Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-06-19
POLITICS IN THE G. A. R.
Department Commander Bothin scores
the Attempt TO Mix Partisan
ship With Loyalty.

| Topeka. Kas, June 1S.-(Special) In a
| general order issued to-day Department
| Commander Botkin. of the Kansas G. a.
| r., gives out his views concerning politics
| in the order. He says:
From every quarter of the state comes
word that recruits are being mustered and
| dropped members Teinstated. and that
| campiires are blazing warmly and brightly
| with the glow of fraternity, charity and
| loyalty. There Is a decided improvement
| all over the department. There Is a great
| er and growing interest in post meetings
and a much greater concern for the well
| fare of the aged and sick.
Now and then We hear of some post
| that is not improving or making any et-
| fort TO do so, and there are a few which
are dominated by an uncharitable spirit,
born of political contention, and in which
the sacred name of comradeShip seems TO
mean party affiliatiOn, Notwithstanding that
only one test can be made for membership
in the G. A. r., ana that test Is past and
present loyalty to the flag and an honor
able discharge from the Union army or
navy. One such post, however, situated IN
one of the most thriving cities of the state
has for its post commander one VINO Hrltes
to the department as follows:
Since 1 have been post commander l
have never been guilty OF asking one single
Pop to come into the post, ana, so help me
The supposition is that Mr.. Botkin re-
fers to Newton, where new post COM
posed solely of Populists has recently been
organized. Commenting upon the senu-
ments of such letters as the one referred
to, the commander says:
And yet that man objects because a
hundred or more old soldiers OF his locahty
want to form new post where they VIII
be welcome and can feel at home, II Is
needless to say that a new post would be
great blessing to the cause OF cOmradeSnlp
I'm that city or in any other community
where the existing post Is dominated by
political hacks; and the comrades in such
communities cannot ask for a new charter
too quick. Thank God, however, such IN
stances are few, and they are growing
fewer. 1t is nobody's business how COM
rade of the G.. A. r. may vote, so hong as
he remains loyal to his comrades aud the
flag. And during the terms eff this present
administration OF the order, the q. A. X:
shall not be used by tin horn politicians OF
any political party for their own selfish
The list OF aides appointed is as fol-
lows:
Allen @. Buckner Baldwin: NJ A. Car
michael, Colony; T. r. Hornaday, Wichi-
Ia; John ]. Baker, Bonner Springs; James
Lawrence, Wellington; j. NJ. Dunsmore
Thayer: w. II. Avery, Eldorado; Alex Ter
rell, Attica;, Alva Clark ST Paul. Al. a.
II. Williams, Greenleaf; W. T. Hendry,
Nickerson; G.. X. Mckee. Lacrosse: A. r.
McGowen, WeIisyilie; II. g Baugaman,
Mona: w. II. Allen. Blue Mound; n. b.
Manning Fort Scott; Z. c. Martin. En-
pOria; ]. A. Campbell, Severance; J. 5.
Mcdowell, Smith Center; Ed j., Gouhle-
ter; George w Trout Wamego; ID. r.
Shelabarger, Toledo; Thomas Knoop. Pa
ola; y. +. Graves. Springdale; A. Sidney,
Chase, Ellsworth; ]. +. Buell., ST. Mary's;
Z. Z. Bradley. Jetmore; W. L. Haywood.
Lakin; W. II. HOughton. Beloit; J. c.
Kitchen, Garden City; A II, Jenkins, New
Salem; G. w. Brown, Scranton; Z. B.
Moore, Oketo; C. w, Bousman. Stafford;
Elmer Loomis, Girard; w. 4. Short, Con-
eorda; X; d. Talbot, Parsons; John Nc
PhersCn, Blue Rapids w. u. Shugart.
Hope; irwin Eincaid, Cherryvale; J. II.
Watrous, burlington; NJ. =. Harris. Ton
ganoxie; II. G. SwisheT, Lyndon +. c. Cas-
terfine, Axtell; II. II. MeGlothlin, Pleas
anton; Henry Schad, Wichita; Elmer Ev-
eTeIt I PaEsTidse r. i w Ri kf1nedy Hayen;
walt. Oakley. T. J. Jackson, Newton; w.
c. Brooks, Topeka: George Randall, Wake 4
field; {. Patterson, Kansas City, and I'D
Bulloch, MusCotah.
C0mmsnIfer 3otkin calls upon all COM
rades and others interested in connection
with the work Of the department to CO.
operate with the various organizations in
a proper celebration Of Mother Bickerdyke
day, July 10.