Every officer, under oath sworn to conduct his office to the best of his ability, that knowingly conceals “dishonest appropriation” of public funds becomes particeps criminis, in the dishonest transaction. If true, therefore, as the “lone accuser” asserts over her signature in her letter to the Members of Congress, that “we (i.e., Red Cross) have letters that seem to show”—“dishonest appropriation of relief funds” then, inasmuch as no effort was made to recover from her or her estate these alleged losses, Clara Barton’s successors as Red Cross executives, in their capacity as trustees of a public trust, Mrs. John A. Logan, W. H. Taft and Woodrow Wilson become involved.
“CHARGES”? YES, REDUCTIO AD ABSURDUM
If not true, what could have been the object hoped for by the accusing Red Cross official, in her perversion of Red Cross history? Was it that she might dictate to one hundred millions of people the sentiment of a government building, known as The American Red Cross Building? It is somewhat significant that a few months later the United States put four millions of soldiers in the field, to make “The World Safe for Democracy.”
Since this chapter was written and in type, there came into the possession of the author a letter, unsolicited, and relating to the possible motive. The letter was written by the Honorable Francis Atwater, the well-known Journalist and Ex-State Senator of Connecticut, and who for 40 years was Clara Barton’s co-worker and financial adviser. The letter, sworn to, follows:
October 14, 1921.
Mrs. Marietta B. Wilkins,
359 Boylston Street,
Boston, Mass.
My dear Mrs. Wilkins:
Miss Andrews informs me that —— has been in communication with you in regard to Miss Barton. I would like to say a few words about ——. About 1900 she became interested as a member of the American Red Cross. Miss Barton, some fifteen years previous, had founded the association after years of effort. She furnished the funds for the purpose, as she did for many years afterward for its support. It became a very popular institution. Miss Barton was honored by the world as no other woman had ever been.