El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1897-05-04
GRANT TO THE G. A. r.
The Texas Republican Talks Back to his
Enemies

The Texas Republican Talks Back to his
| Enemies.
The following is letter from Wash
| ingtou under date of April %, from
John Grant: To the grand army OF
the republic of Texas: 1t is rarely that
I allow myself to be forced into news
papers to defend myself against malig-
ners or the assaults of the enemy, but
1 feel obliged to say a word, which will
answer dual purpose.
L have noticed q growing tendency
on the part of a few men who were
against Mckinley in the recent fight
for delegates in Texas, and were con-
sequently against me, to get behind
the breastworks of the grand army Of
the republic organization, and use that
respected and revered body to vent the
spite they entertained against them
selves for having lacked the good judg-
ment to get aud be on the winning side
in our political contest last year.
I see it charged in our state papers:
1. That "Grant is against the old
soldiers
2. That che damned the grand army
of the republic men,"
3. That che indorsed p. B. Gibbons
of Paris for the postoffice. who is the
son of confederate soldier, against an
old soldier, Mr.. Russell.''
refer you to several old soldiers who
are now here in Washington, in whose
interest 1 have been working, aud for
whom 1 have already obtained posi-
tions. L would also call their attention
to many grand army of the republic
applications for office who have my
Endorsement, each of whom will get
the position to which they aspire; aud
furthermore, if my maligners will
watch closely, they will observe great
many old soldiers in office by the time
the much talked of patronage" is dis
tributed: but it will not be necessary to
look for the fortunate ones in the look
ing glass.
Many of the truest men in Texas are
old soldiers, but it must be remember
ed that as true men wore the gray as
the blue, and were as good soldiers.
l desire to say right here also, that
there are many republicans in Texas
who wore the gray, who rendered sig
nal service toward the upbuilding OF
our party and the acquiring OF Nc
Kinley delegates to the national con-
vention from Texas, and it is safe to
say that their interests will not be
overlooked, nor will it be bar to
their holding Office. 1 am a friend to
the old union soldier, and all things
being equal, they will be given greater
consideration, but it must be remeM-
bered that there have been some poll
tical battles fought of late, and the
men who proved soldiers in those bat
ties, regardless OF age or previous con-
di.ions, must and will be rewarded.
1t is said that P. B. Gibbons, the
appOintee as postmaster at Paris, and
whose petition, and his alone, 1 indors-
ed, should not have been appointed
because his father was Confederate
soldier, but that l should have indorsed
Mr.. Russell, who is said to have been
4 union soldier. 1 don't know how
good Confederate soldier Mr.. John B.
Gibbons made, but l do know that he
has worn the republican uniform for
years and has exerted a greater influ-
epce for its advancement in not Only
that county, but in that entire conRres-
sional district than any man in it. And
further know that he was one OF the
first men who joined me in the McKin-
ley fight in that section of the state.
In addition to that, he, as a man, ts
above reproach, and will grace any
party.
Then his son, P. B. Gibbons, were
iudorsed by the citizens
of all classes, as we'll as having the en-
tire political organization of the county
and nearly every county in his dis
trict as we'll as having the members of
the state executive committee of that
district and both delegates to the na-
tional convention, who voted for Nc
Kinley. Besides, he had the judge and
some of the officers OF the federal court,
whose main court is at Paris, and near
ly, if not every, element of political
and other strength in that section,
as against that of Mr.. Russell, whom
have never met or heard of until this
contest for office came up, that 1 re.
member, and who claims to be, and
presume is, republican. He had the
of the state chairman,
who, evidently, though the nominal
head of the organization in the state,
went against the organization in all
its branches.
l have said that 1 would indorse such
men as the people wanted, and 1 pro-
pose to do that, knowing they will al
ways select a good man and a friend to
the best interests of the party, both,
past, present and future. L am a friend
of the old soldiers and of the political
soldiers as well, but no particular class
shall be construed to have an exclusive
right to political positions of trust or
l shall support the men who won
their spurs in the trenches of 1896, as
we'll as those of 1865.
In conclusion, desire to say that any
one who asserts that 1 have ever spok-
en- disparagingly of the old union SOL
diers gives utterapce to a base false
hood. Respectfully,
JOHN GRANT.
Member national committee of Texas.
Free Home Bills.
WASHINGTON, May 4.-The free
homes bill passed the senate by large