The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-09-14
A SOLDIERS VIEW.
TO BE TAKEN OVER THE GRAVES
OF GETTYSBURG.
Was Adiai Stevenson q Member OF an
Order of Secret Traitors:-Did He Re-
joice Over the Death of Lincoln?-Cau
He Disprove This Affidavit?

He Disprove This Affidavit?
Especial Correspondence
GETTYSBURG, Sept. 5.-Information
has been received here that the Union
Veterans league is to hold a mass
meeting here shortly TO discuss the war
record of Adlai Stevenson, the vice
presidential candidate, who is charged
with membership in certain disloyal
orders during the war, also with selling
revolvers with which to resist the draft
and intimidate Union men, and with
publicly rejoicing over the assassination
of Lincoln.
The league, it is learned, has some
very damaging proof of the charges
which have been so freely made, and
old soldiers make no hesitation in saying
that unless ne can impeach the accuracy
of affidayits already made he will not
get vote from the Union veterans of
the late war.
II is remarked as especially curious.
not to say unfortunate. for the Demo
cratic party that both their candidates
on the ticket served by substitute in the
war. And it may be added that it does
not please the old soldiers who visit this
sacred spot and whose opinions are thus
readily learned.
CONVINCING PROOF OF THE ACCURACY
OF THE CHARGES.
Among the affidavits which are to be
produced here are the following, some
Of which have been already published,
but not disproved:
State of Illinois, Mclean county, S.:
William B. Whiffen of the county and state
aforesaid, on oath, deposes and says that he
was resident of the county of Woodford. in
the state Of Illinois. from August, 1851. to Feb
ruary, 1866, and during that time was editor
and proprietor CT the Woodford Sentinel. pa
per published at Metamora. in the state of llli-
nois and county of Woodford. and during all
that time was personally acquainted and po-
litically associated with Adlai T.. Stevenson;
that affiant present at the organization OF
the Metamora lodge or circle of the Order of
American Knights or Sons of Liberty, in the
southeast lower room of the court house in
Aietamora, by ". q. Ewing, special agent Of
the state organization of the same; that
Adlai +. Stevenson was there present.
and with others was duly initiated and
took the required oaths and received
the grips and passwords; that afsiant was also
present at the county organization of the
American knights or Sons of Liberty held IN
the courtr room of the court house, and that the
said Adlai r. Stevenson was present and
sisted in perfecting the same, and further
AYERS that he was present at a state council OF
the said Knights or Sons of Liberty. held in
the city of Springfield. Ills, on the 10th and
Eth days of June, ls64, and that Adlai E. Ste
venson was Il delegate to said state council
from the lodge or order of the same from the
county of Woodford: that the said Adlai f.
Stevenson vouched for affiant, by which he
obtained admission to said council that
it was in this council that the twenty-third
plank of the Democratic platform of that
year was adopted and agreed upon; that
affiant further AYERS that on receipt of the
news of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln
the said Adlai E. Stevenson stated in substance
that it was q good thing and ought to have
been done sooner, ana that said Adlai Z.
Stevenson admitted to affiant, in conversation
with him on the subject, that he had so stated
in regard to the death Of Lincoln: that affiant
further says that at the said council at Spring
field, Ills, on June IL and II. 1864, there were
present General James Singleton johnson and
Sheehan, of Lincoln. Ills; James S. Ewing, OF
bloomington, Ills, with number OF other
Democratic politicians, besides delegates from
lodges and circles from almost every county in
the state; that affiant AYERS that the order of
American knights Sons of Liberty were
organizations similar in their character TO the
order known as the Knights of the Golden Cir
Gle, and afliant was Informed by the organiZ-
ing agent. W. G. Ewing. that said organization
stood in the same relation to the north that the
knights of the Golden Circle did to the south;
that afhant was present at the organization OF
three or four lodges or circles in the county OF
Woodford. Ills, when the same were organized
by the special agent, w. G. Ewing. All laid
meetings were held in secret, with closed doors
and darkened windows and were especially
antagonistic to the Union leagues, and were
organized for the purpose of olfsetting the in
fuence Ok that organization
WILLIAM B. WHIFTEy.
Several prominent citizens of Meta
mora-Z. II. Whitmire, Isaac Wickoff,
j. w. Ellis, Elijah Plank, T. D. Wal
den. William Mitchell, T. F. Briggs and
G. Niles by name-certify to the good
standing and reliability Of Mr.. Written.
We reproduce the following letter
from the Tiffin co. Tribune:
The affidavit of Parker Gardner. OF Wabash,
Ind, in reference TO Adlai (. Stevenson. Demo
cratic candidate for vice president, is true TO
the letter. l was a resident OF Wilson town
ship. De Witt county, Ills. in lS62. and
well acquainted with Mr.. Gardner, also with
Ellsworth and Spratt. Mr.. Gardeners state
mcnt can be backed up by such men as Dr.. T.
w. Davis, J. X. Davis, o. T. Gear and many
others OF Wapells. Ills. 1t is fact that this
man Stevenson did travel through De Witt
county IN the year above mentioned selling
reyolvers 10 his copperhead friends to be used
TO intimidate Union men and to resist the
draft. ! am willing 10 make this statement
under oath al any time II necessary.
{. II. TAYLOR.
Late First Sergeant, Company |, One Hun
bred and Fifty-fourth Illinois '. l.
Mr.. Stevensons defense Of his war
record and denial of the accusations
brought against him under oath have
been merely verbal and informal. 1t IS
tine he were coming to the front with
an affidavit if he can afford il.