Evening star., 1899-03-30
THE WORK OF WOMEN
What Their Army and Navy League Has
Accomplished.
Sketch of PhfIanthroPic Organiza-
tiOn-WOrkfng for the Sail
Ors' Club.

The Woman's Army and Navy League
was started in this city in 1887 by Mrs.
E. T. Throop Martin of Auburn, N Y, as
an auxiliary to the Union Mission School
Association of Albany, composed of philan-
thropic ladies, which was then in its six
teenth year. That parent society included
in its various missionary work and fields
the frontier army posts, and finally ex-
tended its efforts by sending books and or
gans to United States sailors. When Mrs.
Martins daughter, the wife of General
Upton, was stationed at West Point she
took such personal interest in the young
graduates, starting out in a life full of
possibilities for missionary work, that she
gave to each one of the young officers a
teachers Bible, and after her death me-
mortal fund was started, from the proceeds
of which Bibles and suitable gift books are
still given annually to all the graduates of
both the academes-West Point and An
napoiis. The young men have the choosing
of the books and the large majority of
them each year select a teachers Bible.
In 1884 it was decided that the league
should be an Auxiliary no longer, and it
was also thought that the length of the
name of the parent society was a draw
back; the present name was, therefore,
unanimously adopted and the league was
legally Incorporated according to the laws
of the District. The membership today is
about $50, a very small number consider
ing the hundreds of married officers in the
two services.
Relief Work During the Spanish War
The relief work among soldiers families
during the war with Spain was a new de-
parture but it demonstrated to those who
personally investigated the many cases of
destitution that some remedy must be
found for the then existing condition of
affairs, and that soldiers should be enabled
by law to make an allotment of their pay
for their families, just the sailors have
always done. A committee of the league,
therefore, visited the chairmen of the two
military committees in Congress, and as a
result of their efforts the new army bill
contained the following section:
Section 16. That the Secretary of War
be, and he is hereby, authorized to permit
enlisted men of the United States army to
make allotments of their pay, under such
regulations as he may prescribe for the
support of their families or relatives, for
their own savings, or for other purposes,
during such time as they may be absent on
distant duty or under other circums tances
Warranting such action"
After obtaining permission from the Sec
retary of War the league sent copies of
this new law to all regimental commanders
and post chaplains: in order that the fami-
lies OF the men might have the benefit Of
this much-needed legislation without delay
Many sick soldier in Manila or Cuba Will
1eel much peace of mind when he knows
that his family can draw part of his pay
at home, and that he is relieved from the
care and risk of sending even SO small a
sum.
The battle ship Maine relief fund was also
helped little by the league 1905 being
given after few weeks, most Of the naval
members contributing directly to the larger
fund.
The Sailors Club.
The league IS now interested in assist
ing the Sailors Club. established in Brook
lyn by Miss Helen Gould
In speaking of this Sailors Club Mrs.
kelton, the president of the Woman's Army
and Navy League. said:
The interest manifested in the Sailors.
Club In Brooklyn will surely lead to more
such clubs near all the navy yards, and
eventually to similar ones for soldiers near
army posts. Were such established the en-
hsted men could go there when on leave
and deposit their money on nav dey In
stead OF going to the nearest town and
spending 1t all in one day in dissipatton and
drink. Every human being needs a time
When he can feel that he is off duty " hnt
II Is the duty of every one having charge
over others, be he an officer, or not. to
even then Keep up a kindly watch, lest
100 much liberty prove snare for the
easily led. We feel confident that the in
tefnatlonal committee of the Y M @
VIII soon take this subject I'D in all seri
business. II so they will always find a
b&hd of pathizing women in the Wo-
man Army and Navy League"