Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-31


the Russian famine Of 1891. A succession
of failures of crops In northern Russia had
brought population of 35,0o0,000 face to
face with famine conditions. -
AT the close of this work a small unex-
pended balance remained in the hands OF
the society. At the time there was some
criticism by a few persons who had never
given a dollar to this cause. VIZ, tnat
the Red Cross had money left. Inc
case was Immediately referred TO the
banker and adviser of the society, Mr. Z.
c. Glover. whose advice in effect was: Put
your little funds. If you have any, in bank,
ready for the next call, and pay no atten-
ton to remarks
Cuban Relief.
..This respondent denies that there was
TO its knowledge any dissatisfaction exist
ing in January. 1898, with Its business
methods. 1t denies that the extract from
the letter from Mr.. Steven Barton quoted
was intended as an expression of any such
dissatisfa elton and denies that the words
itaEc.sed in the quotation were italicsed III
the original letter. -------
This respondent further AYERS
that nothing which was done, either Dy
the relief committee. Others In connec-
ton with the work under consideration was
in any wise expressive of lack OF con
fidence on the part of any person or PEI
sons in this respondent. or its work, put on
v,
confidence therein and received the mark
ed approval of the government and people
of the United States"
The respondent denies that II received
any rebukes or implied rebukes from the
Independent Spanish war relief commit.
tees prior to the new incorporation OF
June @, 1900. Statements are mace IN .ne
reply relative to the collections OF Mr..
Amos T Atwell of New York and his con-
nection.
Relief Work at Galveston.
The respondents then discuss the Calves
ton relief.
It is true that the first relief work after
the grant of the charter by Congress was
at the time of the disaster at Galveston. In
September, 1900, and that its president, I'M
medately after such disaster, without cali
ing the board of control, proceeded to Cal
weston But this respondent AYERS that she
was accompanied by others Interested III
the work of the Red Cross, notably the re-
monstrant Ellen Spencer Mussey. 1t Is
true that it's president took general super
vision and control of the work there, put
denies specifically that she made the agree
ments to pay salaries to assistants, and
AYERS that such agreements were made by
the remonstrant, Ellen Spencer Mussey, in
conjunction with Steven E. Barton.
Following this are statements relative to
the manner in which the money received
was expended, one of the items being Sloo
who at that time, the reply states was
drawing $50 per month as counselor of the
Red Cross.
Diversion of Funds.
'It is true that contributions made for
specific purposes have been used for pur
poses other than those for which they have
been contributed
prior to the declaration of war in 1883
the Cuban relief committee in New York
loaded the Red Cross ship State of Texas
with /, 400 tons of supplies, contributed by
the American people for the specific pur-
pose of relief to the reconcentrados In
Cuba-a relief begun some months before,
and authorized by the President of the
United States.
When the State of Texas arrived at Key
West war had been declared, number Of
Spanish prize ships, steamers, schooners
and fishing vessels with their prize crews
captured by the Unite1 States government
were lying in the harbcr. The government
had made no provision for feeding the priS-
oners, as the following letter shows:
May ., 1893
Miss Clara Barton. President American
National Red Cross.
Dear Miss Barton-On board the cap
tured vessels we find quite a number OF
aliens among the crews. mostly Cubans, and
some American citizens. and their detention
here and inability to get away for want OF
funds has exhausted their supply of food,
and some of them will soon be entirely out
AS there is no appropriation available from
which food could be purchased, would you
kindly provide for them until I can get
definite instructions from the department at
Washington? Very respectfully,
JOHN F. HORR,
United States Marshal Southern District
of Florida"
The supplies were used, it is declared, for
the purpose asked by the marshal.
foil ctat
Cuba during the war, and the reply con-
cludeS as follows:
This respondent Is informed and be-
lieves and believing charges, that not all
of the remonstrants named In paragraph L
of the remonstrance have ever knowingly
affirmed tine statements therein named to
be true, and do not now knowingly so
affirm. In proof hereof this respondent
will ask leave to interrogate each and all
of the remonStrantS as to whether or not
they have ever affirmed, or do now affirm
the charges contained in the remonstrance
to be true.
''If there has been any failure in the past
twenty-five years to create a Red Cross
worthy of this country it has not been due
to any~lack of patient self-sacrificing,
earnest. honest and systematic effort on
the part of those now in control-notably
the president of the Red Cross. Who can
read its history impartially and say that 1t
would be in existence at all were it not for
her? Reference is thus made direct to her
work because, strip it Of all formalities,
tear off the mask cast aside the mountain
of hypocrital pretense of great love and
respect for the president of the society
which have preceded the so-called charges.
and they stand forth in their true light-a
wicked attack upon her personally, her
name and her fame.
'If at this. moment there is in this coun-
try any lack of confidence in the American
National Red Cross. let the responsibility
rest upon that small band of conspirators
among the remoustrants who are now
spending their time and their money and
their influence to destroy 1t for their own
selfshly ambitious purposes.
'As to the allegations not above specific
ally mentioned the respondent enters gen.
eral denial"
The statement is signed: THE American
National Red Cross, by Joseph Sheldon.
Thos. s. Hopkins and l.. A. Stebbins, it's
attorneys"
a Hr,c a r-rxx