Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-11-05

open letter, copies of which are to be
sent to the posts of the order through
the state, and especially to those IN
the Second congressional district:
Headquarters,
Department of West Virginia,
Grand Army of the Republic.
WHEELING, w. VA, Oct. 70, 1898.
Circular No. I.
The attention of the department
commander has been called to circu-
lar dated September 10, 1898, that Is
being sent through the mails, headed
&c. A. R.--An Open Letter" osten-
sibly emanatiug from Reno Post No.
T, G. A. R., located at Grafton, but
which is really the production OF
few individual members OF Reno Post.
That the circular is being used for
political purposes there can be no
doubt, and that it is equally evident
that the headings were constructed
with the view to misleading the reader
into tie belief that it had been issued
by and under the authority of theGrand
Army of the Republic. To this give
emphatic denial, and do not hesitate to
state that the person or persons who
would be guilty of this attempt to Willy
and degrade our beloved order would
not scruple to falsify and distort the al
legged misconduct of Representative
Dayton, which is the ground work OF
| the circular. Every true member OF
the Grand Army of the Republic
should resent this effort to drag the
order into the political arena and thus
hasten its inevitable decay and death.
The circular is the outgrowth of a
/ factional post trouble that originated
over a year ago, when certain men,
bers of Reno Post became incensed
over the appointment OF DR.. Van
Kirk on the pension examining board
of Grafton, A circular was at that
time distributed broadcast denounciug
| Comrades Thayer and Davis, members
of the post, and also Senator Elkins
and Representative Dayton, as more
or less responsible for said appoint
ment. CondemnatOry resolutions
were adopted by one faction OF the
cost. only to be rescinded later by
another, and altogether there was a
disgraceful wrangle which the depart
ment commander was finally called
upon to straighten out. He utterly
I refused to use the department laundry
10 wash the dirty linen of Reno Post,
and was informed that an appeal
would be taken to the national head
quarters. This ended the matter for
the time being so far as the depart
ment was concerned, but the recent
denomination of Mr. Dayton for Con-
gress. il appears, was too good an OPP
portuuity 10 vent the autagouism of
his enemies 20 let slip, and the circu-
lar IN question IS the result.
Now. comrades, appeal to you to
assist me in maintaining the dignity
and upholdiug the laws Of the Grand
Army OF the Republic By rebuking III
every manner possible this dastardly
attempt % bcsmirch the fair name of
our order. Turn a deaf ear to appeals
made in spirit of spite and which
tend 20 brand the ORDER Win the SllS-
ma of being used for political pur-
poses
/ Personally the commander Of the
department has but admitted acquaint-
auce with the personnel OF the war
ring post factions, and none at all
with the doctor who is the cause or
with the candidate who is the object
i've point of the controversy, and can
therefore have no Interior motive for
his action in the premises but by vir.
tue of his office as commander he as
sumes that il is his duty 10 protect
the department Of West Virginia from
the effects Of a base. designing scheme
d mislead its membership and the
public and which tends 10 belittle and
degrade our noble order