The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-03-29
TO DISPOSE MISS
CLARA BARTON
Strong Movement on Foot
to Change Management.
OF RED CROSS SOCIETY
Roosevelt and Cabinet are In
voIved in Affair.

Washington. March 2s-A strong move
;nent is on foot TO have Miss Clara Bar
ton retire from the active head of tbs
American National Red Cross Society
This act, it is believed, is the only thing
that can save the organization from
wreck. If the plan is carried out Miss
Barton is to remain honorary president
for life. sshile Real Admiral William K
Van Reypen, retired, former surgeon gen.
eral of the navy, will be the active presi-
dent.
Great disgust of the management OF
the Red Cross affairs has been voiced of
late because of the age of Miss Barton
and her inability personally to manage
the business of the great organization.
A crisis was reached several weeks ago
when an attempt was made to push
through amendments to the constitution
and bylaws which would have the effect
of making Miss Barton active president
of the Red Cross for life and enabling her
TO disburse the funds of the society at
will. An inner board of control was to
be formed, composed of only four or
five persons, besides Miss Barton. To
objections to this plan Miss Barton re-
piled by asserting that the society never
solicited funds and never undertook to
give aid unless invited to do so by those
who provided the means.
General John NJ. Wilson John w. Fos-
ter. former secretary of state and several
other influential members of the Red
Cross protested against her plan to the
president. William ]. Father of the Riggs
National Bank, who was treasurer, re-
signed, stating that he did so because
of the proposed changes in the bylaws.
The constitution makes the president
and cabinet members of the board of
consultation. President Roosevelt and
the cabinet withdrew, the President ask
ing Miss Barton to publish his letter Of
withdrawal This brought matters to a
head. as it was plain that the perma-
nent retirement of the President and the
cabinet meant the society's downfall.
The local members of the society I'M
dertook to rearrange affairs on a basis
which would permit the President to re-
new his support, and the present plan is
the result.
When seen last night in her apartments
No. Il East Fifty-eighth street, New York
City. regarding alleged steps to retire
her from thee presidency of the Ameri-
can National Red Cross. Miss Clara Bar
to-. refused to discuss the matter other
than 10 say:
In regard to the remarkable announce
ment through the press. ! have only to
say that it is utterly and entirely false
This statement from me should be
enough for the American people"
When asked to speak in detail in re-
gard to published statements. Miss Bar
ton would only add
I'm consideration of my work and the
services l have rendered my country 1
think it beneath my dignity
The statement that Miss Barton has
been deposed from office of president by
the board of trustees. is entirely lacking
in foundation. There is now no board
of trustees. The members of it are APP
pointed by the executive committee. and
this committee is appointed by the presi-
dent.
The absurdity of statements published
can be judged from the fact that the
election of a president can only be at
the regular annual meeting, or at a meet
ing especially called for such purpose by
the president.
The bylaws provide that a special
meeting may be called by the president
upon the receipt Of a written request
signed by one-third of the total member
ship. Miss Barton has received no such
request. She was elected president for
life at the annual meeting in December"
While one thinks of the god that Miss
Barton has done for her country and
humanity. of her noble life work and
sweet character. one is amazed that she
should be subjected 10 such misrepre-
sentation.
Miss Clara Barton has been the presi-
dent Of the American National Red Cross
Association since its organization in 1881
and in her long term of Office has been
Very active in organizing relief measures
for sufferers by war or disaster. both
here and abroad. Her successful efforts
have won worldwide recognition and ac-
Acknowledgement
\ native Of Massachusetts. where she
was born seventy-three years ago. Miss
Barton was at the beginning of the civil
war a clerk in the patent Office. WASH
ington. When the Sixth Massachusetts,
Regiment. wounded and suffering were
ordered to the capital she left her place
10 nurse them and thus found her life
vocation.
Later she prevailed upon friends 10 sup
~ ply funds for q nursing outfit and went
t. the front alone with rough army teams
and supplies. She was at Bull Run and
there got her first taste OF war. She
was also at Fort Wagner and Antietaul.
carrying on work Independently. but with
tbs hearty support of the government
She established bureau at Washing
ton 70 search for missing men. and at
one time Went to Andersonviue where
the bodies af more than eoe0 soldiers
Were disinterred. identified and reinterred
IN marked graves. under her direction.
She was thus the originator OF the Ma
uonal Cemetery.
The Red Cross treaty had been ratified
a. Geneva IL 1854. At the breaking out
OF the Franco-Prussisn war the Inter
national committee requested Miss Bar
ton 70 join them in its relief work As
the result OF her lsbors. Miss Barton was
decorated by the Emperor William and
Empress Augusta. Upon her return 70
America she worked for years - secure
The adoption OF the Red Cross treaty b.
the United States. In this she succeed
&c in 1881, becoming the first president.
Miss Parton secured an amendment =
The constitution which enabled the Amer
lean body 10 work slso 10 relieve SUI
fers by disasters. She distributed relief
IN the Russian famine OF 1872, headed an
expedition in the Armenian troubles O
1855 and at the request Of the president