The National tribune., 1891-05-21
THAT RESOLUTION.
Nc haye received the following letter
THE KANSAS REFORM PRESS ASSOCIATION, J
OFFICE OF SECfsErAEv TREASURER.
TOPFlrA KAN Nav 49, i-ql.

THE KANSAS REFORM PRESS AsSoCIATIOS,l
OFFICE on SECRETARY TREASURER,
ToPFaCA, KAN, May IS. 1891 J
EDITOR NATIONAL TEIHUNE: I see that you are
among those who have been duped by the forged
resolution relating 70 The old soldiers. cannot
believe that you would willingly lend your inhu-
eucc TO the advancement Of the helliSh scheme
contemplated by the conspirators in this case I'M
less You have been deceived the facts. IL has
been fact notorious to at iu this State that the
Republican politicians have cudeavoTed to use the
Grand Army, contrary to it, laws for the advance
mrnt Of its political interests: that the scheme
called out severe rcbuke from the Depart
ment Commander nj the recent EneaUpmcni- In
stead OF sustaining him in his efforts to preserve
the Order by stric, adherence to its principles,
every Republican paper ia the state has had moth
Ing bat censurc aud abuse Tor tli- plain and unos-
tentatious performance of official duty.
But with respect To the resolution, send yo7
herewith such testimony I think will satisfy
you that il Is forgery. Mr. Bradley is a Repub-
i'ean and reporter for a RepubIiean paper. the
Hutchinson AeIus, and Mr. Severance and several
other witnesses are Republicans.
j was myself a soldier. as was also the mover OF
the soldier-resoution that was adopted, and there
are number OF other soldiers who are members
Of the Reform Press Association Does 1t seem
reasonable to you that would stultify ourselves
by the adoption Of such resolution But, asi'le
from the fact of our being soldiers, does II look
reasonable that, ns a matter Of policy. we would
mdorse such "A resolution in open meeting and
ia State that numbers over 10000 soldiers IN IT.
population. The absur,liiy Of the thought should
be a sufficient refutaton Of the infamous libel. IL
Is a forgery pure and simple, invented and pub
lished for the sole purpose Of exciting the prejudice
ot soldiers against association. The number OF
anidays Of the hes, citizens Of Hutchinson, ire
inf I..
saTy, to prove the forgery. What must be thought
OF party that will resort 10 such methods? Isl
not about time that have "A change When
forgery and perjury called into service in order
To perpeiuate political power, what guarantee have
we Of the purposes which this power will be made
"a serve, l. this the condition VIC fought to sus-
tain
Now, my dear sir. ~ you have been deceived in
this matter. aud have done the injustice Of giving
publicity TO the forgery ask you in justice and in
hrhaf Of the soldiers who are members Of the Re
form Press Association. TO give equal publicity to
the facts. desire also to you that the sur
viving veterans Of the late war have no more ear
nest conscientious advocates Of their rights than
this same Reform Press Association We demand
r service pension, and that the loss To soldiers in
consequence OF their payment IN deprecated cur
reucy be made good. This Is our platform, and no
platform Of any party has ever demanded as much.
trust you viii DO us the justice ask.
Yours truly. = MCLALLIy,
Secretary.
Accompanying this letter is a copy of the
Adrocate, published at Topeka, and which
deyOtes two pages to allidayits and
other denials of the passage of the resolu-
ution. 1t is insisted that instead, the fol-
lowing resolution was adopted:
Eesotr,d. Tia. we pledge ourselves to the sup
port Of every measure that shall tend TO render
Justice to the old soldiers By way Of service pen
sions, aud making the money in which they were
paid while In the service equal TO that which WAS
paid TO The bondholder, independent Of party anl-
lation "a we fully believe legislation relating 10
soldiers should be effected independently Of poll
tics. and we condemn any and all movements Of
old soldiers a political organization.
The aflidavits to this effect are by s. Me-
Lallin, Jesse Williams, editor of the Alliance
Herald Leslie J. Purcell, editor of the Free
Lance d. T. Armstrong; w. L. Brown, editor
of the Kingman journal; A. C. Pattee,
editor of the SaIina Union, formerly of Co.
d, 18Th Ind; Warren Foster, editor of the
Alliance Gazote; J. d. Weiner, Will Hudson,
J. II. Dane, J. II. Bostick, s. A. WilIoughby,
and +. w. Jordan, farmers; J. l.. Brady,
reporter Of the Hutchinson Netrs; r. ].
Connell, lawyer, and John Severance, Mayor
Of Hutchinson. Senator A. w. PETER makes a
statement that he was present and heard the
resolution read, which was the one given
above, and not that published in the interior
/ Herald There is also statement to the
same effect by Comrades w. b. Holmes, 5it
I Cal; Robert Laughlin, l2Oth Ind; d. Shaw
"a Kan. II. A.; f. ID. Hornbaker, I45th Ind.
Daniel Emerson, 18Th H.; O. S. Coffin, Gen,
eraI STAFF, q. s. Vols; Minor Griffin, 1871
Ohio; 7. J. Pugh, 9TH Ind, aud Il. Wolf
1884 Ohio.
This is certainly a strong array of proof
and would be entirely convincing were it no
for the positiveness and high standing of tn,
witnesses on the other side. We shall no
attempt TO decide the matter but shall leay,
it TO the judgment Of the Kansas comrades
who are more fully acquainted with tn
parties on both sides Of the controversy.
We are sincerely glad that the Reform
editors so Indignantly repudiate the frs
resolution and support the second, which j
in the direction Of justice TO the veterans
We want and need all the friends that "
can get, and sympathy and help from tn
Reform press of Kansas will be more thai
welcome.
As 10 Mr. McLallin's questions, we vii
say that we are as much opposed as he O
any man can be to any attempt to us
the Grand Army Of the Republic for pOliti
cal purposes, whether by Republicans, Demo
Gratis or Alliance men. We also frankl
admit that we were Mt first incredulous tha
any party in Kansas, or anywhere outside
the rebel States, could be guilty OF the egrt
gious folly OF offering such wanton insuI
TO the old soldiers rs was contained in tn
resolution first published. But the pro,
furnished seemed conclusive, and in thes
days Of reckless defamation of the soldier
y