Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-28
KIT CARSON POST.
It's Action on the Circular Letter Of
Gen. pyrenfOrth.

When Gen. r. G. Dyrenforth. command
| er-in-chief of the Union Veterans Union,
| issued his circular letter urging all ex-
| Union soldiers to support Representative
Henderson for the speakership of the House
considerable comment was made because
he also appealed to members of the Grand
Army of the Republic and signed himself as
a member of Kit Carson Post. No. 2.
That post took action in the matter and
referred the letter to the committee on the
good of the order, consisting of N. N. Nc
Cullough, VIM. Hunter Myers, A. Hart and
L. F. Randolph which after some weeks
elaboration submitted a report, which was
adopted by the post and a certified copy
sent to Gen. Dyrenforth. The report is as
follows:
We have carefully considered the said
circular letter and found in 1t a highly COM
plimentary and eulogistic reference to a
comrade of the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie who is a candidate for the office of
Speaker of the national House of Repre-
sentatives. and in every word of compliment
therein contained we heartily concur. But
coupled with that deserved compliment was
an appeal TO members of all Union soldiers
organizations. including our own by name,
to use all their influence in support of the
candidacy of that comrade. Such an APP
peal. it will be observed is unquestionably
political in it's nature and intent and for
this reason is in direct contravention of a
general rule of our order which strictly pro-
hibits the use of the Grand Army of the
Republic for partisan purposes, this pro-
hibition extending to nominations for po-.
litical offices. Article XII, chapter 5. of the
rules and regulations reads as follows:
mo officer or comrade of the Grand
Army of the Republic shall in any manner
use this organization for partisan purposes,
and no discussion of partisan questions
shall be permitted at any of its meetings,
shall any nominations for political Of
flee be made"
Notwithstanding Comrade Dyrenforth is
member of Kit Carson Post, in our opin
ion the issuing of the said circular letter
by him would have been matter of no con-
Germ to the Grand Army of the Republic
had he signed it only in his capacity as
commander-in-chief of the Union Veterans
Union. But in signing it also as member
of Kit Carson Post, No. 2" he did that
which would naturally give rise to an in
ference that his Grand Army Post Endorsed
his action. thereby placing it in a false
position before all comrades of our order
throughout the land as violating funda-
mental rule of the Grand Army, which
every active member of our post well knows
we have always rigidly enforced.
Therefore. in order that there may no
longer be any misunderstanding on the part
of our comrades in this department and
throughout the Union as to our posts posi-
ton in this matter, we state positively and
unequivocally that the above mentioned cir
cular letter issued by Comrade Dyrenforth
rever had all Endorsement by Kit Carson
Post, but, on the contrary, it was emphat
ically repudiated at the last meeting of the
post by unanimous vote.
In the opinion of your committee Com
rade Dyrenforth in issuing the above men,
toned circular letter signed as 1t was did
not violate article XII chapter ), of the
rules and regulations in wllful manner,
his action being governed apparently by An
intense and sincere enthusiasm for the po-
iitical advancement of comrade who
stands high in the estimation of all Union
soldiers, no matter to what political party
they may belong Yet deem it proper
for post to notify him and all other
members that enthusiasm for the political
advancement of a comrade must in the
future involve no violation of the rules and
regulations of the Grand Army of the Re-
public.