Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-23
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:
Washington. D. c.. February Is. 1903.
" Dear Mrs. Logan: return herewith the
letter from Miss, Barton which you were
kind enough to send me with yours Of yes
terday.
In answer to your inquiry. would beg
10 say that We have canvassed the mat
ter or proper person to succeed Miss Bar
ton as president (she accepting the place of
honorary presidenO, and the best fitted per-
son for the position seems to be Admiral
Van Reypen. He has had some experience
In Red Cross work. his medical training
would be useful. and 1t Is presumed he
would be acceptable to Miss Barton He Is
now retired-has leisure. and 1t Is thought
can be induced to take the place If a har-
monious arrangement of Red Cross affairs
could be secured.
AS to the annuity: Five or six respons-
ible gentlemen. such as Messrs Bell, Glow
and others, would sign a letter uaran-
teeing to Miss Barton for the first year an
annuity of $500 and pledging themselves
to have set on foot a movement to raise a
Red Cross fund within year. out of which
should be paid to Miss Barton a similar an
nuity during her life.
AS to the memorial of Congress: On in
quiry we are told by Mr.. Gillette of the
foreign affairs committee of the House.
through whom the memorial was presented
that there Is no method by which IL can be
withdrawn. as II has already been printed
and circulated. All that can be done Is to
agree that the sgners of the memorial viii
not press II further nor ask Congress to
take action respecting it, Some of US who
are now most active in making peace and
securing Miss Barton an annuity are sign
ers or the memorial. and we believe that 1t
Is a fair and truthful statement of facts
All that Miss Barton can expect us to do Is
TO desist from further action concerning it.
The foregoing. l think. covers all your
Inquiries hope the propositions will COM
mend themselves to you and that you viii
use your influence with Miss Barton to ac-
cept them. They are honorable to her. will
secure her peace or mind and a comfort
able retirement after the labors of a long
life. Certainly no true friend of hers can
desire the present unsatisfactory state of
AFFAIRS to continue VERY truly,
JOHN w. FOSTER"
Miss Boardman's Letter.
while these propositions were being
communicated to the parties who were re-
sponsible for the action complained Of" the
reply continues. land evidently prompted
by impatience because Of the delay. the fol-
lowing communication was received:
WASHINGTON, d. c.,
1901 p Street. February 20. 1908.
Dear Mrs. Logan: . I hear Miss
Barton Is In town. know YOU will
use all your influence to have her accept
the position of honorary president for life,
with an annuity. We can do nothing about
getting to work toward the raising Of the
Red Cross fund until we have some reliable
weii-known man as active president. for the
persons on whom we must depend for a
tuho VIII not contribute penny under
present conditions.
People are continually urging that a
complete and rigid investigation be made of
Hed Cross expenditures and methods, be-
sihnins with the Johnstown disaster. the