Battle of the Booths

George Bernard Shaw once wrote a play (Major Barbara) about the Salvation Army. The heroine loses a fight, leaves the Army. Lately, in real life, a Salvation Army heroine, Commander Evangeline Booth of the Army's U. S. division won one fight and lost another. She succeeded in getting her aged, sick brother. Bramwell Booth, deposed as General of the Army. She did not succeed in getting herself elected to succeed him.

Last week the question suddenly loomed: Will Commander Evangeline leave the Army? She sailed last week for the U. S. She carried with her the rancor of her brother, whom she had not once seen during the fight about his office, and whose wife had written to her: "For the time being you have attained your end. Will you not now leave him in peace?"

Commander Evangeline seemed reconciled to the new General, Commander Edward John Higgins, until just before she boarded her steamer. Then she abruptly announced: "The U. S. branch of the Salvation Army is not satisfied with the governmental reforms promised by the new General. Absolute control over territorial commands now exercised by international headquarters in London is cause of the greatest resentment on the part of Americans. The American branch wants to lessen that control and decentralize the Government.

"We are an international army, not especially British. If the idea prevails that one nation dominates, that is the rock on which we may split."