corps
j. Is believed that this recommendation
VIII be the cause of even hotter struggles,
as several members Of the Department oi
| tar Potomac will make a fight gainst the
move.
1t was not easy last night TO get clear
statement OF the exact nature of the dis
turbance. Most of the leading women in
the organization are at Buffalo and many
members are absent from the city Oh
summer trips.
The disturbance lad its birth a good
many years ago The Department of the
| Potomac, q. a. r., determined a long tine
| 9go hat il would be a good plan To oorganiZe
a relief corps. a great deal OF charitable
work was to be done among the sick and
| iEcigent comrades In all other departments
OF the G 4. K. relief corps were attached
TO Grand Army posts. The Department OF
he Potomac. being composed OF posts in
the District OF Columbia, practically in one
city, it vas thought desirable TO form just
one large relief corps, which should be
auxiliary to the whole department Po-
tonIac Corps was organized.
1t grew and flourished. Finally a fac.
tional fight broke out In this corps, and
several ladies seeded. Then began the
work of organizing corps which should
be attached TO posts. The first of these
was Burnside Corps. Others followed
The Woman's Relief Corps then began &c
agitate FOR the revocation by the national
couyen ton of the charter of Potomac
Corps. After q contest covering two oI
teree years the charter OF Potomac Corp.
was revoked. The W. r. c. then pro
posed that Potomac Corps should entel
the Woman's Relief Corps, and attach itself
to some Grand Army post. This the ladies
OF Potomac Corps refused TO do. Potomac
Corps then changed its name To the Legiol
of Loyal Women, and exists under thai
name today
The race question enters very largely
into the present strife. There are eight
corps in this department. Six of these ar,
composed OF white members and two o
colored. The colored corps are Morton
and Sumner. These are very strong corps
and hold the balance of power in the poll
tics Of the organization Each corps Il
entitled TO representation in the nationa
convention pro rata with its membership
One iactiOn of white women has alice
itself with these colored corps and contro
the affairs of the organization. The othe
faction of white women oppose the present
plan of representation and urge that ther,
should be equal representation for tn
corps
1t is understood that this question vii
be argued before the convention by tn
contending factions.
Changes in the Force.