The National tribune., 1895-11-14
TROUBLE In NEW YORK.

Department Commander Atkinson Under
Fire for Alleged Violations of Discipline.
Edward Atkinson, Department Commander
of the Grand Army OF the Republic of New
York State has written two letters which he
admits are likely to get him into tros bic with
his comrades. The General says, however,
that he will fight il out and expects to win
Gen. Atkinson has been Chief of the Search
ers' Department in County Clerk Henry ID.
Purroy's Office for many years, and is Secretary
of a Tammany Club in Harlem. Purroy and
he are great friends, and a few days before
the election he sent letters to several Grand
Army men asking them to vote for his Chief at
the recent election. These letters were written
Oh the official paper of the Grand Army of the
Republic.
In addition to this, he also wrote the follow
ing, which has been widely circulated among
Grand Army men:
NEW YORK, Oct. 30. 1895
DEAR SIR AND CoMRADE: As you no doubt
aware. Gen. Martin Il. Mcmahon is ~ candidate for
Judge of the Court OF General Sessions. He is The
only comrade who is candidaie for that office.
This fact and his xcelle record both a. a soldier
and in other positions Of public trust. it is hoped.
VIII prove a sufficient induccment To comrades 10
give him earnest and loyal support wherever ID
can be done consistent ih their views of political
duty. Gen. Mcmahon was for several wears Chair
man of our Memorial Committee, and frequently
delegate to Department aud National Encamp-
menis. and has always shown intelligent zeal in
" n H.
the Managers of the National Soldiers Homes for
10 years be has established additional claims on
the support and confidence of his comrades. The
placing Of cross * before the name Of Conn
rade Mcmahon will indicate your vote, pro giding
you vote a party ticket other than that on which
his name appears.
Yours truly, in F. c. and L. e. J. ATKINSON.
This was also on the official paper of the
Grand Army.
The discovery Of these letters produced a
sensation among the comrades, and Commander
Atkinson was sharply censured. He said to a
reporter of the New York Herald in explana.
ton:
Pm not surprised to be asked about the
letters, as expected they would get me into
trouble The rules of the Grand Army abso-
lutely forbid members from using it in any
way as a political machine. am strictly in
favor Of the enforcement of those rules, and
have always advocated their observance
But no organization, no rules can interfere
with my rights as citizen. Mr.. Purroy and
have been warm friends for years. All that
did was TO write TO friends of mine, asking
them to favor me by voting for Purroy
The Mcmahon letter was a little different.
Mcmahon and / we're in the army together.
and no better or drawer officer ever existed.
He was brevetted "a Major General while under
Gen. Mcclellan. Had a Grand Army man been
running against him ] would not have said a
word. The two candidates for Secretary of
State arc comrades. and would sooner cut off
my right hand than do anything against either.
Bat when a man like Gen. McMahon is a can
didate all the blood in an old soldiers body
rises TO be OF aid TO him.
Now, TO 20 into particulars in regard to the
Mcmahon letter. wrote il, but did not send
it out. The circulars were printed from my
copy, and i knew nothing more about them
till received one yesterday. / did not know
until then that they were printed on Grand
Army paper. When saw that that had been
done knew ] was in trouble do not know
where the paper came from, / have not
had time TO investigate. but / will fnd out
soon.
There is going TO be row in Grand Army
circles about this / am sure of that. How
ever, it's not the first time I've been in
fight, and III stand by my guns till win
out"