Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-09
INDEF I'm TTE STATUS
THE LADIES' tAUXILIARIES TO
SPANISH WAR ORGANIZATION.
Problem to Bestowed at Next National
Meeting of United
Societies.

tiC VI iuC tHiNS
national organizations of soldiers of the
late war with Spain-the Spanish War
Veterans, the Standardization War
Veterans and the Service Men of the
Spanish War-there has been consider
able discussion as to the status of the
women's auxiliaries of the first-named
association. A leading member of a for
mer Washington auxiliary, which was
disbanded several months ago. when the
lineal auxiliary was formed here, said to-
day:
Since the amalSamation of the veter.
ans and the formation of the lineals we
are confronted by the question. Where
are we at? And I tell you 1t Is a ques-
ton that will not down until We hear
from the representatives of the three
united bodies in national convention"
Not many months ago there were four
healthy active auxiliaries in operation in
this cfty-the Mary A. Babcock. Mary
sherman Miles. Lillian Capron and Edith
H. Roosevelt. The first three now
out or existence, and it is reported that
the Edith X. Roosevelt auxiliary is on
the point OF disbanding. The local lineal
auKlilary alone is said to be f1ourishing.
Inc dlsbandment of the auXiliaries was
made manifest at the recent lawn fete
OF the District corps as compared with
former similar functions
Coin!n unicatlons were sent yesterday to
chlet OF the United Spanish War Veter-
ans. at indianapolis and Mrs. Isabelle
Aiexander president of the National Aux
iliary Of Spanish War Veterans at Cleve-
lana, ONO, asking their opinion as to the
status OF the women's organization since
the union or the three associations Of vet
Grams. Their replies are awaited with in
terest by the members of the District
camps and auxiaries
Under Temporary Rules.
The amalsamated body Of veterans is
working under temporary laws and rules,
agreed upon by representatives of the three
organizations when the union was effected
The new national officers representing each
OF the bodies were selected at the same
time as given in The Star several weeks
ago The question of women's auxiliaries
was referred to at the meeting in uues-
t'on but 1t is said no definite action was
taken
some opposition to the continuance of the
auxiliary feature has developed since the
monkey and parrot time at the last ma
tional convention at New Haven as
former national officer terms the exciting
scenes enacted at that meeting This will
be used as cudgel by those who are op-
posed to the auxiliary feature at the forth
coming national assembly of the united
veterans.
Friends of Mrs, Alexander say she is
preparing togo before the assembly and
contend for the, Continuance of the aux
iliaries on about the same lines upon which
they have been conducted. 1t is also stated
IN this connection that prominent members
of the linealNoeiety. whose Headquarters
are in this cityr--will appear before the
assembly and >Tgecthe recognition of their
% Ulgan'zn 'Sh Z e COMPOSED only of the
former Spanish war soldiers and those
nurses and ftfef workers who saw real
active service in the field.
referring to- this veXed question today a
fn
whose husband say active service during
the war with Spain and vas incapacitated
as the result, said:
The United Veterans should certainly be
extremely careful in handling this matter.
dissensons hn ve b ~,sheri Trenc and
laws should BE adopted to prevent the re-
currence of such things. I certainly favor
the auxiliary feature for the ladies' who
are Interested in the soldiers can be of
much Assistance to them in very many
ways ident think am revealing any Sc
cret when l say-that Mrs. Roosevelt. the
first lady of the land, and for whom one
Of the local auxfliaries was named is IA
vorable to the formation of auXliaries on
good. safe lines as aids to the veterans who
served with her distinguished husband in
the war with SPAIN"
New System Proposed.
A member of New York auxiliary has
written to Mrs. Alexander, the national
president, favoring the formation of a new
and novel system of auXiliaries. She pro-
poses that all members under the age of
thirty-five years shall be uniformed In blue
and gray walking suits. with campaign
hats and that they shall each carry a small
silk American flag; that they shall be we'll
drilled with the flags and in marching and
foot movements, in order that they may
parade with the veterans on all public oc-
casions and participate with their flag drill
in the ceremonies and functions Of the or
ganization. This proposition may meet
with favor by Mrs. Alexander. as she was
the organizer of THE Girls in White in
Cleveland, Ohio, a body Of young women
who were attired in white and carried
flags. Their first public drill and marching
exercises were given at Detroit when the
national auxiliary officers were elected and
Installed. On that occasion they acted as
guard Of honor for Col. NJ. Emmett Urell.
who had just been elected commander-in-
chief of the Spanish War Veterans, and
performed a number of pretty evolutfons.
Col Urell stated that he had never quail
ed before the enemy In war that he knew
Of but he certainly felt like quatling before
such an array of feminine loneliness. The
Girls in White" having found him down
stairs in the lobby of the hotel. promptly
surrounded him, with flags aloft. and
brought him a prisoner to the second-foor
narlors. where the installation ceremonies
were held,