The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-30
CLARA BARTON IS
 CAUSE IF TROUBLE Differences Arise Over Red Cross Mismanagement MISS BARTON IS ARBITRARY  Charged That She Secured New By Laws By. Gathering Up Proxies
 Under False Pretense-Sec-
 retary corteiyou's Letter.
MISS BARTON IS ARBITRARY

Washington, January 29.e-General John M. Wilson, president of the National Red Cross, presented to congress today memorial regarding that organization, es- pecially with reference to certain differ ences which have arisen in regard to the management of it's affairs. Included in the papers submitted with the memorial Is a letter from Secretary Cortelyou ad- dressed to Miss Clara Barton, president of the Red Cross, in which he says, in accordance with a copy of the bylaws submitted by tn association, the presi- dent and his cabinek are constituted board of consultation of the American Red Cross MT. Cortelyou says it is im- possible for the president and cabinet to serve in such capacity and asked that public announcement be made of that fact.
 Complaint is made in a memorial sent to President Roosevelt of the manner Tn which the organization is placed In the hands of one person and of the manage ment of the finances of the association. These matters are referred to In the let ter of MT. Cortelvou.
 How She Changed Bylaws.
 A letter in the memorial gives an ac- count of the manner in which the new bylaws were adopted. It says that through Francis Atwater Miss Clara Bar ton. president of the organization, secured a large number of proxies for the meet ing on the representation that she desired to secure some slight changes" in the bylaws of the Red Cross and then at the meeting presented an entirely new set of bylaws, which, among other things permitted the president of the organiza- ton to be elected for life, gave the presi- dent the power to appoint president pro tenn in case of sickness or absence with full power; created an executive commit tee consisting of the president and four members, the latter to be appointed by the presdent-elect. Mir. Roster at the meeting protested against the adoption of the bylaws which had not been print ed, but they were adopted, 135 to s9, sev- enty-two of the votes being cast by proxies. The letter of Secretary Cortel- you follows:
 Secretary Cortelyou's Letter.
 White House, January 9 1903. Dear Madam-Certain members of the
 
 tary of State John w. Foster, ex-Secre- tary of the Navy Hilary A. Herbert, Brig. Gen. John W. Wilson, retired; Thomas F. Walsh Simon Wolf, Mrs J. Ellen Foster, Miss Boardman and various other ladies and gentlemen of high stand ing have sent the President a letter of which a copy is hereby sent to you, and accompanying 1t is a copy of what pur- ports to be the bylaws recently adopt ed by the American Red Cross In a further letter the President has been in- formed that the treasurer of the Red Cross 1dr. w. J. Flatheir, has resigned on account of dissatisfaction with what is alleged to be loose and improper arrange ment for securing the needed accounta- bility for and supervision of the disburse- ments of the money furnished in time of exigency to the Red Cross by the charitable public.
 Tt appears from these bylaws that the President of the United States and his cabinet are constituted a board of con- sultation of the Amerian Red Cross. It is not possible for the President or any member of his cabinet to serve on such committee, and the President directs me to request you to have it publicly an- nounced that the President and cabinet cannot serve.
 Yours very truly,
 GEORGE B. CORTELYoU,
 Secretary to the President" ITO Miss Clara Barton President of the American National Red Cross"
 The memorial to the President concludes as follows:
 "The above cited procisiam of the by- laws we claim prove that the policy of this organization and the administration of its finances are placed in the arbitrary power of a single person. Legislation is to be asked to relieve the condition"