Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-03-13
Enlivened Only by EpistOlary
Retort Courteous from Sec'y
MacD ougall of Charities.
TELLS PIECE OF HIS MIND
TO COMPTROLLER HESTON
Mrs. Plummer, Out of Town ],
May Start Slander Suit
on Return.

Claire Z. Plummer and delay In the
delivery of the statement to be issued
by Mrs. Cynthia Westover Alden COM
bined to produce a lull in the cele-
brated tag day controversy which has
racked this port and its environs to
their respective foundations
Despite assurances which were re-
peatedly made Saturday to the con-
trary, Mrs. Plummer did not hold hel
tag day in Newark, and considering
everything the war correspondents On
the case are of the opinion that the
prospects for not holding 1t at all are
very bright indeed.
Mrs. Alden, who is head of the Sun
shine Society, announced yesterday
that she would have a statement ready
today. but Intends, as she said this
morning, to consult the executive board
OF the society, which is to meet late
this afternoon in the society's New
York Offices, before drafting the docu-
ment.
Mrs. Leon Sutton. of Jersey City, up
to a late hour today had remained UNI
sued for alleged defamation of char1c-
ter by Mrs. Plummer, bat upon Mrs.
PIumme~'s return from Atlantic City
the suit is to go merrily on, If Mrs. SUIT
ton does not in the meantime sign a
~retraction of the alleged misstatements.
Letter yivifes Controversy.
Arthur w. MacDougall, secretary of
the Bureau of Associated Charities, of
this city, injected a little life into the
situation by replying to the letter writ
ten by A. NJ. Heston, treasurer of the
organized charities of Atlantic City, IN
which Mr.. McDougall. Is taken to task
- - aI.-Al w4-k IT, 49, go-
against Mrs. Plumnler and her de-
ferred Ride-a-Wee tag day. Mr.. Mac
Douglas letter speaks for itself.
march II, 1911
'Mr. A. NJ. Heston, Comptroller. At
lantic City. n. j.:
Dear Sir-I have you letter of
March 10th relative to the Bide-a-Wee
Home and I think you misunderstood
the situation. Neither the organization
nor l have made any about
Mrs. Plummer. We have taken a
stand, however, against tag day in
Newark for the Bide-a-Wee Home or
for any other organization either in or
without Newark.
IT am inclosing herewith a letter
which ! caused to be published in the
local papers and which was issued
after due consultation with my presi-
dent. members of my executive commit
tee and the advice of our counsel,
Senator Harry V. Osborne. Further
more. 1t would seem to us a matter Of
courtesy on the part of yourself as an
officer of an organized charity that you
would consider the opinion and senti-
ment of a kindred organization with
which you are supposed to be cooperat-
ing. Mrs. Plummer states hat she
anne In to see me a number of times,
but that ] was not in. I naturally said
to her that the mails were available
and also the telephone, and she GER
tainly could have found our attitude on
this question.
''You will find, whatever may be the
attitude of the city officials through
your influence or others, that the Cit
liens at large are opposed to tag day
methods, and rightly SO. 1t would seem
to me the duty OF charity organization
officers throughout the State to help
toward better methods of financing our
charities rather than to encourage the
contrary.
Local Charities Seek D. X.
81 am sending you under separate
cover some printed matter with re-
gard to our charities Endorsement COM
fn1ILeGt nduS up Oh NhtlllDeIS VI Jul
Board OF Trade and Others Every To-
cal charity has sought voluntarily the
Endorsement of his committee, present
ing to 1t an audited statement of all
funds received and expended and other
pertinent facts with regard to thor
work. This has been considered a great
step In advance, not only doing no
harm to reputable charities, but dis
tinctly aiding them in their work, while
Mt the same time discouraging n
preventing fraudulent organizations.
"Your Mrs. Plummer m into our
CITY with no certi1cation from the
Charities Endorsement Committee.
without consultation with the Bureau
of Associated Charities or any otrer
private charitable organization, as far
as know. and undertakes a form or
public soliciting for aid that our own
best Local charities have voluntarily
~reiinuuished as undesirable. l would
suggest that Mr.. Charles Evans, as
treasurer of the home, and yourself, as
a director submit to Mr.. James M.
Reilly, secretary of the Board of Trade,
an audited accounting n a report
Of the Bide-a-Wee Home as a prelimi-
nary step to soliciting funds whether
by tag day or any other method; also
q statement as 10 lne nuhhoer VI
mates in the home and the part of the
State from which they are received. in
dicating the logic of appealing to New
ark for support.
Your decision to call upon me for
proof for charges against Mrs. Plum
mer is without any point from the fact
that l have made 40 charges. l have
nothing to do with the controversy be-
tween Mrs. Plummer and the Sunshine
Society and have distinctly said to her
that the fact that the Sunshine Society
gave q tag day in Newark was not a
reason for, but rather against. the
Bide-a-Wee Home doing 1t.
I'VE received a number of protests
from prominent citizens against the
tag day methods adopted by the Sun
shine Society. Sincerely,
IA. w. MACDOI1GAI.n