The sun., 1903-12-09
TO INVESTIGATE RED CROSS.
RICHARD OLNEY TO APPOINT
COMMITTEE OF THREE.
Corporal Tanner Protests Against Use or
Proxies At Annual Meeting, Saying
the Secretary Holds Four Aces
Miss Barton Says She'll Hold Fast.

| Miss Barton Says She'll Hold Fast
WASHINGTON. Dec. s.-The annual meet
ing of the American National Red Cross
was held to-day at the Arlington Hotel
Miss Clara Barton was present, but the
meeting was presided over by the Hon
Richard Olney. None of the heretofore
suspended members was present and there
was not large attendance of the other
members. Secretary Briggs, however, held
| proxies Of 1872 members out of a total of
2es, and he controlled the voting on all
! questions that came up.
When the new bylaws were presented
for adoption, Corporal j. M. Tanner, the
husband Of a suspended member, protested
that the system of using proxies was wrong
and should be abolished.
| He said that the members present had
no way of getting around the proxies held
| by the secretary, as he was like the man
| who held four aces in poker game. The
secretary's four aces would govern, not
withstanding his protest. He thought it
useless to call the roll on the question of
adopting the new bylaws, and suggested
that the secretary simply cast his vote
and proxies. Mr.. Olney explained that it
would be better to have the roll called
which was done.
The following board of trustees was then
elected; George F. Hoar. Richard Olney
John G.. Carlisle George b. Mcclellan,
Gen. Nelson A. Miles, Eugene d. Fiske,
Samuel NJ Jarvis S. B. Hege, Charles A.
Baker, p. V. De Graw, s. w. Briggs, Miss
Clara Barton and Mrs. John A. Logan
Representative Gilett of Massachusetts,,
who became member about year ago,
brought up the question of disaffection in
the society, and declared that some action
should be taken looking to an investiga-
tion of the accounts of the organization
and its work. He thought the society's
usefulness had been impaired by the re-
ports as to its method of work and the use
of its money.
He suggested that the organization ask
Congress to appoint a committee to in
vestigate the society. Judge Sheldon of
Hartford, Conn, thought the investigation
should be made by the board of trustees
Mr. Foster, husband of one OF the suspended
members, Mrs. j Ellen Foster urged that
the society ask the Secretary of State to
appoint a committee to conduct the in
vestigation.
Corporal Tanner offered the suggestion
that Mr.. Olney name committee of "three
human beings" He did not favor limit
ing the membership to the society; all he
wanted was that the committee should be
composed of men whose report would be
accepted by the country.
motion that such committee be named
by Mr.. Olney to Investigate the accounts,
the methods and condition of the work of
the society and all matters of difference
between the minority and ma jority men,
bers OF the American National Red Cross"
was adopted.
Mr.. Olney said this afternoon that he
would announce the committee as soon as
possible. II IL probable that Representa-
tive Cillett will be one of three.
Miss Barton read her annual address to
the Red Cross and, referring to the recent
troubles, said:
If the old ship of state goes down in the
torn its weather beat en- builder and crafts
man for quarter of a century will natu-
rally stay by the wreck; but TO the last breath
will shout to the officers and crew: Let
down the life boats and pull for the shore
You have done your duty here, seek other
fields that need you
"Our executive committee has been
unit with themselves and with me. to the
press ofthe United States-that marvellous
destinies- Notwithstanding the incompre-
hensble amount of misinformat ion and
misdirection it has received concerningthe
seemingly small affairs of our organizati ion
which its active gatherers felt bound to re-
gard and accept-yet, when left to itself
TO speak has been dscriminat ing kind and
loyal-I return my deepest thanks, with the
assurance in my heart that II to day were
called to leave the scene of act ion | could
safely leave my record with it,"
Edward Howe Of Boston made public