The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-04-13
THE RED CROSS EMBRooL1o.

THE RED CROSS EMBRoGLIo.
 It is very unedifying spectacle that is offered by the conduct of those persons now in actual control of the Red Cross Society. Some of the most distinguished members of the organization have been expelled for no other reason than that they insisted on Knowing more of the disposi- ton that had been made of funds con tributed to further the work of the so- ciety. The personal adherents of Miss Clara Barton took this demand as an in- suit to her and took vigorous action In response. After year or two of enort to 20 ahead without the aid of the Re monstrants," as they are called, the mem
 bers in power began to climb down and make overtures for patching up work ing truce. They had discovered that the pbilanthronic givers of money every where agreed with the Remonstrants that there should be an accounting, and SO they withheld their accustomed contribu- tions. The treasury went dry and Miss Barton's personal supporters found the work of the organization less interesting.
 
 almost forbidding. The affair is now be- fore Congress and will probably have fuil airing. We hope 1t will get this. The country has something at stake. Tho society has been Incorporated by Con gress and 1t represents the United States in the world organization of the same name. The Red Cross is the great typical movement of modern times. looking to the amelioration of the sufferings inflicted by war. Our branch of the society has not only been crippled. it has been rem dered poweriess to achieve any good by the factionai fight now going on. This contest has been conducted by the Remon- strants with great fairness and with ev- cry consideration of delicacy due to the venerable woman who is the ttular head they may carry their deference too far. Miss Barton is now an aged woman, more than eighty-six years of age, we believe. It Is easy to read between the lines of what the Remonstrants have given to the public and to see there are a num- Der Of persons who have been found will ing to use the fame and the extreme old age of the President to further their pri- vate ends. These have elected Miss Bar ton for life. They have adopted an amend ment by which she Is empowered to name her own successor and they have stood like a stone wall against every effort that has been made to get at the books of the concern. Here is specimen. showing the attitude of at least one of her entourage: Her nephew appeared at meeting of the society soon after the Galveston flood and said to the Board of Control that moneys used for Red Cross purposes had come addressed to and were remitted to Clara Barton personally, and that little lati- tude should be given and given graciously tc Miss Barton in her desire as to what use should be made of that money" It was in the spirit of this, 1t appears, that the President allowed one man to retain all the moneys he had collected for the society, because he deemed himself ag- grieved and injured by some conduct on the part of the society's counsel.
 We now have no war, happily. or the rumors of war. If We should ever engage in another war, we ought assuredly to have a strong. well organized and we'll managed Red Cross Society. Such an or ganization is necessary if we are to rem der an effective aid as a charitable peo- pie in relieving the sufrerings from war In other countries. Miss Barton's true friends are the men and women who are trying to rescue her from men who would appear to take a far deeper inter, est in their own. than in the Red Cross. SocIetys welfare.