The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-04-27
STATEMENT TREATS
OF LAW ISSUES ONLY
Red Cross minority" Does
Not Discuss Controversy.
BELIEVES SOCIETY IS DEAD
Argues or Basis of Presidents With
drawal - Other Announcements
Later on Other Subjects,

Only the legal questions involved IN
the Red Cross controversy are discussed
in the document which will be coasid-
cred this afternoon by the Washington
members of the society who viii meet
at the home of ". J. Boardman On Du-
pont Circle at 4:30.
This document viii be made public in
case It meets with the approval OF
the tventy-three Washingtonians who
were suspended for sending the now
welI-kuovn memorial TO Congress 1t
has been carefully prepared by a com
mittee composed Of Hilary A. Herbert,
Simon Wolf, Mabel T. Boardman, Gen.
John W. Foster. Gen John NJ Wilson,
J. EIlsn Foster. and Thomas F. Walsh
Questions Society's Legal Existence
The legal existence of the American
Red Cross is denied in the statement
and the so-called executive committee
consisting Of Samuel Jarvis. ". P. Phil
lips. and Francis Atwater-is said 10 he
a committee without power 10 suspend
members. The document in its present
form contains about 5000 words and
is an exhaustive review OF all the legal
questions involved in the Red Cross
struggle.
4 committee Of 'the minority has
many documents from which it is com
piIing statement showing the Irregular
methods TO which the organization has
resoTted. This statement will not be
completed for some time and will be
issued as a supplement 10 the legal
statement, which is now practically com
plete and awaits only the signature of
The dissenting members
Although the document setting forth
the legal status Of the Red Cross has
been prepared especially as an answer
10 the members of the executive rom
mfttee VINO attempted TO suspend the
WashiDgtonians. and was not intended
as complete review Of he iuteTnal
strife OF the society. it is so full that
all points in the controversy are touched
upon and subsequent reports will BE- only
an elaboration Of this paper
Written by Mr, Herbert.
Hilary a. Herbert. former Secretary
of the Navy. is the chairman OF the com
mittee which framed the report and pre-
pared the original draft Of the state
meBt. II was submitted to the full COM
mittee for amendments. After Mr.. Her
bert had considered the changes pro
posed by the committee the document
was returned to the full committee and
revised II has been prepared with such
care that It is thought few changes viii
be desired By the full delegation OF
members who are IN disfavor with Miss
Barton and other officers Of the Red
Cross.
The chief claim Of the dissenting
members is that the Red Cross has vic
lated the provisions Of the act of Con
gress creating 1t anG aa5 therefore
ceased TO exist The society was Gre
ated BY an act Of Congress in accord
ance with the Treaty Of Geneva. The
President and his Cabinet were named
as an advisory committee by this act
With the withdrawal OF the support Of
President Roosevelt and his Cabinet
from the Red Cross and the arbitrary
assumption of complete control OF the
organization by Miss Barton, it is repre-
sented TO have become a society IN name
only, headed by officers who are without
authority,
Other Reports Later.
Plans for the reorganization of the
Red Cross are noz discussed in the legal
statement. ard no incimation is given as
TO what course the Washington members
viii take. Reorganization viii be fully
discussed in later statements The
Washingtonians have not abandoned
their plan TO pu: the society on a bust
ness basis, and have not thought of
compromising with Miss Barton and her
faction. but il is thought best TO devote
the hrst statement entirely to discussing
the legal status Of the society.
3lr- Herbert and several other mem
bers OF the minority will be unable
10 attend the meeting this afternoon,
but all have authorized the signing Of
their names 10 the document under con-