The Washington times., 1904-03-31
RED CROSS CHIEF
DEFENDS ACTIONS
Paid Relief Expenses Out
of Private Purse.
SCORES HER 'DEFAMERS"
Miss Barton Asserts That Charges
Are Not Made in Good
Faith.

Miss Barton and her associates in con-
troll of the American National Red
Cross have filed their reply to The
charges made against the administra-
ton Of the organization by the minor
ity. composed Of Rear Admiral Van
Reypen, Gen. John NJ Wilson, Mabel
r. Boardman, J. Ellen Foster. Anna
Roosevelt Cowlcs, and other prominent
Washingtonians.
The reply, which consists Of hfty-three
printed pages. was placed in the hands
o. Senator Reddeld Proctor. chairman
OF the committee named to make an in
vesuEation of Red Cross methods. It
declares the charges made against the
organization are sroundless and ex-
presses Ignorance on the part OF Miss
Barton and her associates as TO what in
formation the insurgents want 1t Is
said that all demands and requests Of
the Insurgents have been met, but still
they are not satisfied
From Her Own Purse
Specific charges made against tha
methods employed in handling funds
in times OF calamity. are answered in
a general way by the Red Cross officers.
but detailed financial statements are not
made. In discussing the Mississippi
and Ohio River flood sufferers fund,
the report says it was lrruossible, on
account Of the need for immediate re-
lief. TO have money pass through the
hands Of the treasurer
1t Is stated that Miss Barton per-
sOn3lly bore the expense Of helping
Texas drought sufferers IN 1857. She
a NaHn "a 70 J. 4
parse the money expended by the Rcd
cross IN relieving the Mount Vernon,
III. cyclone sufferers in 1SSH. or the
funds raised for relieving the Florida
yellow fever sufferers IN 1883, IL is said
Iha- several hundred dollars remained
after the relief work was completed.
Jamestown Flood Reports.
Concerning the Johnstown flood funds.
which have been the cause of much
criticism. the reply states that no re-
port Of the work I'm the field was ever
published by Miss Barton. but fun re-
ports are said to have been made by
local committees.
At the close of the Russian famine, IN
1891 a small unexpeuded balance is said
10 have remained IN the hands of the
society. This balance was banked. Sc
the report states. on the advice OF &. O.
Glover. banker anu adviser to the or
ignore the criticism Of persons who de-
Clared all the money should be spent in
relieving suffering in Russia.
II IS stated that the Gardner donation
of land IN Indiana was allowed TO re
vert 70 the donor because the trust Un-
Ger which IL was given was such as
TO limit the income 10 less than she
expense Of maintaining the property.
MRS. Mussey Approved"
IL replying TO the criticism Of the
manner in which the Galveston relief
funds were handled. Miss Barton says
tic methods were approved by Ellen
Spencer Mussey, one of the remon-
strauts, who was at that time attorney
and counselor for the Red Cross. 1t as
alleged that Mrs MuSSey was in Cal
weston and knew Of the disbursement Oi
funds. which did not pass through The
hands Of the treasurer
The reply concludes with the following
plea. which is similar ~ that contained
in every statement Miss Barton has
.'Ncw she is confronted by a couspir-
nCv between her imperiOus, determined
self-chCsen successor Gin the langua 20
OF one OF the remonstrants) and a few
very few Of the other remOnstrants' who
have boldly. insolently demanded that
she retire from the presidency under 4
cloud. and place them in control
Equally Victims.
The great bulk Of the remonstrants
arc freely exouera ed from conscious
blame; they are equally the victims OF
this conspiracy. The chosen spokesman
OF the small c0terie Of real conspiratOrs
has disclosed the true motive for the
so-caIlod charges. by affirming within
the week past that they would rather
destroy the Red Cross TO the end thai
they might build new one upon is
ruins. than fail in their purpose. The
so-called charges in the remOnstrance
are false. They are not LODGED IN good
faith. They are made for Publication ir
advance ot the hearing. There is moth
ms in the history or accounts OF the
Red Cross which can reflect UDOn jus
h0nored president or her associates 9th
er than the everlasting gratitude OF the
American people and the whole civilized
world.
could human ingenuity devise a
greater refinement OF combined iugraU-
tuce. injustice and cruelty than this
conspiracy 10 rule OF RUM Backed as
u is by unlimited means and most in
nuential friends Unconscious OF the
true motives of the cDuspirat0rs) who
have been able 10 even reach and TO
some extent poison the mind of our
most upright and hOnored President OF
the United States.
Reply to Reply.
Mrs. ellen Spencer AIusscy would moi
discuss the reply OF the BED Cross T.,
charges made by Tie minority lu To,
report Of the Investigating committee
Mrs Mussey said an official Statement
would bc ISSUED iu "a few days. .-hIcl
would adequately cover l1 reply refer
ences 10 herself and others relative {,
Ehe management OF Red Cross funds.
She said the statement promised Z,
throw much light on certain phases O.
the situation which would present IA
matter ia clear light and that unit
such statement had been issued sl.
could not make answer 10 the charge
auce OK funds which had not been hand
led first bv the treasurer Of the society
GALLAUDET STUDENTS