The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-07-25
UNION VETERANS LEAGUE HAD ITS
BALLOT BOX LOADED FOR
BEAR.
STILL THERE WERE TOO FEW
OF THE DARK MARBLES TO PROP
EARLY ATTEST THE POPULAR
FEELING.
Whose Military Career Was Shorter
Than His Public Service in
Civil Office.

The organization known as the
Union Veterans league promises to be
an important factor in the city and
county elections next year. AS the
name of the association would indi-
cate, the membership is confined to
those who served in the War of the
Rebellion under the stars and stripes.
At present the membership is about
200, but the ranks are constantly being
sWelled, and at the last regular meet
ing of the league over a score of ap-
plications for membership were acted
upon The officers and members OF
the league claim that before May 1,
1898, the league will have 1000 active
members. Some years ago the leg1s-
lature passed a law to the erect that,
other things being even, all state,
county and city officials should in the
matter of employing help give prefer
ences to honorably discharged Union
soldiers Considerable talk was made
at the time about the immense ad-
vantage this would be to the gallant
defenders of the country's honor in Sc
curing for them, or at least some OF
them, positions in the various depart
ments of the state. county and city
governments in this state. Experience,
however, has proved, at least to the
old soldiers, that the law and the re-
suits arising therefrom have been OF
the gold brick" class. The Republl-
can politicians and the gentlemen who
manage the machine which controls
the party in Minnesota, have at every
convention denounced in numbering
tones the injustice done to the men
who fought for our glorious country
and flag" and pledged the party by
preamble and resolutions to see that
something should be done for the old
soldiers. The county and city con-
yentions have followed suit so far as
the passage of similar resolutions, but
after all the old soldiers found it just
as hard to get positions as before. This
state of affairs led UP to the forma-
ton of the ST. Paul branch OF the
league. The organization is secret
one and the aim is to assist it's mem
bers in the way of legislation Whlch
would be of benefit to old soldiers ana
also to secure positions in pubic or
fees under the law which gives them
the preference all things being equal.
While the semi-monthly sessions Of
the league are secret an incident oc-
Cured at the last meeting which was
too good to keep and somehow the
matter leaked out 1t appears that q
number of the gentlemen holding OF
flee under the present city admins.
tration heard about the veterans
league, and as nearly all of them are
anxious to be renominated and re-
elected those who were eligible 10
mem bership in the league Inquired: 1T
out that it would be a good thing to
join The league, however, gives Seach.
applicant for membership thorough
investigation, and as one, of the mem
bers expressed it, 1--WE don't propose
to have all the captains, lieutenants.
colonies and majors in the city De
longing to the league unless they are
entitled to membership. There is to
be no politics in the league and the
gentlemen who have boosted them-
selves into other old soldier organiza-
lions for the good it would do them
politically will meet with cool re-
ception when they try to break into
our association"
Capt. J. J. McCardy was one of the
old soldiers to put in an application
for membership in the league. His
application was accompanied by the
81 initiation fee provided in the by
laws, and the matter was referred to
the proper committee. At the last
meeting a report was submitted ana
a vote taken on batch of appllca-
TONS Among them was that of Capt.
J. j. McCardy. The vote on new men,
bers, so the story goes, is taken with
box and balls, the same as in other
societies. The bylaws of the league
provide that certain number of black
balls shall be sufficient to disquallfy
any applicant. The result of the ballot
on the name of Capt. McCardy was
astonishing, and before the balloting
box had gone half way around the
lodge room the supply of black balls
was exhausted and several of the
members, when it came their time to
vote, informed the teller that it was
not fair to have the bylaws provide
for both white and black balls to be
used in voting, and then hold out all
the dark colored ones. When the result
of the ballot was announced, however,
the disappearance of the black balls
was explained, the box containing
more black than white spheres. AS
result the secretary was obliged to
notify Capt McCardy that his appli-
cation had been rejected. Other of the
city hall politicians who were thinking
strongly of making application for
membership in the league have taken
the hint at Capt. McCardy's fall and
have realized that the new organization
has no use for politicians.
Notice the Date.
Coupons will not be counted if not
filed within. two days after publica-
tiOQ.