The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-07-18
RED CROSS SUPPLIES.
Chairman of Minneapolis California
Relief Committee Charges Breach
of Faith in Sale of Flour Contribu-

OF Faith in Sale OF Flour Contribu-
ton.
Minneapolis. June zS.-In a state
menI accusing the Red Cross, Of
which Secretary Taft is president, Of
-tgross and palpable misuse of relief
supplies" William c. Edgar, chair
man Of this city's California relief
cc4nmittee, has made public the de-
tails of the flour transaction between
Dr.. Devine and Gen. Gree1y in San
Francisco, Mr.. Edgar's statement in
part says:
The people of this city gave $685.
900 for the relief Of the California
sufferers. Of this sum nearly s5o,oOo
was expended Tor -four, the remainder
was sent to California in cash. The
governor of California, in response to
our inquiry, wired that gifts of -four
would be welcome. The Red Cross
having been recommended by Presi-
dent Roosevelt as the proper agency
for the distribution of relief, the COM
naittee decided to use it as trustee for
the handing of the Minneapolis fund.
ssThe -four shipped by Minneapolis
was Of excellent quality and packed in
40 sacks so as to be in convenient
form for distribution The mills
ground it at the actual cost of wheat
and labor, without profit. It was
worth from s5 to $3.50 barrel IN
der ordinary conditions, such as OBJ
tain in that city, it is worth more.
sconfdent that the Red Cross would
complete its work in the spirit it had
undertaken it, nothing further was
done until it was suddenly annaunced
sar,y in June that relief flour sent to
San Francisco, including that from
Minneapolis had been sold by authori-
ty of the joint committee OF the San
Francisco relief and the Red Cross
for 1925 barrel TO a pool of -four
dealers and millers.
ssActing in behalf o. our committee,
I Immediately protested against this
sale by writing DR.. Devine, agent Red
Cross, San Francisco, and Mr.. Magee.
its secretary, at Washington. This
and other protests from various
sources, including the press Of San
Francisco, raised such an outcry that
the sale was cancelled, much to the
disappointment of the spectators,
who would have made at least $780,
900 by The transaction.
June 5 was advised by DR.. Devine
that, on his recommendation, Gen.
sGreely, in command Of the army at
San Francisco, had been requested to
sell the surplus quantity Of -four
through regular army channels on
competitive bids. To this act I also
objected, wiring DR.. Devine, San
Francisco and Mr.. Phelan, chairman
finance committee, San Francisco.
meantime the accumulated -four
mad been advertised for sale by Gen.
Greey, bids to be opened OF June Is.
I received the report Of the executive
committee on that day and at once
wired protests. Gen. Greely replied
that the surplus Of -four had been
sold and added:
Latter forty-fve years pr ser
vice. I consider myself COMP lent to
decide on public duties connected
with army work without your advice
.eMr. Phelan San Francisco, sent
long and courteous telegram explain
ins and defending the action Of his
committee in selling the -four It con-
ysideeed it an absolute gift and had at
frst determined to sell it for export,
with the intention of helping the re-
habilitation OF the local flour trade
There is no question that the peo-
pie Of san Francisco actually need the
-four which has been condemned and
sold. From source of information
the reliability of which is guaranteed
by one Of the largest concerns in Min
neapolis, itself liberal contributor to
this fund. I quote as follows:
81 have in my possession absolute
prooe that no proper attempt at dis
tribution has been made. I also have
incontestable proof that there is great
need for this -four at the present time
and every indication of continuance
of that need for months TO come.
THE bulk of the people have re-
ceived none at al and those who have
received any have only been given
such quantities as to be Of no service
Ia cupful at time for each family.
~r,;,a a,,c,,sA ;s presented that people