Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-07
Troubles in Miles Com mand
Spanish War Veterans,
REJECTS RESOLUTIONS
AUXILIARY DEMANDS APOLOGY
FROM CAPT. DYER.
Mrs. Ball, Attorney for the Ladies,
Makes Statement-Capt. Dyer
Also Talks.

The trouble in Miles Command seems to
be more acute than ever rather than being
suhdued as the command had reason to
believe ii would be when it adopted the set
of resolutions which were drawn up by it's
captain, L. C. Dyer, and which were last
night presented to Mary Sherman Miles
Auxiliary for their acceptance or rejec
ton.
The auxiliary practically rejected the
resolutions. affirmed its interest and con-
fidence in the Miles Command demanded
a written apology from the captain of
Miles Command, L. c. Dyer, and having
gone thus far "'asked leave to sit again
and to make it's reply to the resolutions at
the last meeting of the command in Sep
TENDER.
The action of the committee from Miles
Command in appearing before the auxil-
larry last evening is the outgrowth of the
investigation into the reasons Capt.
Dyer had for introducing the resolution
in the command.
The committee summoned before it the
members of Miles Auxiliary and the ladies
who asked for transfers and held several
sessions. 1t is said that the further the
committee went into the business the less
they enjoyed the evidence. 1t was finally
decided by the committee that on the evil
dence presented it could make no recon-
mendation to the command, but would pre-
sent the whole evidence and let the mat
ter take its own course.
On Tuesday afternoon Capt. Dyer called
upon Mrs Isabel WOrrell Ball the at
torney for the Miles Auxiliary, and asked
her what the auxiliary would accept as an
atonement for his actions in the matter.
Mrs. Ball says that she told him very
plainly what she would consider the proper
thing nthe way of apology from him
and from the command
Capt. Dyer, SO Mrs. Ball declares, asked
her to present her terms in writing to him
and he would lay it before the committee.
come to an amicable understanding. Mrs.
Ball did this and presented the following
letter:
Mrs. Balls Letter
Capt. Dyer asks me to say to you what
I will accept for the Mary Sherman Miles
Auxiliary In the way of reparation for the
Charges that have been made against the
members and the unpleasant notoriety to
which they have been subjected
Capt Dyer also asks If. in the event that
Miles Command deals justly by Miles Aux
Hilary, according to my ideas of what is
right and proper, if will use my influence to
have the ladies who withdrew from the
Miles Auxiliary return and let things be as
they were before this unfortunate business
came up.
I'm reply to Capt. Dyer's first request I
have to say that the Mary Sherman Miles
Auxiliary will demand complete exonera-
ton from Miles Command of any fmplica-
ton in this unfortunate business. The
Miles Auxiliary will ask that this exonera-
ton be spread upon the minutes of Miles
Command and printed In the newspapers as
publicly as were the charges that the Miles
Auxiliary was seeking to stir up strife
1T demands a written apology from Capt.
Dyer to the auxiliary and his written prom
Use to never again interfere with the work
of the auxiliary.
ITO the second question I reply that I
have never ceased to use my influence to
encourage the return to the auxiliary Of the
members requesting transfers. The mem
first deplored the loss of good members
who were led into misunderstanding the
action that they We're taking
The Mary Sherman Miles Auxiliary must
be held absolutely blameless far as Miles
Command is concerned. and Miles Com
mand must never again attempt to dictate
to the members of the auxiliary who shall
or shall not be elected to office OF concern
itself about the eligibility of women to be-
come members of the Mary Sherman Miles
Auxiliary.
Il shall not counsel the Miles Auxiliary
to ask the members who requested trans
fers to return 1 shall, however, counsel
them that If the ladies desire to return
and so express themselves. they shall be
permitted to do so on payment of dues
all are behind in dues but three of the
twelve-and their names shall be placed
upon the rolls as never having been
erased.
Il cannot pledge the Mary Sherman
Miles Auxiliary TO take this action, but as
Its members have patiently submitted to
the many restrictions placed upon them by
Captain Dyer as the captain of Miles Com
mand. and In doing SO have followed my
advice, 1 have confidence in them that they
Will follow my advice in this matter.
1T must be distinctly understood, how
ever. that Miles Command must do Mary
in this matter. I will not accept any half
way apology for the injuries my auxiliaries
have received. They are all FESTIVE, and
will not be pleased unless they are cleared
of all shadow of blame.
In conclusion / desire to say that I
shall be glad to this dreadful business
cleared up. 1t has been none of my seek
ing. nor has 1t been caused by my auxil-
iaries. But We shall all be glad to see it
cleared up-if 1t is done with exact Justice
to all concerned.
This letter was laid before the committee
and L was the intention of the committee
to lay it before the command, 1t is said
at the meeting that evening. But Capt
Dyer appeared with resolutions, which to
the command seemed so eminently fair in
consideration of what little they knew that
they were adopted with a whoop. it is said
and the veterans felt that they had been
ABSOLUTELY fair to all concerned.
Mrs. Scribner's Statement.
Mrs. Harriet L. Soribner, president of the
Mary Sherman Miles Auxiliary. said this
morning that the auxiliary could not accept
them because in them 1t appeared that the
auxiliary had ''dIssensions."
This is not true" Mrs Scrbner said.
Miles auxiliary never had bit of trouble
of any character until Capt. Dyer precipi-
tated it. My auxiliary cannot allow to be
spread upon it's minutes an implied CEN
sure for a disturbance which it never had
any hand whatever in raising.
We have the sincerest regard for Miles
Command We do not believe that 1t
would, body, or indiv idually. do the
Mary Sherman Miles Auxiliary injustice
But those resolutions do II a great injus-
tice.
Il know that If Miles Command could
have had presented to 1t the evidence taken
before the committee which shows that
Capt. Dyer has deliberately gone about to
make this disturbance and create the dis
sension which the command refers to, 1t
would never in the world have voted to
send us resolutions couched in such lam
guage-
We are willing to accept the spirit Of the
resolutions, and do. But they must come
TO US in different language. in which we
must be cleared of all imputation that we
have been trouble makers 1 believe tina,
when the command learns this 1t will be
willing to do US complete Justice
The Resolutions.