The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-21
WAS STRUGGLED IN
Red Cross Agent Took the Bull
by the Horns.
VIOLATED THE PROTOCOL
Hyatt Solved the Knotty Problem of
Supplying the Starving Cubans
With Food-Didn't Pay
Any Duties.

New York, Sept. 20.-when Stephen
relief committee and chairman of the
Red Cross executive committee, re-
turned from a vacation TO his office in
this city, he learned that during his
absence Charles A. Schiren, treasurer
OF the American National Red Cross,
and Red Cross Agent Hyatt, at Key
West, had solved the knotty problem OF
supplying the Cubans with provisions
a problem which has proven too diff
cult for Miss Clara Barton and which
caused her to give up her work in
Cuba and TO return TO the United
States.
Miss Barton, IL will be remembered.
was told that she could not lane a
cargo of supplies in Havana without
first paying a duty Of $780, 900 to the
Spanish authorities. She refused to do
this and returned to Florida, bringing
some of her supplies with her. Leav-
ing these to be distributed among the
Cuban refugees, she went TO her home
I'm Washington and has been there ever
since.
Red Cross Agent Hyatt, however,
was not to be intimidated by the big
demands of the Spaniards. nor held in
check by a mere formal thing like n
protocol. He learned that the Cubans
were starving faster and faster and
he informed Mr.. Barton's office that
he could not get the $50 tons on the
Nokomis on the Cuban coast. If he had
authority TO do so. Mr.. Barton being
away, the matter was referred to
Treasurer Schiren. MI. Schiren
thought IL would be all right to help
the Cubans, if possible, and he told him
to go ahead.
Agent Hyatt went ahead. In the
name of the American National Red
Cross and backed up by the authority
OF Mr.. Schiren, Mr.. Hyatt proceeded
to carry out Mr.. McKinley's policy OF
humanity for the Cubans by sending
goods into small Cuban seaport towns.
Unfortunately this method was Of n
sort not wholly sanctioned by publicists.
Mr.. Hyatt had done business in Ha-
vana and the smaller s%eacoast towns.
He knew his ground and he went at
his work in a businesslike way. So far
as IL known, he did not consult Miss
Clara Barton or anybody else except
ing Mr.. Schiren. Mr.. Hyatt met with
success in his first attempt at snug
Cling goods into Cuba i'm divers small
vessels. that when he got rid Of the
Nokomis' cargo, he was so elated
that he decided to call on Mr.. Schiren
to suspend the operation of the pro-
tocol.
so he cabled Mr.. Barton's office again,
saying that the government ship Comal
with supplies had returned 10 Key
West, and that II the supplies were
turned over to him he could land and
distribute them on the north coast Of
Cuba without the payment Of any duty
at all. This c~ablegram, unfortunately
for the hungry Cubans, fell into the
hands of Mr.. Barton. He straightway
cabled to find out how Mr.. Hyatt could
do all this by himself. when the presi-
dent of the United States and Miss
Clara Barton could not n it to-
gether. MIR. Hyatt's explanation is still
awaited.
Mr.. Barton also wired Treasurer Schi-
rem. who is in Washington, telling him
what Mr.. Hyatt wanted to do, and ask
ing him to investigate the matter and
make a report. The Comal and her
cargo also being the property of Uncle
Sam, Mr.. Barton did not see how he
could turn il over to Mr.. Hyatt. Mr..
Barton said that if there was any pros
pect of entering goods into Cuba free
in the near future, the San Antonio,
with her 500 tons of supplies, would he
sent at once to Key West and held in
readiness to. go to the rescue of the
starving Cubans.
Treasurer SChiren went to Washing
ton Saturday to see Miss Barton, and il
is probable that the two had a confer
ence with President Mckinley. Mr..
Schiren will return to-day n report
the result of his visit. After this pre-
limlnary a conference will be held be-
tween Stephen Barton. Joseph S. Hee-
don. George w. Bondt and others of the
Red Cross executive committee. with a
view to calling a general meeting of
the Red Cross and Cuban relief officers
to determine what steps shall be taken
in the matter of supplying food to the
Cubans. for II is pretty well settled in
Mr.. Barton's mind that II is not good
policy To continue in the course Of the
r.rn..nt Rnl Ernas nrnnI n knN W.T.