Clara Barton had rare business qualifications. No person existed more scrupulously honest, as I know from having been her financial adviser for nearly forty years. There was no time in her life when she was not doing good. A wonderful woman!—FRANCIS ATWATER, State Senator in 1906, Connecticut; Journalist. See pages 323; 359. ]
In Cuba, Clara Barton had a perfect business system, such as I have never seen equalled.—LEONARD F. ROSS, Brigadier-General, Civil War; Superintendent of Red Cross Warehouse in Cuba, 1898, under Clara Barton.
General Ross is one of the most gracious, courteous gentlemen I have ever known.—CLARA BARTON. See page 359. ]
I especially looked into Clara Barton’s business methods, as to system, waste and extravagance. I found nothing to criticise, but everything to commend. She could teach me on these points.—REDFIELD PROCTOR, Colonel in the Civil War; Governor of Vermont; member of the U. S. Senate, 1891–1908; Chairman Red Cross Proctor Committee to “investigate” Clara Barton.
Secretary: “Well, Miss Barton, we are going to an awful scene of death and destruction.”
Miss Barton: “Yes, but what are we going to; we are going to nothing, aren’t we?”
Secretary: “I suppose we are, Miss Barton.”
Miss Barton: “Why, at Johnstown I hunted a half day and couldn’t find a thimble with which to do some sewing. Here, General, take these keys and go through the house and whenever you find anything that can be used _where there is nothing_, you pack it up.”
The secretary took the keys, went through the house of thirty-eight rooms and seventy-six closets. He found carefully stored away supplies of every description. He found packing-chests, trunks, valises and telescopes all ready for use—everything imaginable at hand. Miss Barton and her secretary worked all night. The next morning two great dray-loads of goods were _en route_ to the railway station, and Galveston. Arriving at Galveston she asked: “Mr. Mayor, have ward committees been organized?”
Miss Barton: “How many wards are there in the city?”
Miss Barton: “Do go at once and organize strong committees in every ward; provide ward headquarters, and a store-room where every ward committee can take charge of supplies furnished. Have your ward committees canvass every ward thoroughly and get the name of every person and what he needs—the food necessary and in case of clothing the exact size of the clothing. Then have your committees make requisition for what is needed on the Red Cross at its headquarters. My corps of helpers will see that these requisitions are promptly filled, and the goods sent to ward headquarters for distribution.”