The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-09-25
ALGER'S MANIPULATION

The Grand Army of the RepuDllc was
organized to perpetuate the sentiment Oh
LOYALTY to the Union and the kindly re-
lations of former companions in arms.
The constitution provides that the order
shall be non-partisan, and the door is
thrown open to men of all political and
religious creeds. On these principles
the organization has been harmonious
and prosperous.
Until the last encampment the organ
ization was never asked to grant, in us
name. a certificate of good military char
actert to any of its members, or to any
one who had served in the Union army.
None of the prominent generals have
appealed to the order for vindication
Of their regulations, or have asked that
resolutions should be passed commend
atory of their conduct in the war. They
were content to rely on the record as
proof of what they did.
The last encampment departed from
previous practices, and condescended 10
do what was intended to remove the
Stain. from tha military record of Rus
sell A. Alger.
IT is probable that not a member OF
the body had any personal knowledge
of Ayers military career, or was even
familiar with it from reading or hear
saw. Previously no notice had been
taken of him, and If he had applied for
a certificate Of good character before
he became secretary Of war his appli-
cation would have gone into the waste
basket or been returned to him with
the Endorsement that 1t was not proper
subject for the encampment's consid'era-
ton. But Alger is not modest, and
being in a strait he had the hardihood
to apply to the organization for certlfi-
cate of good behavior.
1t Is a fact, however, that during one
of the great battles in the Shenandoah
valley Alger was absent without leave.
1t was a battle wherein the regiment of
which he was lieutenant-colonel took
part. General Wesley Merritt, who COM
manded the cavalry corps TO which the
Re giment belonged, recommended that
Alger be dismissed from the service for
Sinking duty, or practically for cow
ardice, and General Phil Sheridan APP
proved the recommendation. Yet the
last national encampment of the Grand
Army was manipulated into indorsing
in Wholesale Ayers conduct as SOL
der. None but man destitute Of a
sense of propriety and with a reputation
that needed bolstering up, would have
asked for an Endorsement from such a
body.
At the same time the encampmert
condemned II. Clay Evans, commits
sioner of pensions, for his treatment Of
the old soldiers in pension matters. and
reflected upon President Mckinley for
continuing Evans in office. That was
a legitimate subject for the encamp-
ments consideration, and the action
taken was perfectly proper, while the
subject of Ayers reputation was utterly
foreign to the business of the body.
What was done smacks of politics and
the manipulation of a politician. If the
order can be called upon to approve, it
can as legitlmately be called upon to
condemn. The precedent set may be-
come pandora box, out of which will
spring all manner Of wrang!ing and
strife to build up and tear down reputa-
tons.
If the action Of the encampment fur
nishes a good excuse for the retention
Of Alger in the war office, it also fur
nishes an equally good reason for the
dismissal of Evans. The great and rep
utabe organization will go to pieces if
it is made political machine or is en-
ployed as an instrument 20 promote the
objects of ambitious individuals.