Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-23
Red Cross President Objects
to Being Retired,
THOUGH APPEALED TO
LIFE OF SOCIETY IS THREATEN
ED, SAY MEMBERS.
Effort on Foot to Reconstruct Orgam
zation and Conduct It on Strictly
Business Plan.

Internal discussions. It might seem,
threaten the life of the American National
Red Cross Persons who have been con-
nected with the society, and have contrib
uted both time and money for furthering
the noble work for which 1t was organized,
do not hesitate when discussing IN private
to declare that II the Red Cross Is not re-
constructed and conducted on strictly bust
ness principles that It must of necessity go
to the wall. Those who make this declara-
ton do not do so with malice; on the con-
trary. with sorrow.
1t is well-authenticated fact that
strong movement has been inaugurated to
induce Miss Clara Barton. who has been
president of the society since its organiza-
ton in 1881. to retire from the active direc-
tion of its affairs and accept the position Of
honorary president for life. with an an
nuity. In this connection the name of Rear
Admiral William X Van Reypen has been
mentioned as Miss Bartons successor. Ad-
miral Van Reypen admits that friends have
spoken to him concerning his being can
didate for the presidency, but says he has
made no reply to them.
Friends of Miss Barton deny that she will
retire or be forced out. Her opponents have
been busy for more than a week trying to
devise way of getting her out, and from
this has arisen the impression that her re-
tirement was sure 20 come.
Denies She Will Retire.
Miss Barton lives in the Antoinette apart
ments 40 East 5Sth street. New York. To
representative of the New York Press.
who called on her Saturday night. Miss
Barton denied a story telegraphed from
this city that she Is to be deposed.
II have been too long before the Ameri-
can people," she said, II have served them
too faithfully AMI too unseltishly to feel my
self at this day NIder obligation to sit down
to an interview in my own defense. The
charges that are made 1 know nothing of.
There Is no truth in them, and that from
me should be sufficient for the American
public
There is apparently no hope of settle
ment of the differences until Congress shall
have Investigated the charges of those who
declare they are anxious only for pract-
cal business management of the Red Cross.
A voluminous document, bearing the sig
natures of Walter p. Phillips, chairman,
and Samuel NJ. Jarvis and j. B. Hubbell,
has been filed with the committee on for
eign affairs of the House of Representa-
-tives. 1t is reply to the charges that.
through irreguarity, Miss Barton has so
amended the. constitution as to give her
absolute power over the society.
Committees Reply.
The reply, In part, says:
1--WE find nothing In this opposition except
malice, resentment and the jealousy of
few people whose ambition has been
thwarted. The effort to secure the action
of the President to decline giving his advice
or permit his cabinet to do so in case of
emergency requiring Red Cross activity, is
of itself sufficient to condemn this whole
business.
The real grievance of the memorialists
they have been very careful to lose sight of
and TO keep from the official knowledge of
the President, They knew previous to the
meeting, that. the proxies were being COL
iected. and evidently anticipated the gen.
.eral purpose of the majority. To counteract
this they had presented list Of fifty or
more new members, most Of them citizens
of Washington. which they most earnestly
tried, through the directors meeting to seat
and thereby hold control, adopting the most
ancient and modern methods of corruption
practiced in political primaries. Fortunately
they were defeated in the accomplishment
of this purpose. -s.
Z. Again, Is 1t to be supposed that the ma
,5orlty responsible for the new bylaws had
ANY intention to evade their responsibility
TO the government when they provided that
efhe President and his cabinet should be
fecognized as board Of consultation to
advise in questions of national and interna-
tional character and Importance, nor does
II appear that there Is any valid reason
why the said officers of the government
cannot consistently act in such relation
as always heretofore only upon the as
sumption that the organization now off,
cered Is not deemed worthy Of confidence
and recognition"
John W. Fosters Letter.
Embodied In the reply Is the following let
ter from Mr.. John w. Foster. former Sec
rotary OF State. and a member Of the Red
Cross: