The San Francisco call., 1897-02-18
CIVIL WAR IN
THE VETS CAMP
Comrade Hyde Says Lyon
Post Is Always Gre
ating Trouble.
In Return L Is Stated That He
Has No Stand ng in the
G. A R.
Samuel w. Bsckus S Us the Opposi.
tion TO the Dibble Bill Is Un.
worthy cf Notice.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRAYc1sco CALL

OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCIsco CALL,l
9uS b. oadway. Feb. II.
The old soldiers of Oakland have an in
teresting fight on their hands. Nearly
all OF them have gone on record as being
opposed to the Dibble bill transferring the
Yountville Home to the State. At a
meeting of the Army and Navy Republi-
can League last Sunday nearly all the
mem bers voted in favor OF resolution
condemning the bill, or, rather, certain
features OF it.
To-day, however the veterans got big
surprise by learning that one of their
number, eX-Assemblyman Marcus d.
Hyde of Oakland, has written Senator
Stratton urging him to support the bill,
as it represents the feeling of 80 per cent
of the people OF the State. Senator STRAIT
ton has also received a letter from ex-
Postmaster Backus of San Francisco in
which be says:
notice by the papers that disgruntled and
disafected Grand Army men have held a
meeting IN Oakland and entered their protest
against the passage by the Legislature of the
so-called Dibble bill, transferring the Veter-
ans Home property at Yountville 10 the State.
They seem only TO oppose certain features OF
the Dill as being unconstitutional, but the real
opposition is because certain men are named
as directors. This is only a continuation of
the iacttous opposition which certain men
have been fomenting for over a year past and
is not worthy o: serious consideration.
The present board OF directors are named In
the bill to serve as the first board under the
Dibble bill Some of these names seem to be
Objectionable TO some OF our Grand Army men,
especially in Oakland.
l have ventured 10 write you this communi-
cation, believing that representations would
be made 10 you from some of your Oakland
constituents and I wished 10 assure you that
in my judgment the, bill is proper and ought
TO pass.
Marcus D. Hyde has aroused intense
feelings OF bitterness among many COM
rades in this city by the following para
graph in his letter TO Senator Stratton:
In Oakland yesterday there was meeting,
hastily called. al which there were some sixty
or seventy present A committee was ap-
pointed to go to Sacramento for the purpose of
amending the bill. That meeting was COM
posed mainly OF the same persons who have
for several years persistently worked against
the directors OF the home.
In The reports of the meeting it is set forth
that II was not the work OF Lyon Post. While
that is true, still il Is also true that II was
mainly the members of that post that consti-
tuted the attendance, and many OF the best
men We nave in Oakland knew nothing about
the meeting. the notices being sent out on
Sunday morning for meeting a P. NJ. of the
same day.
1t has been decided to retaliate on Mr..
hyue. 1ue mem DerS OF lne ". a. II. HOSt
in this city have secured Mr.. Hyde's
record from Washington, and they say 1t
plainly shows that he is not entitled to
call himself a member of the G.. A. 4.
The War Department has forwarded a
statement that Mr.. Hyde did not JON the
Government service until six months after
the time which would qualify him for
mem bership. More than this, they hold
MIR. Hyde's application for mem bersnip,
which they declare is dated six months
prior 10 the time at which he entered the
navy as mldshipman.
Municipal politics also cut a figure in
tais row among the veterans. About two
weeks ago the Army and Navy League ex-
pelIei Comrade Inwall because he at
tended convention at which Davie was
nominated. Inwall's only defender was
Marcus D. Hyde, and there was more than
hint thrown oIt that if Mr.. HYDE said
anything further against the Republican
nominee Comrade Thomas, his fate would
be similar to that of his friend Inwall.
This many-sided controversy is keeping
the old soldiers busy, and through it all
Is seen the bitterness engendered by the
suspension of Lyon Post last May.