Evening star., 1940-07-19
Mrs. Leetch 0usted
As D. A. R. Defense
Head for Criticism
Charged Dictatorship
And Sold Officers Were
RIP Van Wrinkles

Mrs. William L. Leetch, who re-
CARDS herself as a Don Quixote
tilting at windmills," has been re-
moved as State chairman of ma
tional defense for the District d. A.
r. for charging, among other things,
that officers of the D. A. r. were
RIP Van Wrinkles" it was learned
today.
} Criticism OF dictatorship" poll
cies among high places in the D.
A. r. also led to Mrs. Leetch's dis
missal as State chairman.
There was, further, letter which
Mrs. Leetch wrote to Mrs. Imogen
B. Emery, national chairman of
national defense, in which she
quoted critical phrases about the
D. A. r. that she had heard.
Explains Charges.
Mrs. Leetch's statement, which
was not denied by D. A. R. off,
cials today, explained that in May
she sent out certain factual in
formation" to seven State chairmen
Of national defense.
After that she said, her own
State regent, Mrs. Henry c. Ober-
holser, called to inform her that
she was Ito write no more letters. "
But the national defense emergency,
she said, led her to write Mrs. EN-
cry, complaining that new rule"
had been invoked, preventing her
from corresponding with chapter
regents outside the District.
ut looks like first-rate dicta-
torship setup to me- wrote Mrs.
Leetch.
After that came the letter of Mrs.
Henry M. Robert, jr., president gen.
eral of the D. A. R., informing Mrs.
Leetch that her State regent had
been advised to remove her from
office.
Il want to ask YOU" said Mrs.
Robert, quite seriously to consider
your comment what use would you
suggest for the stationery Is that
really worthy of you, your best you,
and of the Offices and appointments
which you hold? These several
comments indicate an attitude of
mind that will handicap your best
efforts.
Lastly, your several references
to Rip Van Wrinkle in such express
sions as Not all of us are Rip Van
Wrinkles show that within you is a
lack of confidence in, and of respect
for, the officers and policies of the
national society. Your continuation
as State chairman of the National
committee under these circum-
stances would be unfair to the
national society. regret therefore
that I must ask Mrs. Overholser,
your State regent, to suggest diff
ferent member for appointment as
State chairman Of national defense
through patriotic education for the
District of Columbia"
Said Mrs. Leetch: although the
country may be lowering on the
brink Of a precipice, the D. A. R.
will be pretty fussy about who pulls
1t back"
... Charges Jealousy.
She charged that the national
society had long been jealous of
the local Daughters, that from
under the badges of authority, off,
GERS will stoop to double cross
Daughter they could use if they
were not so jealous" Her only
"crime" she said, was sending out
important material on national de-
fense week before Mrs. Emery got
around to it.
She said she had been fighting to
get the D. A. r. to support bills
which they favored on general prin-
ciples but that they claimed such
support would be playing politics" :"
Mrs. Leetch has been active in the
D. A. r. since 1924, served as local
chairman of the Correct Use of the
Flag Committee and was instru-
mental in getting a flag for the
District