Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-05-05
Board Explains Report
On Action Of Society
For Crippled Children

In the course of q three-houl
press conference yesterday, two
board members of the District SO.
ciety for Crippled Children discov-
cred the board had taken what
they considered final action" on
the basis Of a "full report" they
didn't get.
As a result, James C. Dulin, jr.
vice president Of the local society
announced:
I'VE took action which we
thought was final and which ap-
parently Is not final, We find out
now"
The press conference was called
by representatives of the national
society, one Of whom, Philip G
Rettig, has spent the last 10 days
investigating what lay behind the
sudden departure Of five employees
from the local society, the disrup-
ton Of the society's services and
protests from the parents.
Prepared Statement.
Mr.. Dulin came to the press con-
ference prepared with a statement
which ended:
Having invited the representa-
tives OF the national society here to
assist in trying to find out trouble
that We couldn't find out, and on
hearing the report Of these national
representatives and not getting any
additional evidence from them OF
trouble, we were very strongly OF
the opinion that all of this trouble
was conferred against Mrs. Jewell
Gaffney Executive secretary of the
society whose work has been OF
such a nature and value to the
organization that we felt she should
be given an opportunity to re-
establish its stan in order that all
OF its work can be resumed and ex-
banded"
Mr.. Rettig was asked by reporters
II he had reported to the board his
findings on series of charges made
previously by the resigned employees
parents and some board members.
This was not report on the
investigation" Mr.. Rettig replied.
Explains Report Routing.
He explained his report had to e
to the national society in Chicago
and that it was up to that group,
Executive Committee to determine
what should be done next-includins
whether the findings should be re.
ported to the local society ane
whether the local society Is operatins
under the minimum standards re.
quired by the national society. If 6
local society does not meet thes<
standards, he explained, its charter
can be revoked and it thereby lose.
the right to take part in the func
raising Easter Seal sale.
At this point, the other board
member at the press conference hao
something to say. He was Thomas
Groom, president of the Bank OF
Commerce & Savings, who had left
the talking to Mr.. Dulin because, as
he explained, the board meeting
that gave the vote of confidence to
Mrs. Gaf1ney Monday night was the
first he had attended.
L did not get the impression we
were not getting a full report from
the national representatives" he an
nounced. "The president said the
meeting was called to hear the re-
port from the national society
representatives. There was no con-
tradiction. Mr.. Rettig read a report.
I presumed 1t was a full report.
Immediately board members asked
for specific recommendations as to
what was wrong with the society
and how we could improve it.
Heard No Charges.
I'VE were answered by being told
the national society makes no
recommendations. At no time was
I aware the gentlemen from Chicago
had additional information. After
three hours of this, I asked if there
were any specific charges. There
were none. said then I could vote
only in one way, because had
heard no charges"
Both Mr.. Rettig and Luther G.
Hester, the other Chicago represent
alive, insisted that what they had