The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-11-16
BATTLE FOR MONEY REPAIR Of nEROAD
LEGION POST AT WELLS
3 WON ITS POINT
More Than Seven Thousand Dollars.
Were involved In Long Drawn
Controversy

Wells, November 9.-The Mirror
says Battle for possession Of $3.50,
raised during the war as a special
fund over and above It's quota for
regular Red Cross work is now be.
lieved by American Legion boys to
be nearing an end.
Tuesday a meeting was held be-
tween dissenting factions and an
amicable adjustment effected. after
session reported to have been
somewhat heated in spots.
at was further agreed that when
the money Is available at the First
National bank, it Is to be in charge
of two members of the American
Legion, two members Of the local
branch of the Red Cross, apd a fifth
member to be- selected by the fore
going four. 1t was also agreed that
the money was to be expended only
for relief of disabled members of
Troska post or for the need OF vet
Grams.
"The history Of the $3.50 appears
to have been a fund that left path
of dissention in its wake. Accord
ing TO the story cleaned from repre-
sentatives Of the local Legion, the
fund was raised by the local branch
Of the Red Gross chapter with the
understanding 1t was to be used for
Wells boys in the army or navy, and
was over and above its quota for
regular Red Cross work.
SAT first. 1t Is said, the money was
put into the Wells hospital associs-
ton, but when that organization
failed to develop, 1t was put back
into the Red Cross fund.
Finally the problem Of disposing OF
the money was submitted to pub
lie mass meeting. At this meeting,
1t Is said, the citizens voted to turn
the money over to Troska post, No.
210.
FOLLOWING this meeting, a small
meeting OF the local branch of the
Red Cross was held, at which it was
decided to place the money in trust
for term Of FIVE years, and trust
committee was appointed to serve as
trustees of the fund.
Meantime the charter Of the local
branch OF the Red Cross was re-
voked because it would not turn the
money over to the Faribault county
organization, with headquarters was
at Blue Earth.
The American Legion engages
Thos. Sullivan. st, Paul attorney,
to protect its interests in the matter.
Tuesday a meeting was held be-
tween officers and the executive
committee of the American Legion,
Mr.. Sullivan, who was assisted by F.
E. McAllister, another St.~Paul at
torney, a Mr.. Mitchell, assistant to
the national secretary Of the Red
Cross; e. l.. Morse, Blue Earth law
yer. who appeared to represent the
county chapter Of Red Cross, Mrs. L.
N. Odds, representing the local
branch of the Red Cross, and Mrs.
Hattie Maricle, president OF the La
dies auxiliary: The purpose was to
arhitrate the fund and to provide
some one with a clear title to the
money.
Representatives of the Legion
state the trust committee named fol-
lowing the secret meeting" was H.
legal, the tieing up OF the money
was Illegal because the meeting
was not "a regularly called meeting
Of the Red Cross and because by a
judge Of district COURT failed to make
report to the court as required by
lay in such cases" y
Tuesday the representative of the
National Red Gross advised the local
branch to apply Immediately for a
chapter. He irtimated at the con-
clusion of the meeting that such
charter would probably be granted.