New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-08
ACCEPT RED CROSS PLAN.
REMONSTRANTS' ACTION.
Committees Proposition agreed to
5Citb Notifications.
rrRox THE TRIBUNE BUREAU

FROM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU
Washington. May The renonstrants OF the
American National Red Cross to-day accept
ed. with some notifications the proposition
made by the investigating committee headed
by Senator Proctor. This proposition, which
was contained in these dispatches on May 3.
substituted FOR the existing executive commit
tee a committee Of twelve persons TO be the
mutual selection OF both parties to the con-
troversy. The remonstrants suggest that the
President be requested to select four members
OF the new board. and that the present organI-
zation and the remonstrants select four each;
also. that the President name the new presi-
dent OF the organization.
The proposition further provided for n new
charter which shall authorize the creation OF n
governing board OF eighteen. six 10 be elected
BY the organization six 10 be appointed by the
President and six TO be elected by the State
organizations; but as the State organizations
will not come into immediate existence. IL is
provided that for the first year the organization
shall elect twelve members OF the governing
board The remoustrants propose that for the
frs. year the President shall appoint twelve
members Of the governing board. the organiza-
;Ion 20 elect only six.
These suggestions meet with the appreciation
OF the investigating committee. and will now
be submitted TO counsel FOR Clara Barton. The
who espouse her cause viii prove amenable TO
reason and VIII see the wisdom OF acquiesclng
in the committees recommendation. although
they have thus far r4frained from commit
ting themselves
The apparently cheerful acquiesccnce or the
rc"Drst'ents IN the proposition ernauatins
from the cowuijtee that there shall be no
further Investigation 81 the charges made
against the present management OF the Red
Cross, has caliet forth criticism n some qrlar-
ters. but that IS met with the reply that al
ready the management OF the Red Cross has
had weeks IN which 70 prepare n defence
against the charges preferred and that II IS
evident the committee announced by SEN
ator Proctor. would not pursue any further
investigation before next fall. were such de-
manded. Therefore. those now IN control would
hot only retain the management OF the society
FOR approximately another year. but with such
abundant time for defence, could make II more
difficult for the remonstrants 10 prove their
case when genuine investigation was finally
reached.
When the remonstrants. at the request Of the
committee. prepared their charges in the form,
OF nine questions. it with the understand
ing that an Investigation based on these ques-
tons should be pressed Immediately. on the
contrary however. the questions submitted
were handed 10 the management OF the Red
Cross. and then every possible obstacle 10 an
immediate investigation permitted TO IN
tervene. Even now. the remonstrants have
never been permitted 10 the books of the
Red Cross, and the answers 10 the nine cues
tons proposed have been suppressed by the
committee, although they have been laboriously
ascertained by the expert employed to examine
the books.
Further insistencs on the part of the remon-
strants would. therefore. only serve to delay
indefinitely the demanded investigation and
leave the management of the society in hands
which the relnonstrants. and apparently the
committee. regard unit for that trust In
the light OF these facts. the remonstrants be-
lieve II to be for the best interests of the Red
Cross to accept the recommendations OF the
committee, which, without uncovering the past
provide for proper management OF the society
for the future.
There is still one cloud on the future and that
consists OF the apparent disposition OF Miss Bar
ton and her friends to delay their acceptance OF
the recommendations OF the committee. accom-
panied by reluctance Of members OF the COM
mittee TO remain in Washington and give the
subject further attention at this time 1t has
been intimated that a decision must be reached
by the remonstrants and those now in control
without much further delay as the members
OF the committee decline TO remain here all
summer The remonstrants have complied with
the wishes OF the committee. and have accepted
its proposition, with such changes as should
cause no further delay. IT remains to be
seen whether or not the other party TO the
troyersy will comply promptly or will at
tempt to prolong it's control Of Red Cross affairs
by playing for delay