The evening times., 1899-06-10
TO REORGANIZE THE
RED CROSS SOCIETY
Plans for a National Body Al
ready Completed.
Change to Take Place When Miss
Barton Returns.
Parent Organization to Have Permn-
nent Headquarters I'm Washing
tOn-Details of the Scheme.

The committee in charge of drawing up
| plan for the reorganization of the Ma
tional Red Cross Society has completed its
| labors and will make a formal report to
the Red Cross board of control as soon as
Miss Clara Barton, the president of the
society. returns from Cuba. She is ex-
pected to reach Washington within a short
time.
The committee. consisting of Messrs. E.
B. Hay, John Joy Edison, and George C.
Boldt, of the Waldorf-Astoria, New York,
was appointed early in the spring. be-
fore the relief expedition was sent to Cuba.
Colonel Hayy has had direct charge Of the
work of preparing the plan of reorganiza-
tion. Although the Red Cross Society in
America is national in name it is not ma
tional in its scope. The society here in
Washington is practically the only organi-
zation bearing the name of the Red Cross
in the United States. All relief work is
done through the Office here, and the funds
for supporting relief work. with few excep-
tions, are raised through the efforts Of the
local society.
In several parts of the country there are
societies known as auxiliaries of the Ma
tional Red Cross, but they have no charter
from the principal body and no definite
connection with it. Such societies are not
organized to come under the direct gov
ernment or Jurisdiction of the main So
ciety, and the National Red Cross has no
more than an advisory control over them.
Early in the spring, when the society
was contemplating Its present work in Gu
ba, it was found that it would be necessa-
ry to have a larger organization the
work was to be properly supported and it
was for the purpose of raising money and
maintaining a large reserve fund for an
emergency that the reorganization was un-
dertaken. Dissatisfaction with Miss Bar
tons management of the affairs of the So
ciety was in no way the reason for the
change and this is conclusively proven by
the fact that she is to be rendered the
presidency of the reorganized society to be
retained by her during her natural lif.
According to the plan prepared by Mr..
Hay, the territory Of the United States will
be divided into districts and each depart
ment Of the reorganized society will have
jurisdiction over a district. The country
will be divided as follows: Department
OF New England, including Maine, Massa-
chusetts. Rhode Island. Connecticut, YER
mont. and New Hampshire; department of
the Atlantic. including New York. Penn
sylvania, Delaware, Maryland. and the Dis
South. including Virginia. North Carolina.
South Carolina, and Georgia.: department
of the gulf. including Florida, Alabama,
Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas; depart
ment of the Middle States, including Ken
lucky, Tennessee. Ohio, Indiana, Iowa. and
Nebraska: department of the lakes, in
Guiding Michigan. Illinois, and Wisconsin:
department OF the North. including Mimi
esota, North Dakota, South Dakota. Mon
taQa and WyOniuQ dena rfD If
lumbia. including Washington, Oregon, and
Idaho; department Of the Missouri, incIud-
ing Kansas, Colorado. Arkansas. Oklahoma.
Indian Territory, and New Mexico, and de-
partment of the Pacific, including CaIifor-
mia. Utah, and Arizona.
As soon as Miss Barton returns the work
of organizing the society In each depart-
ment Will be commenced. In some OF the
departments the so-called auxiliaries al
ready exist, and it is very probable that
these will formally organize under the
new rules, secure a charter from the ma
tional society, and consent to be govern
ed by it. In departments where there are
now no Red Cross organizations an effort
will be made through the churches OF any
and all denominations TO form local socie-
ties. When three local societies shall have
been formed in department charter can
be obtained from the main society and
department organization formed. 1t has
been thought that the best way for carrying
on 4 philanthropic work of the nature of |
that prosecuted by the Red Cross is |
through the churches, and for that reason |
the churches, no matter what their creed, |
will be the first point Of attack. Efforts |
will also be made outside of the church
The membership of each department will |
consist of the presidents a'.d past presi- |
delts of the local auxiliary societies and |
elected from each depen-
dent society. The membership of the Ia
tional society will consist of the presidents |
and past presidents of the department Or
ganizations. together with two delegates |
elected from each department. The ma
tional society will hold a meeting once each |
year in Washington, which is to remain the
permanent headquarters of the society.
The local auxiliary societies will be
made up of members who will be required
10 secure direct from the national body
certificates OF membership costing 81 each.
All work of the society will be under the
supervision of the national body. A board |
II control of nine representative members
will have the direct charge Of all opera
ions The board is to be organized to
'esemble the United States Senate. At
he first election three members will be
elected for one year. three for two. and
hree for three years. 1t has been deemed
iuElSaDie 10 pursue tnis instnou III ofutr |
hat there shall at all times be majority |
If the members of the board who are ac-
with the workings and details OF
he organization. Each department will |
lave charge of all Red Cross work within
is Jurisdiction. 1t WILL however, be un-
ler the supervision of the board of control
# the national body.
The plan will be carried into effect as
oon as Miss Barton returns and the ex-
sting board of control expresses its ap-
,roval. 1t is hoped by the Red Cross
,orkers that 100000 members can be Sc
ured, and that reserve fund of 100000
an be maintained at all times.
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