The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-09-23
NO QUARTER TO GAR. MEN
DEWEY COMMITTEE ENDORSES lC-
 TION OF GENERAL ROE.

or Line Is Just and Other Committee
 men Agree Gov. Roosevelt Recedes
 from His Position - omman Il der-! n
 Chief Shaw's Opinion.
 New York, Sept. 22.--During the dis
 cussion of the G. A. K. trouble by the
 Dewey plan and scope committed this
 afternoon General Roe made the fol-
 lowing statement of his attitude in the
 case:
 Tn order that there may be no mis-
 understanding I wish to make this
 statement in reference to the declina-
 tion of the Grand Army of the Republic
 to take part in the Admiral Dewey land
 parade. On my representation, at my
 instigation and on my resolution I was
 authorized by this committee to extend
 an invitation to the Grand Army of the
 Republic of Greater New York to take
 part in the parade by having a certain
 number of men selected from each post
 forming a battalion or regiment, accord
 ing to the number. I put myself in
 communication with the state com mander as soon as possible. As soon as I could I asked General O. O. Howard to take command, being assured that this was agreeable to the state com mander At an interview between the state commander, several members of the G. A. R. and myself l understood that the selection of General Howard was agreeable. At this same interview, after some discussion, I informed them that the G. A. R. would be assigned position with the unarmed organiza- tions.
 "One of the members of the Grand Army present agreed with me that that was their natural place, and the other members expressed no dissatisfaction. At later interview between the com mander-in- chief of the G. A. R., the state commander, Colonel Goulden, and myself practically demand was made that the c. A. R. should have the right of line or head of the column, Colonel Goulden stating that at meeting held the day before it was the sentiment of the Grand Army of the Republic that if they could not have the lead they would not parade. I called their atten- tion to the fact that it was not Grand Army affair: that it was a city affair, and that that position was not their proper one, and said positively and ab solutely the Grand Army could not have the head of the column, whereupon they retired. At another interview the commander-in- chief. with the state commander present, stated that he thought General Howard should not command the Grand Army. I informed him that he was asked at the request of several Grand Army men, but I would write and ask General Howard to with draw. Whereupon the commander-in- | chief said, That is a simple matter and can easily be arranged and then asked if I would allow picked body of three hundred Grand Army men and himself to have the head of the column. I an- swered, I positively and absolutely will l not authorize any portion of the Grand 1 Army to be at the head of the column Subsequently, received the letter of | declination.
 At nearly every interview I stated | that the G. A. R. could be assigned on the Boulevard at Fifty-ninth street, near the Columbus statue, going to that position when they preferred and talk ing their proper position in the column at the proper time, halting the ex-Con- federates and ex-volunteers of the Spanish American war at that point to allow them to get into their place, thus having probably over three thousand men behind them. I have taken the po- sition from the beginning that the day was emphatic a navy day; that Admiral Dewey and the sailors of the Olympia should be in the lead, with nothing whatever to detract l was and am still in favor of not having a marshal, but that is impracticable, as if is absolutely essential to have some one in command to control column. l have taken this stand relative to the Grand Army, as I am thoroughly con- yinced I am right. l assume all re- I do not ask the commit- tee to approve my action, but abide by what I have done. I have the honor to be a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, George Washington post
 The committee decided unanimously, m the motion of MT. Guggenheimer, to approve the action taken by General | Roe, No reference was made to the dispatch received from Governor Roose- welt. General Roe declined to give the text of the dispatch to the reporters. General Roe reported to the plan and scope committee that he had learned that Ohio purposed to increase it's rep from seven hundred to three men. He suggested that in i view of the lack of funds the commit 1 tee authorize him to announce that no { more organizations would be accepted. ! A motion to that effect was adopted. {