The herald., 1896-04-17
WESTERN SALvAvIONISTS
Stand Firm in Their Allegiance to the
Principles Of the Army
Olives His Opinions as to the Causes Of
BslIington Booths Secession

Brigadier Keppler, commanding the
Salvation Army forcs of Western WyO-
ming, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Califor-
MIA and the Hawaiian Islands, arrived
from San Francisco yesterday in order
to be present at the meetings which
Mrs. Booth-Tucker will address in this
city next Sunday and Monday.
In conversation with a Herald report
er last night the brigadier, who is a
man of fine presence and calm and
thoughtful demeanor, expressed his
views as to the effects of Ballington
Booths secession from the army. eft
is impossible he said, "at this dis
tance for us to see all the questions at
which the general and his son were at
variance, in clear light. The press
dispatches have been for the most part
exaggerated, contradictory and preju-
diced. On some matters we may feel
inclined to suspend our Judgment, but
even If our sympathies were with Bal
lington Booth, W should be perfectly
justified in maintaining our allegiance
to the army. 1t is in my opinion the
greatest tribute to the Ballington
Booths grand work for so many years
that the army has remained SO staunch
in it's loyalty to the principles Of the
army rather than to individuals, though
of course at the present moment 1t may
be difficult for Ballington Booth to view
it in this light"
What effect has the secession had
in your district?"
"There has not been a single desert
er in San Francisco, and out of 250 ofii
GERS in the west not one has resigned
for this cause. The only place that
there has been any disaffection is San
Jose, where twentythree soldiers left
the ranks. Six or eight have already
returned, and the rest have suspended
their Judgment until they hear from
Mrs. BoothTucker. West of Chica-
go the new movement has made no adj
vance, nor has Ballington Booth made
any attempt at present to organize
west of that point. The only really
important secession west of New York
which has carried any great influence
with it was that of Brigadier Fielding
of Chicago"
Brigadier Keppel proceeded to point
out many misconceptions in the pub
| lie mind as to General Booth and an
! alleged antagonism to the Stars and
Stripes. 1T is extraordinary" he said.
how many people believe the Army
flag is an English flag. AS matter OF
fact its main features and colors are
merely emblematic of our faith. The
red tipifies the atonement; the blue
border is our emblem of purity; the yell
low star tipifies the baptism Of fire
the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. On
all our flags there is miniature Stars
and Stripes; the standard Is generally
mounted by an eagle and we always
also carry the Stars and Stripes be-
sides our Army flag
II believe General Booths idea was
to divide both the United States and
Canada into three parts each to be pre-
sided over by a commissioner; for he
recognized that the territory was too
large for one man. 1t was. in my opin-
ion, because he was anxious not to
humiliate Ballington Booth by offer
ing him one of the three divisions that
he recalled him. The story that Gen.
eral Booth ordered the total amount of
| the 10 per cent commissions on the
| profits of the War Cry, which has been
reserved for a approximation func
! TO be sent to England. is entirely fab
! rication This was reported to be one
| of the reasons of Ballington Booth $
| disaffection. The story has been ex-
| rlicitly denied, both at headquarters
| and by Ballington Booth himself The
| circulation of the San Francisco edi-
| tion of the War Cry is at present
| 17500.''