The morning call., 1890-10-07
ONLYAW WATCH CHARM
That " Grand Army Badge" Epi.
sOde Explained.
An Imitation Of the G. 8. R. Star, Made If the
"Purest G5ld," Presented to Colonel
Markham-Justice to ALL

organization, presented Colonel ii. ii. Mark
ham, the Republican nominee for Governor,
with watch-cham made in the shape of the
star of the Grand Army Of the Republic, the
material being of "purest gold" as one OF
the speakers remarked.
The presentation was not made by men,
hers of the Grand Army of the Republic, nor
on behalf of any organization thereof, nor
even by ex-soldiers, but by political club
10 the soldier s'andaTd-bearer Ct the Re-
publican party of California.
The eft was accepted in the spirit in
which il was given, and the episode would
have created no special public comment but
Tor the action Of certain Democratic men,
bers # CaSs Post, q. ~ l., about half a
dozen Of whom assembled at the residence
of.one Of the members "a well-kuown poll
teal follower Of Christopher Buckley. Then
and there resolutions" were adopted de-
nouncing the Saratoga Hall incident as an
a; empt to use the Grand Army for political
purposes and making grossly false state
ments concerning remarks made during the
pres ntation and acceptance of the charm.
BOGUS RESOLUTIONS.
These bogus resolutions Of Cass Post were
gwen to the Democratic press Of san Fran
t.c9 for publication and were youched for
by the Post Commander as resolutions
adopted by Cass Post, e. y. r, as was
ait-lward stgted by the editor of tie Alta.
The Department Commander of the G. 4.
K, who resides in the town of Fairfield, So
lauo County, was notified Of the sO-called
action of Cass Post, and he Immediately adj
dressed letter to Commander Riley on the
subject. A garfield synopsis of this letter
was also furnished TO the Democratic press
hy the same parties who resolved for Cas-
Post at the bogus meeting. In the mean
time the Department Commander addressed
a letter to Colonel Markham AMI issued a
circular to the Grand Army posts on the sub
Ject Of the presentation to political candl-
date Of q G, \. Il. badge in the name OF the
order, as lie had been led to believe. having
been grossly imposed upon, as he subse-
Quently ascertained after searching inYes-
tigat0n.
DENIAL BY CAsS POST.
At the next meeting of Cass Post follow
ing the proceedings related above, the De
aUtment Commander being present, the fol-
loving resolution was adopted by a unani-
NOUS vote. and the same was ordered given
TO the press:
R.solred, That the statement made in the city
newspapers that Colonel Cass Post. Grand Army
OF Tie Republic, held meeting and denounced
Candidate for public office on charge of at
renting to drag The Grand Army into politics is
not tue; that Cass Post never held such meet
Ing nor took such action, and thai the pub
Iished statement is false in every particular.
COLONEL NARKHAM'S ANSWER.
Colonel Markham received the Depart
ment Commanders letter while on his can
yass Of the State, and at Woodland. on the
9th ult, lie prepared the following answer:
WOODLAND, September -. 1890.
Hon. 4. j. Buckles, department Commander
q Il r., FdiUjsid Cdl.-DEAR SIR AND Com
RADE: On September 23th l received a com
UuulcaIion from you, forwarded from san Fran
CISCO in regard 10 the Milton Republican ClgO
presenting me with a watch charm, MADE in imi-
TALON OF HE star OF the q. A. Il.
ca the 26th, at Vallejo met Colonel John
Lynch OF Beulcla, an old aud highly esteemed
member OF our order, who informed me that III
an extended Velsa,lon Will you upon lie SUD
Ject YOU had said that you were satisfied that the
chlEge made ~ your communication was not
tlue and that / should pay no attention 10 II.
Relying on this assurance did not answer
your communication untn now as have not HAD
IL moments time having visited two or three
towns daily aud personally met and couyeIsed
with thousands OF people.
Permit me to say that Tie gentlemen who made
tie presentation dld not claim 10 represent the
q. a X nor q post thereof. IL was mace by the
Milton Club without any ulteuOf motive and
Without a knowledge OF our rules on such mat
ters- / was taken completely by surprise, as
was every one present fDe CHARM WAS MOI 4 G
A. r. badge, but an imitation OF Ghe aha not
made from captured cannon.
Under such circumstances there was no viola
tion Of the rules Of our order The club making
the presentation is composed OF enthusiastic Re
uUbllcans who love, respect and revere The old
soldiers and meant no ole use, but rather q dis
playof patriotism.
trusi that the time VIII never come when It
VIII be considered improper for patriotic geutle-
men, not members OF our order, TO honor menu
1erthereof. And l further trust that you Will
not permit any one, whether a member Of our
SIder Or mol, 10 use Its sacred offices TO iuiure
conrade at the suggestion Of dishonest persons
Tot political purposes. H. II. MARKHAM.
