Booth Dynasty

Like family retainers moving about on a lower floor awaiting the death of their master and the inevitable reading of his will, associates of William Bramwell Booth chattered among themselves last week while William Bramwell Booth "sank," "held his own," "took a turn for the better," "took a turn for the worse." Since 1912 General William Bramwell Booth has been generalissimo of the international Salvation Army, and the chatterers wondered anxiously whether another Booth, specifically his sister Evangeline Cory Booth*, would succeed him.

Sixteen years ago, when William Bramwell Booth succeeded his father, the late General William Booth, as commander-in-chief of the Salvation Army, the younger Booth was presumed to have chosen his own successor in traditional Salvation Army fashion. The present incumbent, according to tradition, names his favorite brother or sister "in arms," writing his choice on a slip of paper, which he files with his solicitors, which is not opened until Death necessitates a substitution. But William Bramwell Booth's aides-de-camp would have done with the Booth dynasty. Although William Bramwell Booth has two sons, Generals Wycliffe Booth and Bernard Booth, there was the fear lest he had chosen his daughter, General Katherine Booth, or his sister, Commander Evangeline Booth, as his successor. Despite the Army tradition of equality for its women workers, there is a feeling that no woman is capable of handling the multifarious activities of the organization, whose trust properties are estimated at -L-30,000,000 ($145,800,000).

The timorousness which the imminent feminine regime inspires has resulted in calling a convocation of the High Council, never before called, for January. There was serious talk of litigation to be begun if a woman--any woman--should be named on the slip of paper. The war cry was antifeminist.

Meanwhile, and as Commander Evangeline planned to take ship for England, acute neuritis kept silent William Bramwell Booth, who was sequestered in a cottage "somewhere along the east coast of England."

*Commander of the Salvation Army in the U. S. since 1904.