The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-02-18
CLARA BARTON
MAKES HERSELF THE AUTOCRAT
OF THE RED CROSS ORGANIZA-
TION-A CALL DOWN.

WASHINGTON, d. c., February T.
Miss Clara Barton, the aged president
of the Red Cross Society, may be re-
tired from that position as the result
of a concernted movement to that end
by persons prominent in the societys
membership. A protest has been sent
to President Roosevelt against the re-
cent amendment of the society's by
laws which it is asserted give Miss
Barton autocratic powers, and the
changes, it is declared were effected by
means of trickery. Those who sign
the protest are eX-Secretaries Herbert
and Foster, Gen. John NJ. Wilson, Tho
mas F. Walsh, Mrs. Cowles, sister of
the president, and Miss Boardman.
By the change in the bylaws Miss
Barton, who has been elected president
for life is made the autocrat of the
Red Cross society, with the control of
the treasury and the machinery for
electing officers. The president of the
United States and cabinet were con-
stituted by the charter a board of
consultation and advice to the Red
Cross society, and it is in that capacity
that President Rooveselt is addressed
by the signors of the protest. Presi-
dent Roosevelt has indicated his agree
ment with the signers> by refusing in
his own behalf and in behalf of the
cabinet the invitation to act in an ad-
visOry capacity. The protest, with the
correspondence between Secretary Cor
telyou and Miss Barton was submitted
to congress late yesterday afternoon.
Accompanying the letter OF protest
is copy of the circular sent out in
Miss Barton's name last October inl-
viting the members of the Red Cross
society to send her their proxies in or
der that she might make some slight
changes in the bylaws of the Red
Cross" In reply to the circular a
large number of proxies We're received
and on December 8, at a meeting in
Washington, new bylaws, repeating
and superseding the old We're presented
Apparently the new rules were never
previously submitted to the executive
committee or to the members of the So
ciety. John w. Foster one of the di-
rectors, objected, but the new bylaws
were adopted by a vote of SO to 10.
Seventy-two of the eighty-nine votes
cast in favor of the bylaws were prOX-
les sent to Miss Barton in reply to the
letter asking for them in behalf of
some slight changes"
The new bylaws give Miss Barton
practically arbitrary power. 1t is
provided that the president be elected
for life and may delegate his or her
power to any person. Still another
section of the new bylaws practically
provides that there shall be no audit
ing of the receipts and expenditures of
the society and permits field agents to
accept subscriptions and dispense relief
without accounting for the sums which
pass through their hands except by a
simple statement to the treasurer. w.
j. Flather, who has acted as Red
Cross treasurer for years resigned on
the adoption Of the new bylaws.
The directors wish to put an end to
the informal method of keeping the
societys accounts which has existed
for many years. They say that Miss
Barton Is surrounded by bad advisers.
Miss Barton is over so years old and
in the opinion of some of the directors
should be retired on an annual allow
ance. There is bill before Congress
giving her a pension of $1,000 a year;
but as there is no precedent for such
a measure and as the leaders are not
, inclined to made one the bill probably
will not pass.
In the house today on motion of Mr.
Gllett (Mass.) the report of the memo
rial of the Red Cross society sent To
congress yesterday was ordered print
ed as an executive document.