The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1882-10-19
GRAND ARMY AFFAIRS.
New York Veterans Looking After
Their Rights.
POSTS AND POLITICIANS.
A Haversack Heavily Laden
with Interesting Matter.
eciaI Correspondence National Tribune.

Special Correspondence National Tribune.
New YORK, Oct. 16.-In consequence of a
call emanating from John A. Dix Post, No. 135,
g. A. r., a very large convention of delegates
from other Grand Army Posts assembled Fri
day evening at the Hotel Schilling, 364 Sixth
avenue, TO take action concerning the recent
discharges of veteran soldiers from Government
employment by order of Republican oficehold-
ers. The call requested such Posts rs could
send delegates to do so, taking care that Such
delegates should be neither oticeholders nor
those who had been discharged from public
offices. and that such Posts as could not be rep
resented would communicate by letter. Before
the hour for assembling fifty-tive Posts had
reported by delegates, and letters were received
from eighty-one Posts at too great distance to
attend. Some of the letters were very spirited.
George H. Thomas Post, No. 4, of Rochester,
n. Y, wrote:
MANY Of the representatives of the Repub
lican party openly and fagrantly violate the
sections of the Revised Statutes mentioned.
ISections 1754 and 1755.l Those holding sub
ordinate 0sitions are encouraged In this course
by theiI lperiors. The present Secretary of
the Treas, ~, and now nominee of the Repub-
lican party for Governor of this State, wholly
ignored the almost unanimous request of the
soldiers Of this district for the appointment of
one of their number, gallant aud worthy sol
der, who is still suffering from the effects of
long confinement in rebel prisons rs their can
didate for Collector of Internal Revenue. He
was eminently qualified for the position and
was Endorsed by nearly all the prominent buSl-
ness firms of this city and leading Republicans
in the district, together with the officials, in
Guiding the four members of Congress from
this district, and also had the positive promise
of President Garfield for the position. Not
withstanding all this, the present Secretary of
the Treasury, refusing TO acknowledge any
claim of the soldier, gave the place to stay at
home politician. We believe the sympathies of
the people are with us, and would willingly
accord positions Of profit and trust to deserving
soldiers: but their claims are too often frus-
trated by designing and corrupt politicians;
and we believe that it is the duty of soldiers to
so unite as TO be enabled TO demand their
rights"
Charles P. Sprout Post No. &c, of Lockport,
n. Y, forwarded a resolution:
That Charles P. SproUt Post regards with
severe disapproval the reported action of GER
tain officials in New York city in discriminat
ing against members of the g. A. Il. in the
matter of removals from office. No class of
citizens have so good right to preference
in the holding of positions of profit as the
members of this organization, and while the
action complained of does not directly concern
US, we deem the occasion proper one for the
assertion of the above principle, which we are
prepared to maintain at all times with our
votes as well as our voices"
All expressed the strongest sympathy with
the objects of the meeting and many of them
forwarded resolutions of the most vigorous con-
struction in accord with those of John A. Dix
Post. Mr.. Morgan Morgans, Jr, called the
meeting to order, and after George w. Roberts,
secretary, read the call, briefly addressed the
meeting, urging that those who fought for and
saved the country have justly earned the right
to be the first to receive public appointments,
all things, of course, being equal, and the ap-
plicant being fit and competent. He depre-
Gated the idea that this movement had in it
anything of political purpose. COmrade Har-
rington also enforced the claim that this is a
movement wholly independent of partizan pur-
poses. Comrade Kay said that this is an as
semblage of men who are not under any obli-
cations TO the Government.