Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-16
A ROAST FOR REED.
The Doughty Colonel Is Called Upon
to Explain Recent Detroit
Interview.
HIS COMRADES ARE INDIGNANT.
They Object to the Statement That Their
Votes Could Be Manipulated Like
a Machine.
HIS COMRADES ARE INDIGNANT.
A MOTION TO VINDTCATE HIM LOST.
Alderman C. F. Succop, of the sOuthside, Gives His
Version Of the Case.


buked anyone who tries to make it appear
that politics gained place in the Pennsyl-
vania delegation 10 the recent encampment
al Detroit Colonel W. H. Reeds action
was ND for discussion and while he was not
convicted, be was asked to produce better
proof of his innocence. This he promises
to do very soon.
The cause of the trouble was short item
which was printed in the Detroit Free Press
Friday morning of last week and repro
duced in THE DISPATCH the Sunday fol-
lowing. 1t is repeated to-day in THE Dis
PATCH q. A +. column. The article made
Mr.. Reed say that he had swung the dele
CATION for Lincoln. Neb., as against Wash
IngtOn for the encampment of next year. 1t
also states that he was in communication
with Senator Quay on the subject.
At the meeting Yesterday Thomas Sample
was Chairman and Pension Agent Bengough
Secretary. Mr.. Reed was present. After
the Secretary read the article referred TO
W. II. Lambert said
This is a very grave matter, and as the
comrade saws he is innocent and has been
grossly misrepresented, move that he be
given an opportunity to fully explain him.
self
The motion was carried unanimously and
Mr. Reed arose and said:
NIX. REED MAKES A STATEMENT.
"NThen thing is made out of whole
cloth what is a man going TO do? When l
was en- route to Detroit Henry Sorg, of
Washington, got on the train at Toledo. He
WIS a member of some committee or other
and ne pinned Washington badge on me.
After we got to Detroit l met number of
Lincoln men and they argued that as l was
a Western man nv interests were with the
West and they took the Washington badge
and gave me the Lincoln badge. Well, the
next morning met Mr. Sorg and party of
friends in the hotel. and when they saw the
Lincoln badge they got mad. l got an
awful curSing, and one of them said: 'Oh,
well, L suppose he's got his orders from
Matt QUAY That was the start of the
thing.
QUAY is as innocent of any action as a
man who was hung one hundred years ago.
] only spoke to one comrade and he is here
today. He was pledged and L could do
nothing. l was said TO be President of the
Americas Club. l am captain of that
club, which might be confounded with the
presidency. Nor am | a relative Of Senator
QUAY, though l have had some political
relations with HIM.
A P. Burchfeld-It is easy to explain
how the vote of PENNSYLVANIA went TO Lin
coin. We pledged ourselves TO the unit
rule, and in caucus "a delegates voted for
Lincoln, while 10 voted for Washington.
Thus we were compelled TO vote for Lin
coin.
IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DENIED.
81 haven't seen a thing from Comrade
Reed DENYING the statement credited to
him." continued Mr.. Burchfeld. "He
should have denied it long ago. The next
dav after it was printed was the proper
time | am broad enough to accept his ex-
PLANTATION, but will the country do SOP"
Mr. Reed would have written card
as soon as | saw the statement, but several
comrades persuaded me not to.
Past Commander Dennisuon-This talk is
ridiculous. We do not need an eSplana-
tion for the q. A. L. 1t is only for out
sidars who are always trying to crowd poll
ties into rhe order. / suggest that COM
mittee he appointed 70 prepare statement
that We accept Comrade Reeds explanation
and denouncing the reporter who wrote the
item.
Chairman Sample-I do not believe that |
a committee should be appointed for that
purpose. I believe it is the duty of Colonel |
Reed to furnish the truth Of that report. 1t |
is an insult 10 the Grand Army to say that
the Pennsylvania delegation could be ma
uipuiated bv one man like a political
machine. The State Encampment is coming
on and we would have Eastern men taunt
Us with the statement that we allowed our
selves 10 be led by one man. An eXplana-
tiun Is certainly due from Mr.. Reed
Nr Reed-Ihe course is right. | would
have done this long ago, but for the advice
Of comrades.
THE REPORTER WAS VISITED.
John Sias-I saw that article in the De
troit paper and with Comrades Russell, A
{. Frank and ID. \. Jones, L visited the
office and saw the reporter. He said posi-
lively that he had quoted Comrade Reed
exactly and was willing to have the matter
followed up. He volunteered to publish
denial over nv name and did so, but main
tanned the correctness of his interview.
Mr.. Russell and Nh. Jones corroborated |
the statement of Mr.. Sias and it was stated, |
at Mr.. Reeds request, that the reporter was |
q Young man named Carey. |
Mr.. Reed never spoke TO a reporter in |
Detroit.
Mr. Russell-He said he met with NJ J,
Frank, Squire Succop and David Carle.
Mr.. Reed-He is certainly mistaken in |
the man.
Mr.. Hill move that this. matter be laid |
on the table.
The motion was seconded, but was lost,
only one man voting in favor of the action |
After more discussion Mr. Reed declared |
that he would sift the matter to the bottom,
and go TO Detroit if need be to get the facts |
He was informed that the committee would |
be prepared TO receive the truth at any |
time, and would see that it was published. |
A STATEMENT BY ALDERMAN sUCCoP.
Mr. Reed said that he would bring an |
affidavit from Alderman Succop, Messrs. |
Frank and Cole to prove that he Was mis- |
After the meeting adjourned |
Yesterday DISPATCH reporter called on /
Dir. SuccOp to get his statement.
The statement is part true and part |
wrong" said Mr.. Succup. $50 far as it
connects Messrs. Frank Cole and myself |
with it, Il is wrong. We had supper with
MIR. Reed, at the hotel, and then went down
to the bar TO get a drink There We met
this reporter and several others, and the
newspaper man was introduced. The con-
became general, and Mr.. Reed
took pretty big hand in it. You know he
likes 10 spout. | don't know anything
about the Quay business, and the reporter |
probably got that mixed However, 1 did
tear him saw what is in that last paragraph.
don't think be meant himself alone, but
himself and some Others
The paragraph referred to by Mr.. Succop
5 as follows: ave could swing Pennsylva-
lia, " said the Colonel yesterday, "and had
little bit more time been given us | guess
hat we could have swung the encampment,
mi Tineoln was douned and now I wish m |