Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-09-26
G. A. r.. CONTROVERSY.
Gov. Roosevelt withdrnws His De-
nanfl of Cen Roe,

G. A. r. CONTROVERSY.
Gov. Roosevelt Withdrnws His De-
mand of Gen. Roe.
Utica, N. Y, Sept 25.-Regarding the
dispute as to the position to be accorded
the G. A. R. in the Dewey day parade at
New York, Gov. Roosevelt said Friday
night:
81 have telegraphed Gen. Roe, that If the
matter is one purely for the city authori-
ties, and in which l have no power, then
of course withdraw my former telegram.
I had understood that Gen. Roe was acting
as major general of the national guard In
the management of the parade, and in that
event I, of course. had the power to direct
that the veterans be given the right of the
line, and accordingly did it. IT, however, as
appears to be the case it is matter purely
for the city officials, l, of course. have
nothing to say, and no advice to give.
Gen. Roe Explains.
q New York, Sept. 25. = At Fridays
meeting of the plan and scope commit
tee, Gen. Roe made the following state
ment:
"In order that there may be no misunder-
standing, l wish to make this statement IN
reference to the declination of the Grand
Army of the Republic to take part in the
Admiral Dewey land parade: On my repre-
sentation, at my instigation and on my
resolution, was authorized by this COM
mittee to extend an invitation to the Grand
Army of the Republic of Greater New York
to take part in the parade, by having GER
tain number of men selected from each post
forming a battalion or regiment, according
to the number. put myself in communfca-
ton with the state commander as soon as
possible. At the request of prominent
grand army man. wrote and asked Gen. O.
O.Howard to take command of this body, be-
ing assured that this was agreeable to the
state commander. At an interview be-
tween the state commander, several men,
bers of the grand army and myself, I'M
derstood that the selection of Gen. Howard
was agreeable. At this same Interview.
after some discussion, I informed them
that the grand army would be assigned
position in the lead of the unarmed organ
izations. At later interview between the
commander in chief of the G. A. R., the
state commander. Col. Goulden and my
self, practically a demand was made that
the grand army should have the right of
the line, or head of the column, Col. Goul-
den stating that at a meeting held the day
before 1t 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 attention to the fact that 1t was
not a grand army affair, that 1t was city
affair, and that that position was not their
proper one, and said: Positively and alb
solutely, the grand army cannot have the
head of the column whereupon they re-
tired At another interview the command
er in chief, with the state commander pres
ent, stated that he thought Gen. Howard
should not command the grand army. / in
formed him that he was asked at the re-
quest of several grand army men, but
would write and ask Gen Howard to with
draw. whereupon the commander in chief
said: That is a simple matter, and can be
easily arranged Then he asked If would
allow picked body of 300 grand army men
and himself to have the head of the col
'umn. I answered: / positively and alb
solutely will not authorize any portion of
the grand army to be at the head of the
column Subsequently I received the let
ter of declination. ] have taken the posi-
ton from the beginning that the day was
emphatically navy day. that Admiral
Dewey and the sailors of the Olympia
should be in the lead with nothing what
ever to detract. ] have taken this stand
relative to the grand army, as am thor
otghly convinced am right. I assume all
responsibility do not ask the committee
to approve my action. but abide by what
have done have the honor to be a mem
Der of the Grand Army of the Republic.
George Washington post"
His Action Approved.
The committee agreed unanimously,
to approve the action taken by Gen
Roe. No mention was made of the dis
patch of Gov. Roosevelt.
The other Side.
Gen. Albert D. Shaw, commander in
chief of the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie. has issued an address to the public,
in which he says:
THE reasons given in the letter from De-
partment Commander Kay and presented
in person to Gen. Roe, embodied the views
] personally and strongly impressed upon
him, and which should command the pla ce
for the comrades in the line in question
made this request following the presidents
of two states. First, in Chicago. at the
jubilee parade. the veterans were accorded
the right of line and marched ahead of all
armed troops; second on the return of the
Tenth regiment. Pennsylvania volunteers,
from the Philippines, the Grand Army of
the Republic had the right of line in Pitts
burgh. followed by the president and gov
ernor and their staffs In the light of these
comparatively recent parades-the latter
In honor of our gallant soldiers who served
in the Philippines could but feel that the
grand army comrades of New York repre-
sentative of the greatest state in the union,
which sent more men than any other state
to preserve the nation from ruin, were IS
richly entitled to head the line of the
Dewey parade as were the comrades of
Pennsylvania to lead a similar civil pa
geant in honor of our Spanish American
f war heroes, anu Ielt when made the plea
that the precedent set by the state of Penn
sylvania in having the veterans lead the
line, President Mckinley and the governor
of the state following, was one that might
be followed without any loss of dignity to
these controlling the Dewey parade in New
York. l wish to add that my only desire
has been to stand for the honor and dignity
of the grand army, and know / shall not
be blamed by fair-rinded and patriotic
citizens for doing my duty in this respect
as l understand it. 1t gives me the great
est pleasure to extend to Gov. Theodore
Roosevelt. as the commander in chief of
100000 veterans of the G. A. r., my warm
congratulations on the just and patriotic
stand he has taken in behalf of the ageing
veterans of the nation in using his inf1u-
ence to have their just request granted
that they may lead the parade in the city
Of New York in honor of the great Adj
miral Dewey, thus assuring to our newest
veterans that when they grow old in their
turn, they shall not be the tail of any public
procession. AS Commander Kay says in
his letter to Gen. Roe: In their own time,
and in their own way, the Grand Army of
the Republic. as representatives of the vet
Grams of the civil war will render the hon.
age that they feel for their comrade and
great admirai, George Dewey!'"
Mexican prcss Comment.