The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-08-31
A THREE CORNERED CONTEST
FOR THE SUCCESSION TO THE PO-
SITI0N OF COMMANDER-IN-
CHIEF.
CHANGES IN LAWS AND RITE
Are Also to Be Considered by the
Highest Council of the Mill
-------------taEx- Order.

Maj. Thaddeus S. Clarkson, Of Ne
braska, and John c. Linehan, of New
Hampshire. Admiral Meade's friends
are pushing him hard and are using
the argument that, inasmuch as the
position of COMMUNICATIVE chief has
never been held by a naval officer, it
ought to be given to one now. Ad-
miral Meade is certainly the candi-
date of the naval officers and men in
the Grand Army. He is a member of
Lafayette post in New York city
and will come West with the hearty
support, it is claimed, of all New York
and a great many of the other Eastern
states.
T. S. Clarkson, of Omaha, was a can
didate before the Louisville national
encampment last year, but finally de-
clined to enter the race against Cen
Walker. He is well known and we'll
liked in the Grand Army, especially
so in the West, and will doubtless
make a strong battle for election.
John G.. Linehan, of New Hampshire.
claims the support of a great many
of the Eastern veterans, and his friends
are confident that he will come to the
encampment with as much if not more
voting strength behind him than is
behind either of the other candidates.
Linehan is especially well known in
the Grand Army as one of the plain
soldiers, who take so great an interest
in the organization. He fought through
the war as private soldier in the
Third New Hampshire volunteer in
fantry He is especially popular with
the veterans in his own and adjoining
states. He has been commander Of
his own state department, and his
friends are confident that he would
make an efficient commander-in-chief
of the grand order.
Rear Admiral Meade was last brought
before the public through the trouble
he had with the navy department Of
ficials, which ended his duties with
lis squadron, at his own request. Adj
miral Meade had been ordered in May,
1895, to take his flag ship, the Cincin-
natl, to the Norfolk navyyard for
some necessary repairs, the Norfolk
yards being shorter Of work than the
Brooklyn yards. Admiral Meade, how
ever, wanted to go to New York, and
. requested Secretary Herbert to order
him there. The secretary was not in
Washington when the admiraPS re-
quest reached the department, and As
sistant Secretary McAdoo did not feel
warranted in changing the order or his
chief. When Secretary Herbert re-
turned he issued orders to have Adj
ordered to New York, as he had re-
quested This order had no sooner been
sent out, however, than request was
received from Admiral Meade asking
that he be detached from the squadron.
The request was quickly granted. On
reaching New York Admiral Meade
gave to one of the newspapers an in
terview,. severely criticising the navy
department.
Admiral Meade was repeatedly COM
plimented for bravery during the war,
and won advancement in the most
deserving way. In the battle of Stone
River, South Carolina, Christmas day,
1863, he handled his ship in so gallant
q way that Admiral Dahlgren issued
general order Of thanks to him, which
was read from the quarterback of
every ship in the fleet Another oc-
casion on which Meade was comph-
mented for bravery was in 1872. Feb
ruary of that year he assumed COM
mand of the Narragansett on the
Pacific station. Sailing In March to
the west, he began a systematic cruise
OF the Pacific, and for Alb days the
Narragansett was under way, sailing
almost entirely under canvas, and
covering more than $4,000 miles. Har-
bors and islands were surveyed treat
les were made, and from the natives of
the Polynesian Islands Commander
Meade collected money indemnity
for indignities inflicted upon American
citizens On all this voyage of $4,000
miles there was not a death or casu-
atty In letter to Meade, Robson,
the then secretary Of the navy, said the
admiral's report was the best ever sent
in, and that his ship had performed
more professional work than any other
had ever performed in the same time.
The end Of the voyage brought great
,,@+1 nd y-o 11of ion IN
the commander.
In 1861 he had a malignant attack
of Mexican fever. and in 1863 he was
declared disabled and invaded, and
sent from the Mississippi river to New
York. In 1890 he was made a member
of the government board of manage
ment of the Columbian exposition, and
in that capacity supervised the design
ing of the battle ship Illinois.
Though Meade was born in New York
he crossed the continent before he
crossed the sea. He was taken to Cal
ifornia during the days Of the gold
fever, and in October 1850, six days be-
fore his thirteenth birthday, he went
aboard the practice ship Preble, mid
shipman United States navy His
fourteenth fifteenth, sixteenth and
seventeenth years were spent on the
Mediterranean aboard the San Jacinto
and the ST. Louis. He witnessed the
Kosta affair IN Smyrna in 1853. The
next year he went aboard the Columbia
in West Indian waters, and late in 1855
entered the naval academy at Ann
apolis and passed as fifth in his class
In 1857, before his twentieth birthday,
he was appointed acting master and
went aboard the Cumberland, cruising
along the west coast of Africa He be-
came master one day in 1855 and the
very next day was commissioned as
lieutenant, though he was yet under
twenty-one.
In 1852 Meade had charge Of the IRON
clad Louisville, which patrolled the
Mississippi from Memphis north when
the guerrilla warfare was extremely
troublesome. He did good service and
won the hearty approval of his super
iors One of the most brilliant ex-
PLOTS in his career was on the Marble
head. Another of his spirited encoun-
tiers was with the Delphini. After the
war Meade was stationed at the naval
academy until 1868. Secretary Whit
ney, after commencing Meade in two
of his annual reports, made him, in
1887, commandant Of the Washington
navy yard About this time the mans
peevishness and petulance began to be
unbearable. AS commandant he was
known as a diSciplinarian, strict be-
yond all reason. Some Of his regula-
lions would have been considered too
severe even in times of war. No CIV
ilian could go out Of the navy yard
rxtoA Hry of7oor M