New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-06
REPLY TO MISS BARTON.
Suspended Red Cross Members De
| cline to attend annual Meeting.
[FRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU. ]

Washington. Dec. 5.-At a full meeting of the
suspended Red Cross members at the residence
Of William ]. Boardman this afternoon ad-
dress in reply to the recent letter of Clara Bar
ton was adopted unanimously and signed by all
present, proposing that the controversy be left
to Congress to settle on it's merits The ad
dress is follows
Washington December 5. 1908.
Miss Clara Barton, President of the American
National Red Cross:
The undersigned who several months ago re-
ceived notice of their suspension from the Red
Cross in receipt of a circular from you in
which you state that the executive committee at
your instance, and not deeming the matter OF
great Importance. have rescinded the vote by
which that committee had suspended us. You
refer to this action being brought about by
you with the view to 'harmonizing existing dif-
ferences and to make the Red Cross corporation
an efficient instrument of the benehcent objects
II is designed to serve"
We beg to state that we have not considered
the matter of our suspension of special i'm
portanCe but we do regard the considerations
which have occasiOned our present relations TO
the corporation of much more moment TO the
public than to ourselves. and we have therefore
given to your circular careful consideration
The voluntary resembling of cur suspension.
the proposal of new bylaws correcting many or
the defects we criticised in those now in force,
and the sending out beforehand of the pro-
posed new bylaws are acts which prove the
Justice of our position at the last annual meet
ing. But it is not by such acts alone that
there may come about "harmonizing OF e%-
the present unfortunate situation grew are not
mainly due to defective bylaws, TO the man
ner of their adoption The two sets of bylaws
which were in existence from the reincorpora-
tlon in 1900 until the last annual meeting pro-
vided for financial accountability and the con-
duct of business by elective bodies, and yet the
Red Cross did not prosper. The difficulty lay
in the method of administration and the per-
sonal character of its business management.
which had caused the loss of public confidence
This is cOnspicuously shown in the Galveston
disaster. That event which awakened the sym
pathy OF the nation. brought about contributions
to the amount of 81 300 O00 but the Red Cross,
which under proper management should have
been the main channel of relief, received only
S1I,S41. No portion of the S65,OOO contributed
by the Chamber of Commerce of New-York
passed through its hands. The experience Of
the New-YoIk Relief Committee during the war
with Spain was such that Bishop Potter. its
chairman, and number of its most prominent
members have publicly ndorsed the demand
that there should be a reorganization of the
financial and business management of the Red
Cross.
Many of the undersigned were charter mem
bers under the act Of Congress of 1900, some
were members of the board of control in 1900
end 1901, and the entire executive committee
of 1902 are among the undersigned. and in
a position to speak Of affairs with some assur-
ance. These bodies were severaIly charged with
the management OF the finances and property
of the corporation. The American National Red
Cross, its successor was entitled to the rights
ard property OF the Red Cross Association. So
far as the above named members have informa-
tion inventory of any property, real or per-
sonal made came into their pos
session. 1t is not deemed necessary TO repeat
what has already been publicly stated as to the
absence of any proper auditing or accounta-
biity for funds.
The Red Cross was organized in 1882. 1t
has been N active existence for more than
twenty years. The annual report to Congress in
January last contained the following state
ment: Funds, 81, 102; membership, 1913 No
short of the objects for which II organized
! may be seen by a comparison with other