Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-08-20
CHARGES ARE MADE
AMERICAN HOME FINDING Asso.
ciATIoNs ILLINOIS OFFICER
CRITICISED.
Accused of Holding Out Charity Mon.
ey-Rev. U. B. Smith of This City, is
General Superintendent - He Says
Investigation Will Clear Matters.

The Illinois directors OF the Amerl.
can Home Finding association, of
which Rev. U. B. Smith of this city
is general superintendent, have or
dered an investigation to clear up the
charges which have been made
z against the organization and some OF
its officers. Rev. George X. Hoover,
the field secretary, is the butt of most
of the accusations and he is charged
with Withholding 67 per cent of his
collections from charitable sources.
Superintendent Smith Talks.
Rev. U. B. Smith when seen about
the matter stated that the IL
linois branch of the society had
never been as successful as the Iowa
branch. He stated that each state
was separate jurisdiction, directed
by it's superintendent and that the sit
uation in the Illinois branch would
have no effect on the Iowa associa.
ton. Rev. Smith states that he is
certain that the investigation will
clear the charges which have been
made against the officers of the Hi
nois branch
Charges Denied.
The Chicago superintendent of the
bureau of charities in a recent report
upon the association stated that he
could not recommend it as reputa-
Bile charity. He stated that he did not
consider it proper, helpful organiza-
ton. The bureau of charities charged
the association with ''trafficking in ba-
i bies." Friday Rev. Smith received
summons to attend a meeting of the
directors at Chicago but he did not
hear soon enough to permit him to be
there. Captain Albert Billingslea,
who conducts the general Office of the
association at Chicago for General SUI
perintendent Smith, made a strong de-
NAL of all the charges at the meeting.
Other directors made less sweeping
denials of the charges, although all de-
clared that there was absolutely no
ground for the report that the associa-
ton was "trafiicking in babies"
Ulterior Motives Suspected.
This charge has led to intimations
by members of the association that
the state boards official had some ul.
terror motives in making such report
and that it was nothing more or less
than persecution of the association
While the. investigation is being car.
ried on champions of the association
say that an attempt will be made to
learn the reason for the scathing de
nunciation of the home and the names
of the persons who prompted it, il
there are such.
This investigation is to be made this
week. Nothing has been said OF
the methods by which it is tc
be carried on, except that it would be
complete and convincing.
Iowa Branch Flourishing.
The Iowa branch of the association
is incorporated under the laws of the
state of Iowa and some of the mos
prominent men Of the state are mem
bers of the board of directors. The
association has prospered to such al
extent under the guidance of Super
intendent Smith that last May he wal
elected to the position of general super
tendent Since that time he has re
tanned his position as superintendent
of the Iowa branch and has transfer
red the greater part of his duties il
the Chicago Office to Captain Billings
lea, who is taking an active part il
the investigation.
Separate Jurisdictions.
Rev Smith states, however, tina
he is not in close touch with the Ill
nois association as in his duties a
general superintendent he is not az
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