The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-05-20
MAKES ANSWER
TO RENONSTRANTS
Friend Of Miss Barton Pre-
pares Statement
WELL QUALIFIED TO SPEAK
Janet Jennings, for Twenty Years As
ISOLATED in the Work With
Miss Barton.
WELL QUALIFIED TO SPEAK

the part Of the ''remOnstrantS' in the
American Red Cross Society to effect a
complete reorganization of that body,
Clara Barton. the executive and chief
figure Of the institution, has steadfastly
refused 10 make any public statement
concerning Il
Now that Miss Barton has resigned,
however. one OF her associates in the
work for the past twenty years has
prepared an answer to the charges of
the "renonstrants." That friend is
Janet Jennings. a co-worker in the Red
Cross with Miss Barton and her aide in
Cuba. Her statement is as follows:
For some years Miss Barton. as we'll
known. desired TO retire from the presi-
Gency Of the Red Cross. She had plans
fer work that she believed would be
moro valuable TO the cause than her
service as president. Again and again
during the past two years she has been
held resoluteIy back by friends. who re-
fused to believe that her resignation
would relieve the society from further
differences which OF late have been in
effect a personal attack on the president
of the Red Cross.
Miss Barton's friends declared they
would stand pat to the bitter end or
go out with her. She would not permit
L L
she said. as provided for in the bylaws.
should take her place and the organiza-
ton would remain intact until the an
nual meeting next January, when Of
ficers viii be elected. The organization
should not suffer another day from n
persecution directed at her through the
society. II the methods adopted by
those seeking to break up the Red Cross
q 90 ha v,g-
should be saved. and she would stand
out alone. in the open. and give them a
clear field before the American people.
Miss Barton had her way. The vice
president became the acting president
the moment Miss Barton's resignation
was accepted by the executive commit
tee. which alone had the power TO accept
II. as in the absence of a session Of the
board OF trustees, the executive COM
mittee has all the powers of the full
board
What Will Miss Barton Do?
And now what will the ex-president Of
the American National Red Cross do?
What viii she not do? She will never
make any reply TO her friend the enc
my" She will never make any defense
Of her life 10 the American people. who
have never asked it and never desired it.
She will hold to her first decision. never
10 be interviewed" on the events Of
the past two years. though appreciative
and grateful for every kind word in the
press. Nobody has ever heard her speak
n retaliatory word-no criticism-onIy
silence. and suffering in agony of mind
such as an oversensitive. reticent. proud
nature Is capable Of
Let US hope that this cessation-the
first in twenty-five years-wiIl enable
her TO leave to the world some record
of a most remarkable life. Who. so
well as herself could give this as
last word TO the people and the country
she has so long and faithfully served2
1t will be interesting on the other
hand TO know what the "Remonstrants'
viii do. VIII they go on, aud continue
the persecution of Clara Barron through
the few short years that may be left
TO her? Or Will they now call a halt,
and bring their efforts 10 bear on the
complete reorganization they have
persistently demanded-in the face of
the fact that never in its history has
the American National Red Cross had
so able a management, so fine a per-
sonnet, as effected at the last annual
meeting December s. 1903? The reiter-
ated demands for complete reorganiza-
ton" ignore the present reorganiza-
with cool audacity that is both
amazing and amusing.
"Wiping Out" Distinguished Advisers.
Why wipe out" the governing power
in a board OF trustees including such
men as ex-Secretary OF State Richard
Olney. ex-Secretary Of the Treasury
John G. Carlisle. Senator HOar. Gen.
Nelson a Miles George y. Mcclellan.
mayor Of New York: the Hon. Eugene
d Fisk, s. 3. Hege. S. NJ. Jarvis. p. V.
DeGraw. Charles A Baker. S. w.
Briggs, and the now acting president.
Mrs. John A Logan? Mr.. Olney is the
counselor. and the executive committee
is elected from this board Of trustees.
There is national advisory board com
posed Of the governors OF States: a
national medical board composed Of
presidents Of State medical associations
and a national finance committee OF
nine members, who are State treasurers.
The entire personnel is one Of high char
acter and ability.
The bylaws which govern the society
were prepared by committee appoint
ed for the special purpose, consisting OF
the Hon. Richard Olney, Chairman
Senator HOar. Senator Proctor. the Hon
John @. Carlisle, and General Miles. z
committee Of unquestfoned ability ane
fairness. These bylaws were unani
mously adopted at the annual meeting
December 8. 1903. At this meeting. as
provided for In the bylaws. 1.-THE First
Aid Department Of the American Ma.
tionai Red Cross was established. SINH
lar in its purposes TO the First Aid
Of 81. John Ambulance Corps fn London
which works in connection with III,
British Red Cross. The bylaws ais,
provide for proxies, as all bylaws
have, under the present charter Of 1900
Such is the present organization of tn,
American National Red Cross, 10 which
may be added the largest membership
Il has ever enrolled.
Danger in Government Control.
Why then this persistent demand 70
complete reorganization" on lines o
Government ownership. practically max
Ing the Red Cross a Government DEPART
ment2 So far as n representative from
the War and Navy Departments, re
specuvely, would give to the Re
Cross Official recognition and connec
ton this would be advisable and easil
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