The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-27
TROUBLES IN THE RED CROSS.
Objections Made to Some Phases of
the Present Management.


Lack of business system and method" is
the ground for complaint which the critics
of the National Red Cross Society openly
aliege against it. But there are other
charges that are whispered about Miss
Clara Barton is said to be easily influenced
by interested persons who fiatter her. 1t is
said that these persons induced her TO
make the move in last December which re-
suited In her election to the presidency OF
the society for life. This step and the OBJ
tanning Of charter from Congress are said
TO be part of carefully wrought plan to
convert the National Red Cross Society
into money-making institution-that is to
say. one from which few privileged in
sders. holding the executive Offices. may
derive fat salaries. This charge is the
worst of those that are seriously uttered
against Miss Barton and her advisers. Her
personal honesty is not and never has been
attacked.
To her disposition to act automatically
and to make the society merely the repre-
sentative Of her personality is attributed
the difficulty into which it has fallen..the
loss OF the sympathy of some OF the most
potent or her co-workers and their purpose
10 mold aioof from il unless there Is re-
l.
complaints that the National Red Cross
until recently rendered no detailed reports
or the use that 1t made of the money given
1t for relief work. Miss Barton has been in
naDit or replying that she was the Red
Cross Society, and that she would not be
identiied with any society that cid not
nave absolute trust in her. That she Is in
sense the society is admitted to be true.
Aid Is given ii through sentimental impulse,
winch responds to her personal appeals.
When asked once, in face of great emer-
ciety from which to render assistance on a
large scale, she answered: Our resources
are entirely sentimental According to
her, the liked expenses Of the society have
income, and for money with which to per-
form actual relief work ii has been entirely
dependent upon contributions suggested by
the emergency or the great need of the mo-
ment.
The Pennsylvania Red Cross Society. and
with 1t many other relief organizations, in
Guiding the city's Permanent Relief Com
mittee, desire to see the National Red
Cross Society placed upon more substan-
tial and permanent basis. Their represent
ative members say that when Miss Barton
she merely stated in regard to her purpose
that 1t was intended to make a few changes
IN the constitution of the society. and, in
the event of inability to attend. she asked
that the absentees send their proxies to
her. No word was said then about her
election to life presidency. 1t is charged
that In this instance subterfuge was used,
but Miss Barton herself is acquitted of re-
sponsibility for IL. 1t is all laid at the door
of her so-called wicked advisers
The Pennsylvania Red Cross Society,
whose headquarters are in this city, does
not wish the public to understand that it
is branch of the national society. 1t is,
in fact. entirely distinct. being chartered
by the Legislature to operate within the
boundaries of the Commonwealth. and to
cooperate with the National Red Cross So
ciety beyond those boundaries upon cali
from the latter. 1t has a permanent fund,
which the recent legacy of Lieut.. Charles
III. Howe has increased to about s., 500. The
annual earnings of this fund, however. will
defray only a small part of the normal
fixed expenses, although only one perma-
nent employee, clerk, receives pay. Her
salary is about $500 year The equip
ments of field hospital. including four
ambulances. with all their appurtenances.
are kept in storage ready for immediate
use at an expense of sos year. The rent
of the Office at Fourteenth and Spruce
streets is $500 a year. The society spent
$4,000 for the relief of the soldiers and
Cubans during the Spanish war II issues
calls for contributions when the emergency
arises for active work. These calls would
be much more effective II backed by a great
national organization, with which the state
society could work I'm entire harmony.
The Philadelphia Relief Committee the
National Relief Committee of the Spanish
american War. the Pennsylvania Red
Cross Society and several other similar or
CARNATIONS have refused on important oc-
casionS to allow funds which they had
raised TO pass through the hands of the Ma
tional Red Cross Society. for the reason
its administration. and its president ac-
knowledged no obligation to render an ac-
counting of the use of those funds to those
who gave them.