Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-12
BoER SOCIETY is SPLIT UP
Majority seems Disposed to hit Eng
land Rather Than Help
Republics.

The Boer Relief society OF omaha Is upon
the shoals Of diseord and the wisest advice
and most conservative spirit seems unable
to keep the trouble from becoming public.
At the head Of one OF the factions is J.
II. Boonstra. president Of the local league,
and at the head Of the other Jerry Howard.
The hrst trouble arose over a set OF resolu-
lions calling upon the president Of the
United States to refrain from appointing
representatives Of this government at the
coronation OF King Edward of England, and
since then the feeling has grown stronger.
President Boonstra refused to be present
at the last meeting and characterized the
action of the society in deciding to send a
boy to Washington to present the requests
Of the local league as nonsensical in the
extreme. He said:
The local society was organized for the
purpose of afording relief to the women
and children in the reconcentrado camps In
South Africa and incidentally giving all
possible assistance to the Beers in their
struggle for liberty. In this there was no
effort to injure any other people. Those
who are familiar with the conditions know
that a large number Of British subjects
have subscribed money for the relief of
these women and children and we believe
NAat hCA - VI Inv NeAAChNo VI NAN
British empire are In sympathy with the
struggles Of the Boer republics.
Depend on the British.
The Beers; as was said by one Of their
representatives in Omaha recently, depend
upon the action Of the people Of Great
Britain for the success Of their cause and
believe that in a short time the policy Of
that government will be changed. For that
$500, A.. nzo-. ana thAtr real watl- wfahara
do not desire to entangie the cause OF the
South African republics with other mat
ters.
Here in Omaha the relief association
numbers among Its member a large pro-
portion of people suffering from Anglo
phobia In It's worst form. They are OPP
posed to Great Britain on every hand and
instead Of keeping the association In the
| line OF work for which It was organized
they go out OF their way to offer insult
/ to Great Britain regardless Of its effect. /
have protested time and again against such
action, and a Boer who recently spoke In
Omaha was no less emphatic in his desire
that those who would help the Beers
should not bring IN outside matters. but
the men who live apparently to hate Eng
land outnumber those who are really In
terssted in the success Of the Beers alone.
They seem resolved to make the Omaha as
socistion not only an anti English society.
but to make It take q stand in American
political affairs. There are many persons
in sympathy with the Boer republics who
fear TO ally themselves with the local
society because 1t is apparently so rapidly
drifting into a political organization. More
than once / have limo made up my mind
to resign, but on second thought l have
concluded to stay in the organization and
do what l can for the cause Of those of
my race who are struggling for freedom
Miss shfrley's Statement.
Miss Elizabeth Shirley. secretary Of the
local league, says:
II see by the evening paper what pur-
ports to be an interview with J. H. Boon
stra, president OF the rransvaal league OF
Omaha. II Is the nrst intimation we have
had Of dlseord OF Of any dissatisfaction or
the part OF Mr.. Boonstrs. When the res
olution protesting against the appoint
ment Of special envoys to the coronation Of
King Edward Of England was adopted BY
the league Mr.. Boonstra was present and
made no objection whatever to the resolu'
tion, notwithstanding this assertion in YOU
interview TO the contrary, II he we're dis.
satisfied II would have been the part o.
a man to have spoken then and not hav'
rushed into print to publish his opinion
at this late hour. The resolution in CUES
tion was adopted because we felt that thu
appointment of special ENJOYS to Eng
lands coronation would be an emphati
approval Of a kingdom that Is throttling twi
republics and starving helpless women AM
children who are fighting for the God give
right OF Justice and liberty.
ut has been our earnest desire to max
the league non-part.san, and In voicing tn
opinion that the accredited representa-
tlves Of the United States at the Court Q
St. James were sufhcient TO express tn
good will of a republic at the ~corouatio
Of q king. without the aid Of special en-
voys. We hoped that We were still o
good American non-partisan ground.
AS for factions In our league, Their
are none and never have been any. "
are not on the verge OF dissolution. w
intend to keep right on with our work
long as there is a Boer In the held or
concentration camp In South Africa"
l nv mr. lilo Din