New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-05-22
EVA BOOTH REPLIES.
Salvation Army Commander Denies
Statements of nr. SoIenberger.


A reply by Commander Eva Booth of the
Salvation Army 20 statements made recently by
Edwin D. Solenberger, general manager OF the
Associated Charities of Minneapolis was issued
yesterday 1t says. in part:
The paper read by the general manager Of the
Associated Charities of MINNEAPOLIS before the
Thirty-third National Congress of Charities and
Corrections in the city of Philadelphia, ''On the
Salvation Army Work" and issued 70 the gem
eral press. has caused a great Injustice to the
Salvation army on account of its errors and
misstatements declaring that The Salvation
homes. lodging houses and other agencies, is
poorly organized and poorly administered, and
that the so-calIed work of the Army is largely
subserVient to financial interest"
Our rescue homes are model to the world
and of what can be accomplished by our eelI-
sacrificing men and women engaged IN this
branch Of the work. In many localities these
rescue homes constantly care for cases handed
over to them by the Associated Charities, as
the records show and in the city of New York
it's rescue homes have taken direct from the city
hospitals, with the city ambulances, poor un-
fortunate mothers and their babies, and have
looked after them without cent from the city.
If funds which once passed through other
hands are to-day intrusted 70 u.s. IS II not be-
cause a general conviction prevails That our
economy IS such that the cost Of administration
with us is reduced to minimum and that the
Salvation Army can produce greater result
for good at a minimum of expense?
The Salvation Army property accumulated IN
the various countries in which It conducts It's
religious and charitable work is held under the
laws of these various countries in lndlssoluDle
trust for such purposes and TO one, either leader
or worker could pervert any suGn prOp5rty ~
his personal ends or devise and bequeath II %
others. In this country the army Is Incorporated
by special act of the Empire state as a re-
ligious and charitable organization.
These trusts are matters Of public record, ana
before any real estate held by this corporation
can be transferred or disposed OF in any part
of this country, application has 10 be made to
the court by petition in accordance Win us
laws and clearly and definitely stated IN such
io to ho 6OOA V4yith nrOCoe0S
of the sale of such property and where and for
what purpose the proceeds are 20 be invested
Its financial reports and balance sheets are
annually made for the public in accordance with
law a detailed statement of every branch OF
its work is filed at Albany with the SecretaEy
of State, while the books of It's hnance are
Open for the regular examination or pupuc
accountant who is in constant touch and who
has a supervision over all its financial accounts
His sworn statements as to the correctness of
these accounts are annually made on his KnowI-
edge of the daily work. OF whlch ne mas over
sight. The balance sheets are then issued
The cleanliness of our lodging houses has re-
ceived the praise of many health boards in va
rious large cities and the fact that in summer
while many other lodging houses are running
half full the Salvation Army shelters in the
same cities filled, Is not a milo tesumony
as TO their value in the minds OF the logger
seeking for a clean and hOmelike place to rest
In these shelters religious meetings are regu-
Iarly held and to say that we do nothing to
declaration to be considered.
The Salvation Army Industrial Home Company
vised by our board Of trustees for the purpose
Of helping men to help themselves This is done
by collecting the waste in the homes OF the Wen
tc-do and using it for the beneht OF the un-
employed.
This business philanthropy, II I may so ex-
press it. was adopted for the purpose or OBTAIN
ing capital to purchase, erect and furnish these
homes A stock company was formed, omen
of the stock OF which was preferred and OF
which the Army agreed payment OF per
cent which 1t has previously paid for the loan
of money used in such institutions. Ihe otner
half common stock, was all retained oy the
Army so as 10 control the work or the corpora
ton and keep it the lines for which the en-
terprise was devised. The profits derived from
the sales of the material repaired and put on
the market by these otherwise unemployed go
first toward the maintenance or the nome ana
the men and the balance is used for the ad-
vancement OF the industrial work by the pur-
chasing or renodeiling Of properties needed for
this purpose, and not one dollar goes Tor the
personal gain of any officer or other INDIVIDUAL
The Reliance Trading Company of the SaIVa-
ton Army was organized and created for the
same purpose viz, for more economically carry
ing on the Army's operations. retaining all the
common stock being half of the capital stock
The trustees of the Army are the directors OF
both the companies, and not one OF them per
sonaIly owns stock in either. II is absolutely
untrue that General Booth holds all property
and funds Of the Salvation Army in trust IN
America General Booth is not even a trustee
of the Salvation Army corporation over ten
wears ago at the invitation Of General Booth q
special government commission In England THOR
o1ghly investigated all financial reports and &C
counts of the Salvation Army. found them to be
work to the public for being so wisely directed.