The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-10-02
GETTYSBURG POST GETS AN UN-
SATISFACTORY EXPLANATION
FROM d. b. SEARLE.
THE Ii HUNG CHANG MATTER.
THE WEST SIDE ORGANIZATION
HOLDS A MEETING FULL OF
SPIRIT.
FEEL THE D1sCoURTEsY SHOWN.
Would Like to Know What Com
mander Wood and the St. Cloud
Jurist Really Meant.

Gettysburg post held meeting last
night that was largely attended and
full Of ginger. The members felt that
they had a grievance against Depart
ment Commander Wood and few
others, in the way in which the Lii
Hung Chang matter had been success
fully pigeonholed at the Buffalo en-
campment, and they wanted to express
themselves on the subject. And &C.
cording to report they did They ex-
pect to do so again, if not before, at
least at the next state encampment
There is a little sentiment in the case,
and a little local pride, either of which
is regarded as sufficient, by the mem
bers Of Gettysburg post, to have the
matter thoroughly explained to the
Minnesota G. A R. men.
At the meeting last night Judge E.
II. Wood, adjutant of the post, read a
letter from Judge Searle, of st. Cloud
in answer to- the interview with Judge
Wood published in the Globe last
week. The communication read as fol-
lows:
Am am advised that when the papers in
question were delivered to Commander Woods
Dy yourself that it was then understood be-
tween yourself and the commander that as
was somewhat familiar with the subject
having Deen on the special committee having
this matter in charge at the last state en-
campment, l was to be named as mem
per OF the committee on resolutions at the
Butalo encampment, and, if so, the papers in
the matter were to be turned over to me to
present to such committee.
was named as a member of that COM
mlttee and the papers were delivered to me
TO present to the committee; if therefore,
am correctly advised as to such understand
ing between yourself and Commander Wood
the commander simply carried out that I'M
derstanding and is in no sense responsible or
in fault for what happened afterwards; and
further, VIII say, that as between the
commander and myself, l will assume the
responsibility and blame, if any.
Now, so far as l am concerned, 1 did as
requested, took charge of the papers and
presented the same to the committee on reso-
buttons, stating their substance and asked
that the committee take such action as
cussing the subject, refused to take any
action, except as l understood it was referred
to the committee on rules and regulations.
AS sooD the committee on resolutions
adjourned I endeavored to find the commit
tee on rules and regulations and lay the
matter before them, but was unable to find
them, or discover what act:on they had
taken.
AS I understood the papers were to be
delivered to the national encampment for
action and that for this purpose l was to
lutions as I did. AS l understood, my duty
and responsibility in regard to the matter then
ceased. | was not responsible for the &C
ton OF the committee on resolutions. They
did what seemed to them proper and did
net intend to, and in fact did not reflect
in any way upon the action of the depart
ment of Minnesota or any person connected
with the subject. In fact the voice of the
individuals of the committee seemed to in
dorse the action of the Minnesota department
although as committee they took action
except as above stated.
1t seems to that your criticism in your
purported interview is rot justified by the
facts | will state further that I have not
seen or heard from Commander Wood in re-
lation to this matter and that my advice
as to the understanding between yourself and
him above referred to came from other sour
ces.
I will write to Maj. Warner, who was chair
man of the committee on resolutions, and as
sist you in any way I can in obtaining a
return of the papers. if that is your wish
The members of Gettysburg post
couldn't quite hear the explanation
and Judge Searle will be asked to come
again. According to the statements
made at the meeting last night there
was no chance for Commander Wood
nor Judge Searle &c misunderstood
what was asked in the name OF the de-
partment of Minnesota. The docu-
ments were all carefully prepared with
the endorsements of Mrs. Gen Grant,
Bishop Newman, President Mckinley
and his secretary, John Sherman, and
others. Commander in Chief Clarkson
had Endorsed the movement when the
encampment was held in st. Paul All
that remained for Commander Wood.
or if he didn't know how to do it, for
Judge Searle to do, was to ask the en-
campment at Buffalo for the appoint
ment of a special committee to which
the subject could be referred. 1t was
not a question of rules. That had been
attended to. Nor was it for the COM
mittee on resolutions. But between
Commander Woods and Judge Searle
it got a reference where it did not be-
long. Judge Woods has received a let
ter from eX-Commander Clarkson say
ing that the matter was not presented
while he occupied the chair, but he
was frequently out of the chair. Gen.
Mullen, the senior vice commander,
has written that the matter was not
presented while he was in the chair.
What Gettysburg post would like to
know is when the subject was present
ed, if at all
The result of last nights meeting
was that Adjt Wood was instructed to
reply to Judge Sear1e's explanation,
which it holds doesn't explain. giving
him the correspondence received from
Commander Clarkson, Senior Vive
Commander Mullen and the official
stenographer Of the national encamp
n?ent for him to explain again. The
post claims that Judge Searle's letter
doesn't explain in any satisfactory
way the discourtesy received from
State Commander Wood nor the i'm
proper reference of the papers sent to
the encampment.
NEARLY -FOUR SCORE AND TEN.