The San Francisco call., 1906-07-06

I'VE could get our backs up If we
cared to; yes, ! suppose we could
find reason for complaint If 1t was
our desire to complain said Mrs.
John F. Merrill, vice president of the
California division of the National
Red Cross Society, yesterday. She had
been asked about that organization s
retirement from active effort in the
work of relief
Mrs. Merrills conservatism concern
ing the rumored dissatisfaction and
even rancor that exists among the
members of the California Red Cross
because of alleged unfair treatment by
the National Association was proof
against questioning. The statement
quoted was the most she would say in
criticism if criticism 1t could be called
of the national society But other
members of the local branch are not
so cautious, and, although they de-
cline to discuss their grievances for
publication there is strong senti-
ment among them against Judge Nor
row, president of the California So
ciety, who is covertly accused of de-
serting his own and joining forces
with DR.. Devine. The ignoring of Mrs.
Merrill and her co-workers of the local
organization is charged to him. The
retirement of the local Red Cross
workers from the field of activity was
the natural and inevitable result
The State branch of the Red Cross
has closed its headquarters on Wash
ington street, near Fillmore; has fold
ed its flag and adjourned to the call
of the chair. It has closed it's doors
because 1t has been bereft of occupa-
tion and because 1t has been so be-
reft Mrs. Merrill affirms that it's
members have the right to "get their
backs up" but have laid the right
aside.
With eyes half closed as II her mind
were busy in introspection Mrs Mer-
rill continued:
Our society adjourned to the call OF
the chair. only after mature delibera-
ton. We concluded that the emergen
cy that called us to our posts of duty
had passed and that the future of the
dependent thousands of the destroyed
city was in good hands. Our work is
largely OF an emergency nature, as was
the army's. The army, of which we
are now an integral part, was with
drawn on July 1, so we withdrew from
the field with it,
Gould your division of the National
Red Cross have undertaken the man
agement of the relief of the destitute
had it not been deemed desirable to
appoint paid commission to carry
on the work?r was asked
Mrs. Merrill smiled, seeming to think
that better than un- Christian anger
and replied:
We were not asked, and then, even
had we undertaken the work there
would, of course, have been some ex-
pense attached. After our work seem
ed to be at an end, we asked DR.. Devfne
If we should not close our doors, but
he said we were doing splendidly and
should continue. At that time we were
doing our best and, among other things
were still keeping up little emergency
hospital at headquarters, where we
would dress a finger or remove a Gin
der from an eye now and then. Be-
lieving we could be of greater service
formed IL that as well as RESPONSE
bility we would like to be vested with
authority to assume some branch OF
the relief work along specific lines.
DECIDE TO ADJOURN.
The committee requested that we
take charge of the sewing centers oil
manner we could do a great amount oi
good. To determine what action we
should take, a meeting of our division
was called and the question as tc
whether or not we should undertake
this work was discussed. The fact de.
veloped, however, that 1t was beine
/ finely carried on by Miss Lucille Eaves
| II was the consensus of opinion tha
! the entire machinery of the State di
vision of the Red Cross was not neces
sary TO carry on work that one yer,
efficient young woman found no diff
Guilty in handling, so we decided to ad
| journ. We have not disbanded by an,
1 means and all of the members are do
! ing their utmost to relieve Sufferinf