The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-18
Goes the War Between the
LOgans and McCOOks.
Mrs. John A. Logan Says Nc
Cooks Were EnviOus
BECAUSE HER SONJOHN
Looked So Fine Dressed Up in
His Regimentals.
Mrs. Potter Palmer's Crown Fell
Off in the Confusion.

WASHINGTON. May 1S.-Mrs. John A.
Logan who was present at the corona
ton of the czar, when her son wore the
uniform of a captain, which Col. John
]. McCook says he was not entitled to
do, has related the incidents of the Oc-
casion which led up to the rupture be-
tween the families.
The first act of Gen. Alexander Med.
McCOok upon reaching st. Petersburg,
she says, was to claim precedence over
all Americans assembled Minister
Breckinridge, however, resented the
snub, and Secretary Olney sustained
him.
1T was Col John ]. McCook who ap-
peared in a uniform to which he had no
right, and not my son." continued Mrs.
Logan. He was in Russia a the time
with his daughter, and was appointed
a member of his brothers staff He at
of a colonel of the cavalry of the United
States army. I saw the eagles on his
shoulders, the mark of that rank.
"On the occasion of the coronation my
party was given excellent seats; the
McCOok party was off rather to one
side. After 1 was seated my son came
down. He was splendid figure, the
handsOmeSt man about, and by odds the
most sOldierly- John J. McCOOk, who
probably had not had ON a uniform
since just before ChancellOrsville, could
not be called a proud or striking per-
sonality. And I fear that possibly this
irritated the McCooks.
Creighton Webb, too, was there, busy
with eVerybOdy'S affairs but his own. It
is quite likely that Creighton Webb said
something to soften the McCoOks. After
my son came over to where 1 was seat
ed and had gone away again, Mrs. Pot
ter Palmer came over.
Mrs. Logan, said she, it is out
rageOus the way the McCOOks are talk
ing about your son. They say he has
no business with uniform, and that
they will have him arrested if he does
not take it off
I told Mrs. Palmer not to take alarm
No Logan ever needed a McCOOk to tell
him when to put on a uniform or to
take it off Then 1 paid attention to
the ceremonies and thought no more of
it at that time.
ION the occasion of the dinner of
Prince Radlin to Duke Vladimir my son
wore the ordinary evening dress, as was
proper in his case. His status was that
of a civilian. But Gen. McCOok also
wore evening dress, when he should
have worn his uniform. The dinner
was in honor of a soldier, Duke Vladi-
mir, and Gen. McCOOk, a soldier should
have shown him that respect due to his
profession and worn a uniform.
" You make a mistake. General said
1 to Gen. McCOok at the time. You
make mistake. Duke Vladimir might
well regard it as a great discOurtesy to
appear otherwise than in your uni
form
80, I don't know replied Gen. Nc
Cook I don't like uniform.
THE day following the coronation my
son got q peremptOry note from Gen
McCOok, asking him to see him at once
The note was an insult; Gen. McCOok
had no more to do with my son than he
has with you at this moment When
shown the note I said: Go and see
what he wants, Jack. He's no business
to write it, but go and see what he
wants.
The two McCooks. and. I take it.
Creighton Webb, undertook to deliver
lectures to my son on the propriety of
his appearing in any uniform. They
even went so far as to question how
1 got my tickets to the coronation ex-
ercises and the palace dinner insinu-
ated that my invitations to Prince Rad
Inns dinner were arrived at in some
surreptitious way. My son stopped them
all very short. and I fear said many
harsh, vigorous things to all of them
things they tingle with yet.
when l learned of the McCook in
situations touching my coronation
tickets and my appearance at Prince
Radlin's dinner I called on General Nc
Cook and his brother, and before I got
through talking they were heartily
ashamed of their conduct. I told them
what was true, that the kindness and
attention shown were natural enough
The tWenty-SiX years of public serV-
ice of General Logan. sixteen of them
in the senate and the remainder on
the battlefieldS of this country and the
floor of the house of representa- tives.
rendered me, his widow, quite as dis
tinguished an American as any then in
Moscow, and that the Russians We're
aware of this, even if the McCooks
were not Then l came away"