New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-13
GAGLAW IN THE GRANDARMY
SHUTTING OFF OPPOSITION TO CLEVELAND
IN BROOKLYN.


A LIVELY MEETING OF THE KINGS COUNTY
MEMORIAL CoMMITTEE-CoLoNEL JONES
PLUCEILY MAKES A PROTEST AGAINST
USING THE VETERANS oEGANIzA-
TION FOR POLITICAL PUR
POSES.
For the Art time in the history OF the Memorial Com
mttce OF Kings County, gag-law was administered at
us meeting last night. Tho publication Of the fact
that Mr. Cleveland had been invited 10 review the Grand
Army parade on Decoration Day and that the matter
would bc discussed at the session Of tho committee
last evening brought out largo attendance at City
Hall, Brooklyn Mr.. Cloveland's Office holders were
out In full forcc with all tho attendants they could
rally The object evidently to overawe all OPP
position few intrepid mon remain in that town,
however, who do not to allow tho Cleveland
chariot to be rolled their nccks without protest
After most Of the routine business had been disposed
of Mortimer c. Earle, ex-Dcmocratc Asscmblyman,
who is ono Of the principal selected to assist in
making 1t appear that tho Grand Army had forgotten
and forgiven Cleveland's past offences against the
veterans, reported the action of the Committee
Procession and Ceremonies, but carefully omitted
mention Of the invitation to the Democratic candidate
for the Presidency. That something which was
meant to be kept In tho background He incidentally
remarked that fifty distinguished citizens wero to be
appointed from among those who have contributed
20 the Grand Army expenses, auxiliary COM
mittee to receive the reviewing officers This was the
opportunity OF these who opposed tho extending OF
Invitations to political canhidats, and Colonel J. W.
Jones asked who these distinguished citizens to
rcccvel
BIG WOODEN MALLET FOR A GAvEL-
Chairman Thomas b. Rutan, Democratic County
Auditor and Superintendent Of United States Buildings
ian Administration appoIntmcnn, had brought big
wooden maet with him and its intended use was now
apparent Chairman Rutan called on Colonel jones
to SIT down. You out OF ORDER and began
wit bfS " RufCo Jono do
himself heard above the din. i would like to ASK
hc said, why for the first time In twenty years poll
tics have boon introduced into this body r.
DlstrctAuorney WILDER called out You are IN
Producing politics.
Colonel Jones tried to reply but Rutan's big gavcl
kept pounding. A cOmrade in the rear managed to
say: II want to know who the fifty distinguished
citizens Of the socallod Auxiliary Committee are
Let lis have their names :" daughter and cheers
Colonel Jones asked, "And who are they to re-
ccive ~
General McLeer called for tho report of the COM
mittec second time 1t reported In a halting
way by Chairman Earle, of the committee who evf
dertly dill not enjoy tho role he compelled to
play. Colonel Jones wanted to know II all the lro-
ceedings Of the Committee Invitations and Cere
monies had been given. Mr.. Earle thought they had
In orier prevent discussion of the subject that
every one present had uppcrmost in his mind a
number Of letters and other routine matters were called
for and read.
COLONEL JONES MAKES SPEECH
After much contention, General McIccr moved that
Colonel Jones be allowed ten minutes to express
his sentiments. 1t carried with many dissenting
voices. Colonel Jones said
1 find IN the Washington telegraphic correspondence
OF Tho Brooklyn Times" article referring invi
taon to M Cleveland review the parade here. The
article says: The President has changed friends
say In effect He stands exactly where he did when ho
vetoed the Pension bills and snecrcd the wounds OF
veterans when he ordered the rebel flags
and allowed Union flags draped half mast over
thr Governments buildings Thompson,
and thief Ills most recent official the ele-
varon of the Coppercad Fuller to the Chief Justccshp Of
the United States, shows that the President has
changed. The change is In the Grand Army"
Now, gentlemen, this shows how the action Of this
committee has been received at Washington and through
out the country. l say that the Grand Army has
changed from last year. Nine-te Of the Grand
Army Of this city OF different political
faith and have preserved their patriotism
and my action here is to help them their honor
They represented by the action Of this committee
and the Nation to understand that mis-
represented by the action OF few men whom we have
magnanmously placed in to avoid any change OF
politics in the Grand Army. (Cheers)
These few have assumed to invite Pres
ldentia candidate only opposed to tho political faith
Of majority which elected hem but one who has stepped
OF his way every opportunity presented to him, not
only veto the calls OF the old soldiers for charity but
has grossly insutcd them with and sarcasins
aimed at the entire fraternity.
Colonel Jones here Interrupted by District
Attorney WILDER, who regretted that member OF his
post should have introduced politics In the Grand
Army { tho Republic. After much confusion Colonel
Jones went
The committee who have assumed to invite partisan can
ddates to review the men they had nulted rospons
bic for the Introduction politics am here 70 protest
against this and to try back this political action
which II persisted ln will destroy the Grand Army
Hero wero more Interruptions, several attempting
to spoak Finally Colonel Jones rgained the moor
and said
II any committee had invited OF any political alth
Candidates for :he Presidency whether IL had oceh 0"0
man. RlsIne or Depcw 1 should h,v. fought it more
pertinaciously than am doing this tonight. u ~.
tend to r,se speech but simply to protest "st'' ."
unv,e nniust and unpatriouc action OF this conhVee
II has been done on the sly and have suhcle's e'
dence here that you intend to stine agitation
mean to allow your action to be inquired INTO aNu ~
stood by the comrades OF the county You ma! Oss's
law suppross discussion hero, but tho comraaes Oh ne
County will 500 TO It in other places ana '' ~
important uneture they have opportunity 10 give eAS
sion their feelings OF scorn ana och"'"P' ~ 49,
action Continued applause) , o.
DistrictAttorney Wber then got the nout az, az. Sc
going on TO deliver a set speech for MS chlci
Vas shut of bv General McLeer' VINO .h % bpmso
of order that thrcro no qeston G,cnt ,clmc
taco 10 rule that the point ,,1t WS ootcd Colonel
il evident from the applause WHICH hEion EUvi Dor.
Joness well made points thst ai b., n Was not the
intrntion ~ t6e Democratic managers TO aloW MS
resolution TO TO vote; metIoh Dd aecIayed II
was made, and Rutan hurr1edy put - a"'
carried
FLOOD IN THE MISSISSIPPI