MEETING OF G. A. r. MEMBERS.
On the Goth of September a number of rep
resentative eX-sOldiers of the Union
army met at the Palace Hotel, Colonel w.
K Smedberg presiding, and determined then
anu there to investigate the subject matter
Of the Department Commanders circular.
At that meeting several well-knOwn men,
beers Of the Grand Army who were present
at tie Saratoga, Coast Seamen's Union and
lXora Hall meetings, at which latter meet
ing it was charged that reference was again
made to the q. A. R., testified that the
charges that the Grand Army rules were
Violated at any Of these meetings were false
In every p artcular Subsequently a conf
mittGe appointed by the Palace Hotel meet
ing presented the following testimony in
writing to Department Commander Buckles:
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 80, 1890.
hon. 4. J. Buckles, SOLdHO County, Cdi.-DEAR
SIR: As clllzen OF San Francisco aud mem
her of the Republican party, lad the honor to
preside al mass me ting held at Saratoga Hall
on The 1911 Inst. My attention has been called
To Circular No 6, Headquarters Department OF
. Ga lfoTnia. Grand Amy OF the Republic, to the
following statement contained therein:
Yet, IN san Francisco, September 18th this
year. At political meeting where the candidate
for Governor Of one of the political parties made
a i eech, a gentleman came upon the platform.
and announcing That lie represented the Grand
Amy OF The K public, publicly presented tile
candidate for Governor WIFI what lie termed
Grand Army badge, IN token, as lie said, OF the
este III tie Grand Army OF tile Republic had for
his candidate aud The party lie Iepl esents."
/ desire to assure you that the info nation up-
winch Ia That UOgitiVa al u
false ID every particular In which II conveyed 10
y u tie impression that any Grand Army Iule or
regulation was violated by any cOmrade, or per
Uilled by any other person on that occasion.
A charm 10 be attached TO the watchc chain was
on that evening presented 10 Colonel Markham
by Edgar Briggs, wellkuown citizen. who
stated that he made the presentation on behalf
Of lie Milton Republican Club and that the
charm was "lnanufaclufed from the purest gold
that The mines OF California could produce"
Mr.. BuEgs is not nor did lie represent himself
10 b. a conlrdde OF The &. A. r., nor 10 make the
presentation on behalf OF tie q. A. Il. Further,
l am informed aud believe, after careful inyesli-
CATION, that not one penny was contributed TO
purchase tile charm by member of the &. A. r.
aud no cOmiad- knew of what the charm con
sisted until after the presentation.
Tie charm IS an Imitation Of the e. A. r. star
only and not of thu badge.
| also attended the meeting at IXOra Hall on
The evening OF the 10Th inst, where Colonel
Markham stated tnat on the previous evening
he Lad been presented with the charm by
" some enthusiastic 5n young Republicans compos-
ING the Milton Club"
H. made no allusion whatever to the Grand
Amy having hand IN the matter. Respectfully
yulis, G. L. X. ROYCE.
Colonel Royce is a Past Post Commander
Of George II. Thomas Post, No. 2 OF San
Francisco.
san Francisco, Sent 30, 1890.
Hon. a. J. buckles. Department COMMANDER
O. h. K-DEAK SIR / was present at tie
meetings held III Coast Seamens Union Hall
and lHofa Hall September 20th, and on the
platform where Mr. Markham spoke. | have
read the extract from tie Examiner that has
been referred to. He did not say that the gen
rleman presenting him HE badge tile night be
fore at Saratoga Hall represented the Grand
Amy, nor any words that could be SO construed
Very respectfully, A. 7. WILLIAMS.
Hon. A. =. Williams is n prominent ner-
chant of san Francisco, and formerly rep
resented this State in the Unitei States
Senate.
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 30, 1890.
Hon Il. j. Buckles, Department Commander
g. H. r., Fdirfetd, Cdl.-DEAR SIR: was pres
ent al the meeting held In lXora Hall September
2Utl aud on he platform where Mr.. Markham
spoke. have read the extract from the Exanl-
iner That has been referred TO. He did not say
that the gentleman presenting him the badge tie
night before at Saratoga Hall represented The
Grand Army, nor any words That could be so con
sIrued. Very respectfully,
JOSEPH NJ. LfTCHFIELD.
Colonel Titcb field is an old member of the