The National tribune., 1902-10-09
OUR NOBLE AUXILIARY.
ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE WOMANs RELIEF
Report OF the National Secretary, W. R. c.

In the address of the National Presi-
dent, Mrs. Calista Robinson Jones. which
is given below in part, she referred feel
ingfy to the gloom in which the 10Th Ma
tional Convention Mt Cleveland closed, and
| the sadness and heaviness of heart with
which she left the Convention Hall. She
also extended a welcome to the delegates
and officers of the Convention in few
lifting words.
With reference to the Convention just
| opening, she said:
The Goth National Convention marks
| the close of the second decade in the his
tory of the WOman's Relief Corps. The
history of the first decade was one largely
experimental and characterized by most
rapid growth in numbers and development.
The second now closing marks the per-
fecting and systematizing, the molding to
| the fuller woman the child of earlier
years. Now we find ourselves looking out
over n field of work limitless in extent,
and we find ourselves, too. most admirably
prepared to carry forward the lines Of
work projected to reach, if possible, the
highest ideal ever set for woman's work
OF the work of the year, Mrs. Jones
said:
"This year, 1902. has been a remarka-
bly, successful one from every standpoint.
l say it with grand pride, not because
of my own efficiency has this been brought
| dDOut, DUt DeCduSe tue tfiiit Wds lipt. thc
officers of the administration wonderfully
capable for the places they were called to
| fill; the spirit of the day was for pros
perity, for advancement.
"Much of the work of the year at my
desk has been that of unofficial business
that courtesy demanded should be an
swered. I have tried by every means in
this work to quiet restless spirits, to quell
riotous feelings and to inspire the weak
and struggling Corps to greater activity.
''No great disaster has claimed our i'm
mediate attention this year. The calls at
headquarters for relief have been COM
paratively few, and when sfted Were
found to be unworthy. A few worthy
cases calling for small amounts have been
responded to, and the sum of SAG has been
expended for these various needs.
FINANCIAL CONDITIONS.
"The business Of this administration has
been wisely conducted and most carefully
| looked after. No extravagant expenses
have been incurred, although circum-
stances have demanded that several innO-
vations be introduced which, although ex-
pensive viewed of themselves, were of I'M
measurable value to the Order"
The recommendation is made that the
salaries of the National Secretary and Ma
tional Treasurer be raised from $50 to $50
per month. This she considers necessary
considering the arduOus duties they are
| obliged to perform.
Mrs. Jones positively refused to Or
ganize Corps except as auxiliary to some
Post, and recommends the adjustment Of
| the section of the Bylaws permitting the
| organization of Independent Corps, which
she believes to be very bad policy and pro-
| ductive of much trouble.
ROWING CHARTERS.
Mrs. Jones also objects vigorously to
| Corps with what she terms ''roving char
ters." '.In order to prevent further dis
turbance and controversy regarding the
location of Corps, and in order to make
the laws of the Grand Army of the Re
public and of the Relief Corps correspond"
Mrs. Jones recommends that Corps must
be located at organization, and the place
of location named in the charter shall be
the only place where the meetings of that
Corps may be lawfully held. No rowing
charters shall be allowed" This resolu-
tion. if passed, will. it is said, prove dis
astrous to the small Corps, whose men,
bership is so weak that the society is nm
able to pay the rent Of hall, and meets
in the houses of the members. 1t is
Thought that there will be great opposi-
ton to this clause, and yet it is said by
that it is wise provision and will result
in larger Corps and very much better
work for the veterans.
The condition of the detached Corps is
said to be excellent. OF the Department
of Mississippi and Louisiana. where there
has been some difficulty for the past year
or two, that it is best to remand this De-
partment back to Provisional Depart
ment.
Mrs. Jones does not believe that "or-
ganizers" are any longer necessary in the
Woman's Relief Corps. For brief
period, organizers were sent to some of
the weaker Departments. but Mrs. Jones
is OF the opinion that it is now time to
abolish these and makes a recommendation
to that effect.
NATIONAL W. r. C. HOME.
OF the National w. R. G.. Home she
has the following to say:
According to the vote Of the last Ma
tional Convention, that the National w.
X. G.. Home Board be empowered to trans
fer to the State of Ohio the Home prop
about this result. A committee from the
Home Board was appointed, consisting Of
Mrs. Hit, Mrs. Hampton and National
President to take action in this matter.
Work was Immediately begun and
pushed with energy, with what measure
of success it is now hard to state. In
part the work was q failure owing to the
in the State of Ohio who did not realize
the great advantage to themselves or their
State to take this Home from the Wo-
mans Relief Corps, therefore the bill pre-
sented to the Ohio Legislature was lost
and in its place an appropriation of $12,-
500, to be paid in installments for two
years, was enacted as a substitute meas
ure.
Therefore the work of this committee
partook of both success and failure. In
view of the fact that the State OF Ohio
has q out of A inmates in this Home,
and that the number of remaining charges
are widely distributed among the various
Departments; also with a view to equaliz-
ing the burden of maintaining this Home
and reducing the per capita tax for De-
partments, l hereby offer.
Recommendation No. 6.-That the sew
eral Departments having inmates in the
National w. II. G. Home make provision
for the permanent maintenance of said in
mates in their own Departments
MEMORIAL DAY AND PATRIOTIC WORK.
OF the work of the Woman's Relief |
Corps for Memorial Day, Mrs Jones
speaks in highest praise. Never was it |
SO widely observed as during the current |
year, she says, and adds that there was |
less of the sporting element in it's OBJ |
servance. Wherever lakes and rivers pre- |
mitted the pretty custom of strewing flow
ers on the water to the memory of those |
who died at sea was observed. The Sab |
bath remembrance for the dead of the
Woman's Relief Corps, Mrs. Jones re-
I'm hn trrn in fov Ntsx