Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-29
OLD SOLDIERS AND POLITICS.
Trouble in the Camp Of the Union veter-
. ans Union.

Trouble In the Camp Of the Union veter-
= ans Union.
GEN. YopER REvoKEs THE ORDER OF THE
COMMANDER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE
PoroMAc-wHAr HE SAYS ABOUT tone
yIEw OF HIS POSITION
When W. H. Michael returns from Nebraska
he will be given ample opportunity to make
plain his reasons for issuing as commander of
the Department OF the Potomac Union Vet
erahs Union, the order which was printed in
thursday STAR. That order. il will be re-
membered, called upon all true members of the
Union Veterans Union to vote for Gen. Harri-
son. Department Commander Michael based
his action on section of the orders constitu-
ton which declares one of the duties of the or
ganization to be Ito support, aid and assist i'm
the election to positions of public trust any and
all true friends of the Union soldier. prospect
i've of politics. creed or party"
The publication of the department COM
manders ante-election document created quite
furore among the members, especially among
those whose political tendencies are democratic
They declared tina. Department Commander
Michael was endeavoring TO use the order for
organization unless somebody chained
his wheel. Gen. 3 s. Ioder did that
He Is commander-in-chief and, incidentally. a
democrat OF considerable prominence having
formerly represented democratic district Of
Ohio in Congress and now holding the Office of
sergeantat-arms of the democratic House of
Representatives. Col. II. L. Street. Gen. Yoders
adlutant general. Is also democrat likewise
captain of the Capitol police
GEN. MICHAEL SUSPENDED.
zen. loder arrived In town last night and
Immediately the following order was issued:
HEADQUARTERS NATIONAL COMMAND. L. V. T.,
WAsHINaroS, d. c.. October %.
General Order. No. T.
1. whereas the commander of the Depart
ment OF the Potomac has, by most insubordi-
nate order TO his department, arrogated TO him
SELF the power to misconstrue the constitution.
practice and objects of the Union Veterans
Union to be of such n nature that the comrades
of this order of battlefield soldiers must take
their political action from the orders of COM
manders: and.
whereas the said commander of said Depart
ment OF the Potomac has i'll violation of his OBJ
legation published important portions. of the
constitution OF the order through the pubic
press and by broadcast circulars; and. whereas
the said commander of said department has
placed the order in position to be one of
rldlcule and contempt among soldier organiza-
tons, and has placed it in a position liable to
defeat the ends of the order in the care of the
widows and orphans of the order: and.
ment has without warrant or author
ity directed that the members of the
order take partisan side in the politics
of the coming presidential election: and whereas
the order Is composed of Christian. God-fearing
men OF all creeds and of all shades of political
belief, as they were during war times. there
fore all commands are requested and required
to disregard general order No. of Gen. Viii
liam II. Michael. commander of the Department
OF the Potomac, Union Veterans Union. and
the same is hereby revoked.
z Gen. William H. Michael, commander of
the Department of the Potomac. Union yeter-
ans Union, is hereby suspended from said COM
mand
3. Gen. s. W. Baxter. deputy commander of
the Department of the Potomac Union yeter-
ans Union, is hereby directed to take com
dlately
By command Of Gen. S. S. Yoder.
II. l.. STREET, Adjutant General.
WHAT GEN. YoDER SAYS
There was nothing personal in nv suspen-
sion OF Gen. Michael" said Gen. Yoder to a
STAR reporter this afternoon. Gen Yoder was
most unwilling to discuss the matter. but he
was good-natured about it. Finally he
said: My relations with Gen. Michael
have been and are very pleasant. I am
satisfied Of his honesty of purpose,
but think his political prejudices got the better
else than suspend him Many If tie more
prominent OF our members. republicans and
democrats, came to see me yesterday and
insisted on immediate action. | am sorry
this thing occurred. To me the cause of
the old soldier and his dependents
is sacred ana 1 have never permitted political
considerations TO move me; have always done
my utmost TO keep them them out of the order.
If Gen. Michael's construction of our law is
correct-and know it Is mott could not re-
main within the organization. l am a dem
Ocrat, and am proud of the fact | hold
an important position in democratic House
OF Representatives and must, therefore be en-
tirely out of place at the head of a republican
organization for that is what nv friend Michael
says our union is.
This thing will be adjusted without diff
Guilty. he concluded. Zen. Michae. will be
here in a little while; will. feel sure, explain
everything and take command of his DEPART
ment without further friction
Comments made by politicians run to theo-
ries. Some OF the guessers say that Mr. Michael
was bound to put his party under great oblga-
ton to him, even it did cost him some annoy
ance in the U. V. L. Others are of the opinion
that he desired to be made a martyr of. for
then he would have the long end of a very sub
stantial lever.
ONE VIEW OF GEN. YoDERs ORDER
1t was remarked by one old veteran that Gen.
Yoder, in his suspension order. had committed
the offense for which Gen. Michael was sus-
pended Gen. Michael told every member that
he ought to vote for Gen. Harrison. Gen.
Ioder told them not tO-that is he ordered
them to disregard Gen. Michaers utterances
Sentiment is TO the effect that while GEN. Yoder
could do no less than suspend Gen. Michael
yet. viewed from political standpoint, Gen.
Michael is decidedly on top at this time
LAST DAY OF THE MEETING.