Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1906-06-23

Boston. Mass.-Wlliam II. Seabury,
who has had charge of the relief work
in Oakland Calf, for the Massachu-
setts San Francisco relief committee
has Just arrived home after an absence
OF eight weeks, and will make a re-
port on his work to the general com
mittee at a lunch which Is to be ten
deTed MN.
MIR. Seabury was chairman Of the
committee of three sent to San Fran
cisco eight weeks ago, the other two
being John r. MoOrs and Miss Ahce
l.. Higgins, secretary of the Boston as
ISOLATED board Of charities. With them
went Miss Bertha Freeman as stenog-
rapher.
Mr.. SeabuTy seemed satisfied with the
result of the work in Oakland, which
differs very materially from the work
being done in San Francisco. Thereby
hangs a tale, which he will undoubted-
ly tell the committee.
Three courses were open to the
three members of the Massachusetts
committee when they arTivd in San
Francisco-either to work with the
Red Cross and the San Francisco board
of charities under DR.. Devine of New
York, who is President Roosevelts rep
resentative; to work independently or
to go to Oakland and work with the
Oakland relief committee, which re-
fused to have anything to do with the
oI -
charities and which acted on the prin-
ciple that 1t was immediate relief that
was actually needed for the 10000
refugees in Oakland and not char
ity.
The three members Of the Massa-
chusetts committee were divided on
this important matter at the very be-
ginning of their work. Mr. Seabury
did not and does not believe in the Red
Cross and associated board of charities
methods of extending relief, and John
f. Moors and Miss Higgins did. The
result was that John F. Moors and
Miss Alice l.. Higgins stayed in San
Francisco and are still working with
DR.. Devlne and his bureau, while Mr..
Seabury went to Oakland, opened an
Office of his own in the hotel Touraine
and worked with the Oakland relief
committee and with Maj James b. Err
win of the 9th U. s. cavalry, who had
charge of the relief camps in Oakland.
at was just difference of opinion, /"
said Mr.. Seahurv "Mr. moors anu MISS
Higgins believe they are right and
don't. / don't believe in red tape in
a case of this kind. What these peo-
pie wanted was relief, not charity, and
have at least the satisfaction of be-
ing complimented by the chairman OF
the Oakland relief committee, James p.
Edoff, by the Oakland chamber oof
commerce and by Maj. Erwin for the
work done through the Massachusetts
Office in Oakland"
The letters Mr.. Seabury received for
his work and for the noble manner in
which Massachusetts extended its re-
lief are indeed both frank and warm.
When asked IL his differences of
opinion with the other members Of the
committee had anything to do with his
return Mr.. Seabury said:
'No, not in the least. Mr.. Moors
and Miss Higgins and myself are the
best of friends, mind you; we just diff
fered in our opinions on the method
of extending relief, as you and | may
differ, for instance, In politics; you
may be a Democrat, | may be a Re-
publican; we are good friends, but
don't think you are right in your poll
tics. That's ALL
Il came home because could not
stay away longer from my business.
have been absent from 1t now for eight
weeks, and then the work in Oakland
is practically all done. When | ar
rived at Oakland there was about Co.
900 refugees from San Francisco in
three camps in Berkeley, Alameda and
Point Adams. Now there are not 1000
all told in the city. There are a couple
of hundred in the hospitals and the
others are scattered around in private
houses. These have all been provided
for until June 30 by the committee"