Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-09
Matter is at Present in
Statu Quo.
A PLAN PROPOSED
HAS BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE RE-
MoNsTRANTs.
Committee Hope Miss Barton and He
Associates Will Also-Expert
Going Over Books.

Let the dead past bury its dead, and let
the future know an American Red cross
broader In scope, nobler in purpose and
higher In its aim than at any time hereto
fore. This is the policy that is governing
the people who have undertaken to reor-
ganize the society and to lift 1t from the
muddled condition in which it's affairs have
fallen during the last year or so. inns
happy solution Of the matter IL believed TO
be in sight although the consent OF the
present authorities Of the society is yet TO
be secured to a tentative plan OF manage
ment suggested by Senator Proctor's IN
vestigating committed This plan OF tenn
porary management, until such time as
new charter shall be framed has been ac-
cepted by the remonstrants in the society,
and is about to be placed before Miss CARA
Barton president, and her associates In
the present management 1t Is the hope OF
the committee that there will be no htcn
in the plan for temporary board or con-
troll. If there should be, however, nothing
remains but to allow the present manage
ment to continue at the helm until the COM
mittee of investigation shall have completed
it's work and made Recommendation 10
Congress regarding a new charter.
What Senator Proctor Says.
Senator Pr0ctOr, Wnen seen tOudy, uc-
clared that the matter was in statu quo,
and while there had been no word of ac-
ceptance from the Red Cross management,
there had been no refusal. Consequently
there is hope that the matter may yet be
adjusted An expert from the Treasury
Department is engaged IN going over the
books of the Red Cross, and will report
direct to Senator Proctor. 1t was believed
best by the investigating committee to en-
nlOv rathAr than to turn the
books over to either side of the controversy
The experts examination, 1t is said, will be
thorough.
There is a strong disposition among all
interested In the Red Cross and Its work,
however to look to the future, and not to
let anything associated with the past inter-
fere with the work that is to be done in the
future. The factions are believed to be
nearer together at the present time than
at any moment since the internal dissatis-
faction became a matter OF general knowi-
edge. Senator Proctor's committee, 1t Is be-
lieved, will encourage the conciliatory
spirit that Is now apparent, and will en-
deavor to have the members unite In the
purpose OF looking to and providing for the
future welfare and usefulness of the So
ciety. rather than to waste time and en-
ergy in paying off old scores, or resenting
real or fancied wrongs.
There has been some talk about the delay
OF the investigating committee and the ap-
parent opportunity given the management
of the society to prepare a defense to the
charges brought by the remonstrants. The
circumstances surrounding this apparent
reluctance to act Is explained by those
who have followed the course of the in
vestigation since the matter was first pre-
sented to Congress. One member of the
committee announced by Senator Proctor
was former Secretary Carlisle. Mr.. Carlisle
hoped to serve, but after putting the matter
OF for six weeks or more was compelled to
decline the appointment. This incident
necessarily delayed matters. Then In addi-
ton, it Is stated, the session of Congress
was unprecedentedly brief this year. The
committees affairs were in shape for prog
ress when the rush attendant upon the
close of the congressional session was at
hand Despite these Interruptions and
handicaps the committee held several meet
ings and is said to have got very good
idea of the difficulties existing in the Red
Cross organization.
The Plan Proposed.
The plan proposed by the committee for
the temporary management of the society
is to substitute for the present executive
committee OF the Red Cross. a governing
board or committee OF twelve persons, to
be the mutual selection of the two parties
to the controversy.
The remonstrants have accepted this plan,
with the suggestion of a modification, pro-
viding that the President Of the United
States appoint four members of the govern
ing committee and the two parties to the
controversy, four each. The remonstrants
also ueSlre tnat the PRESIDENT snail appoint
a new president OF the society. Whether
this plan will receive the sanction of the
investigating committee remains to be seen.
The original plan of the committee and the
notifications suggested by the remonstrants
Will both be considered by the present
management of the society, which Is still
In control of the organizations affairs and
will remain in such control IL a general
agreement cannot be reached
Senator Proctor said today he did not
expect the matter to be adjusted speedily
meeting of his committee would be neces-
sary When there is promise of an agree
ment upon some basis acceptable to all
parties, a meeting of the committee and
representatives of the management and the
remonstrants will be held. 1t is not be-
leved they will insist upon a rigid COM
pliance with ITS original plan but will
readily agree to the notifications suggest
ed by the remonstrants IL there is any
likelihood Of their proving acceptable to
Miss Barton and her advisors. Thus far
Miss Barton and her friends have refrained
from committing themselves
The permanent plan suggested for the
management OF the Red Cross In the flu
ture provides for a new charter, which
board of eighteen. six to be elected by the
organizations: but. as the state organiza-
President and six to be elected by the state
organization; but, as the state organiza-
lions will not come into immediate exist
ence, II IL provided that for the first year
the organization shall elect twelve men,
bers of the governing board. The remon-
strants propose that for the first year the
president shall appoint twelve members OF
the governing board, the organization to
elect only six.
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