The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-20
MISS BARTON'S LAST
MOVE CAUSES COMMENT
"Minority" InduIgent As to
New Branches Of Society.
"A SoRR0WFUL SPECTATOR
President of American National Red
Cross Society Issues Statement.
Suavely Ignores Opposition.

II have never once felt that it was
the desire of the American people that
l should personally enter within the
circle of disturbance"
This suave statement concerning the
Red Gross troubles. issued yesterday by
Clara Barton. afforded much amusement
to the Washington members of the So
ciety. who were suspended by Miss Bar
ten and her executive committee.
Miss Barton's evasion of the charges
brought against the Red Cross manage
ment and the tactics she has adopted
to gain absolute control of the organi-
cation are worthy of the diplomacy
which has characterized her entire ca
reer," said a prominent member of the
minority" this morning. "She desires
to appear above all dissension, when she
is In reality the storm center
Tool in Her Hands.
The Red Cross executive committee
is a mere tool in Miss Bartons hand. 1t
has carried out her wishes to the let
ter. She is pillar of strength. At
eighty-two she stands with the courage
of a woman of half her years, and is
ready TO battle with the whole world to
carry out her own wishes She not only
gained absolute control of the Red Cross
for life. but laid plans which would en-
able her to direct its policy from her
grave, through eternity. Yet she SAYS
she is silent and sorrowful spectator
Of a controversy that appeared to be
leading where no true friend of the Red
Cross would care to follow"
In her statement issued from New
York yesterday Miss Barton opens with
the declaration that she has taken no
part in the controversy which has dis
rupted the society, and concludes with
an appeal for funds with which to es-
tablish a new branch of the Red Cross,
to be known as the First Aid Depart
ment. She says that it is her desire 10
train ambulance corps in every factory,
store, and mill in the country, and TO
provide emergency cases containing sup
plies necessary for. the treatment of
wounds, and charts showing what is TO
be done in all sorts of emergencies be-
fore a physician arrives.
Miss Barton states that the work OF
the new department is to be chiefly edu-
cational The emergency cases are to be
prepared by the society, and sold at
small cost to schools. factories, rail-
ways. and mills. Any profit realized is
TO be used by~the Red Cross to meet it's
needful expenses BY this means. Miss
= Z
Barton hopes TO raise funds to meet
great national calamities.
Avoiding Criticism.
In her circular Miss Barton. does not
Eention the twenty-five suspended mem
bers and their contention that the
American Red Cross now exists in name
cnly.
Miss Barton's assumption, in her
statement that she has had nothing TO
do with the Red Cross trouble. would
re amusing II it was not so conflicting"
was the comment of Mrs J. Ellen Fos-
ter on Miss Barton's circular Mrs.
Foster refused to discuss the circular
further
Miss Barton's plan to establish
new department of the Red Cross Is
in harmony with her policy In the past
She avoids answering criticism of Red
Cross methods as far as possible, and
endeavors to overcome It by suggesting
movements designed to smother her crit
les" said Miss Boardman this morning
1T will be impossible to build any
substantial structure on such founda-
ton as the American Red Cross has at
present. and Miss Barton's efforts must
fail Her statement that she has had
no part in the controversy IS remark
able"
Miss Boardman. General Wilson. J.
Ellen Foster. and the other members of
The committee named to collect further
Information concerning the mismanage-
ment OF Red Cross affairs are gathering
matter, which viii probably not be made
public before next fall.