New-York tribune., 1920-11-11
" omen Feared
S.P.C.C. Would
Be Gerryized
Committee Members Said
to Have Resigned Because
of Clashes With Coulter.
Supported by the Society
Their Wishes Are Ignored
Directors, knowing of Forth
coming Heckscher Gift,
Wouldn't Obey Dictations

When eight Of the nine prominent
women who composed the auxiliary
committee Of the New York Society for
the Prevention Of Cruelty to Children
handed in their designations to the
board Of directors Tuesday they brought
to elimination long period of bick-
ering and discord in the organization.
This and the fact that the selection
OF NJ. Linn Bruce, former Lieutenant
Governor, as president Of the society
appears to support the administration
Of Colonel Ernest K. Coulter as gen.
eral manager were CLEANED yesterday
despite the fog of secrecy with which
all parties to the row sought to con-
ceal its causes.
What purports to be the genesis o.
the squahble, together with some OF its
high lights as it progressed, were re-
vealed by a person who, although not
officially connected with the society,
has been in close touch with its activi-
ties and inside politics.
1t seems that the auxiliary commit
tee. consisting OF Mrs J. Nelson Bor-
land, Mrs. Mortimer L. SchF, Mrs W.
Armstrong, Mrs. George C. Nichols,
Miss Ellen S. Parks Mrs S. C. Borg,
Mrs. Morgan J. O'Brien and Mrs. Rob
ert l.. Gerry, never did have any pow
ers or functions delegated 10 it by the
bylaws q the aOci,ts
Clashed With Coulter
Whatever prerogativos it enjoyed
were by authority of the directors, and,
1t is said, were supposed TO be confined
TO looking after the care of children
committed to the organization. 1t is
said. however. that the committee had
for some time shown & disposition to
be consulted in regard to the prosecu-
tion of delinquent parents and prevcn-
tlon OF cruelty, as well as to impose its
wishes respecting the business affairs
OF the organization.
In this tie committee is understood
to have clashec more than once with
Colonel Coulter, whose refusal to sub
nit to dctation, it is said, led to com
plants by certain members Of the com
mittee OF John d. Lindsay. who wa
president OF the society until about o
month ago. Mr. Lindsay's resignation
is attributed in some quarters to his
distas.e at having tor act as a buffer
between the factions. Mrs. Gerry,
whose family founded the society and
who is the only member the auXii-
iary who did not resign, fs said to have
supported Coulter, as did u majority
of the board of directors.
From what can be learned the
directors avoided an open rupture
with the auxiliary committee largely
because the influence aAd standing of
its members enabled them to get many
8 sizeable subscription to the society S
endowment fund But when the prof.
ect to sell the society's old home at % I
Fourth Avenue wa decided upon three
or four months ago the views of the
women were tiouted altogether. They
opposed the sale Not until now has
the reason for this sudden independ-
ence on the part Of the board of dj-
rectors been explained.
Knew Of Hechscher Gift
A majority of the board, it Is said,
knew at that time that the $4,000, ,000
gift Of Mr. and Mrs. August leckscher
was to he Forthcoming and they no
longer felt it essential to the society S
interests to eater to the Wisncs Of the
auxiliary committee. They did not,
however, reveal to the committee nor,
apparently. to those directors whose