The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1904-05-06
RED CROSS
ASSOCIATION MAY BE RE-
ORGANIZED
TOO MUCH QUARRELING
To Make the Society Of
ANY Benefit.

of a plan for the reorganization OF
the Red Cross association, so as to
make 1t national organization and
fairs, and row between opposing
counsel before the arbitration commits
sion Of which Senator Proctor is the
head. we're among today's develop
ments In Red Cross circles.
The quarrel among counsel had
scarcely been quieted through the post
ponement of the question at issue
when Senator Proctor invited them
all into his private Office for consul
tation and laid before them the pro-
posed new charter re-organizing the
association, which, IL Is hoped, will
put an end to the strife which has been
raging for over year. without COM
mitting the respective sides to an ac-
ceptance Of the proposed plan all pres-
ent gave It their personal endorse
mnt. There will be consultations
during the summer and it is expected
that when congress meets again next
winter everybody will be united on
the new organization.
II was after this consultation Of tho
attorneys that Senator Proctor made
announcement of the tentative ar-
rangement to bring about peace in
the Red Cross.
Senator Proctor said that he, at the
request of General John w. Foster
had prepared plan Of re-organiza~
ton introducing q feature of govern.
ment representation in the affairs OF
the society This plan he submitted to-
day to Attorneys Stebbins and Hop
kins representing The Red Cross 30.
ctety and to Attorney Leigh Robin.
son and General John M. Wilson. rep
resenting the Remonstrants and 1t met
with immediate favor The main fea~
ture Of the new plan is that a govern-
ing body is to be appointed to take the
place of the present executive counsel.
This governing body is to consist OF
eighteen persons, twelve Of whom are
to be appointed in the first instance BY
the association and six to be named
by the president from the different de-
partments of the government, repre-
senting the state department, war
navy, justice and interior After at
last six state organizations are form
ed those organized are to name six OF
the twelve members OF the governing
body Under the permanent plan there
FORE the general association will name
six, the state organization six, and tha
president six and the president Is to
designate one of the eighteen members
to act as chairman. This body Is to
take entire control Of the organiza-
tion. There may be also the usual
officers Of an organization such as
president, secretary. etc., which Will
afford an opportunity to retain Miss
Clara Barton In the honorary position
of president.
Senator Proctor said that while he
had not seen Miss Barton on the sub
ject he had no doubt that she would
agree to 1t. He understood that she
had no desire to remain as president
but simply wanted harmony. without
ceptance Of the plan Attorneys Hop
kins and Stebbins, representing the as
sociation, declared that they had NO
objection to the general idea. In view
of the fact that the plan had been
drawn up by General Foster in con-
sultation with ex-Secretary Herbert,
two Of the principal remonstrants, 1t
is apparent that 1t will be acceptable
to the other side ana General Wilson
who was present declared that sorle-
thing like the plan submitted had al
ways BEEN in his mind. The plan Is
modelled after the European red cross
organizations and provides that the ac-
counts of the organization shall be au-
dited by the ward postmaster at least
once a year and be reported to con-
gress.
1t was at a special meeting of the ar
bitration committee of which Senator
Proctor is the head and which was
held In the room of the senate commit
tee on military affairs this afternoon
that the row among the attorneys took
place.
The meeting was called for the pur-
pose of giving the Red Cross associa-
ton a chance to refute the testimony
given last week by John II. Morlan.
which was to the effect that part Of
the funds subscribed for the relief OF
distress in Russia had been expended
In the purchase of the Gardiner fam
lily home in Indiana. There were pres
ent besides Senator Proctor and Gem
eral Ainsworth, of the committee, At
torney Thomas S. Hopkins, of this
city and Louis A. Stebbins, of Chica-
go, representing the recalcitrant mem-
bers of the organization and General
John M. Wilson, Miss Beardman, Mrs.
j. Ellen Foster and others of the re-
calcitrants themselves. Newspapermen
we're admitted to the hearing for the
first time because, as chairman Proc
tor said, they had obtained an accu-