Clara Barton: A Centenary Tribute to the World's Greatest Humanitarian: Founder of the American Red Cross Society, Author of the American Amendment to the International Red Cross Convention of Geneva, Founder of the National First Aid Association of AmericaYoung, Charles Sumner
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Clara Barton: A Centenary Tribute to the World's Greatest Humanitarian: Founder of the American Red Cross Society, Author of the American Amendment to the International Red Cross Convention of Geneva, Founder of the National First Aid Association of America
Young, Charles Sumner
Barton, Clara, 1821-1912
Clara Barton is the greatest woman of this, or any other, age.—MRS.
JOHN A. LOGAN, the Vice-President under Clara Barton; the President
of the American Red Cross Society, May 14, 1904–June 16, 1904.
It is an unspeakable joy to me that the toil-worn, weary mantle, that
drops from mine, falls upon the shoulders of my vice-president, the
woman so cherished in our own country and honored and trusted in
other countries.
CLARA BARTON.
]
CLARA BARTON’S RESIGNATION
At a meeting of the American National Red Cross, held December 10, 1901,
President Clara Barton said: “at that meeting (July 10, 1900) I brought
my armor, worn and rusted, and reverently laid it at your feet with the
request that I be released. You declined to permit me to retire. I again
lay my armor before you, recommending the filling of this most eminent
position in your gift by someone better fitted than I ever have been to
assume its duties, and wear its honors.” The Red Cross again refused to
accept the resignation.
The so called “charges” against Miss Barton were made December 10, 1903.
The case was heard before the Proctor Red Cross Committee on May 3,
1904. Only one witness testified and, as elsewhere stated, he refused to
be cross examined whereupon his statements were discredited, the case
summarily dismissed for want of evidence, and on motion of the committee
itself. Miss Barton previously had been re-elected, almost unanimously,
to succeed herself.
The “remonstrants” discredited, their “charges” found baseless, Miss
Barton vindicated, on May 14, 1904, she again offered her resignation[7]
of the Presidency, this time in favor of Mrs. General John A. Logan, and
insisted on its acceptance. Her friends protested her resignation;
insisted she should not resign but should hold the position for life.
Miss Barton persisted in sacrificing herself for what she _then_ thought
would be in the interest of harmony, and the cause nearest her heart.
The following is the personal explanation of her then attitude of mind.
Footnote 7:
Clara Barton resigned the presidency May 14, 1904. Mrs. John A. Logan
succeeded to the presidency, holding the office until June 16, 1904.
Mrs. Logan nominated W. H. Taft as her successor. Mr. Taft declining
then to serve, Admiral W. K. Van Reypen, according to Red Cross
official records, acted as president pro tern until January 8, 1905,
when Mr. Taft accepted the presidency.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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