The times., 1899-03-29
hate FOR REBELS IN
GOVERNMENT PLACES
Robert st. George Dyrenforth
Tries to Explain.
Why He Expelled Command Thai
Endorsed Mr.. Mckinley.
His Prediction of Dire Disaster From
Fellowship of Union and Com
fcdcratc Veterans.


ert St. George Dyrenforth. of the Union
Veterans Union. in expelling the d. d.
Porter Command, No. 16 for adopting 4
resolution endorsing the sentiments Of
President Mckinley with reference to car
ing for the graves of the Confederate deaG
has furnished a topic for widespread dis
eussien, mostly condemnatory. of M.
Dyrenforth. The first intimation of the
sentiments Of the old soldiers relative TO
the speech of the President made while AT
Atlanta last December. was the resolution
of the ID. ID. Porter Command. which ap-
Peared in The Times of March 10. The
resolution was given out for publication
by the members of the organization. ac-
companied with the information that Com
nander-in-C Dyrenforth had not only
denounced IL but had threatened to expel
the command If the resolution should reach
publicity. General Dyrenforth later de-
MED having made such a threat and stated
that he had no knowledge of the resolution
until it was seen by him in The Times.
Prior to this date. however. a staff officer
OF the Commander n-Chief visited the
command with a request from General
Dyrenforth that the resolution be rescind-
ed This the command refused to do. On
March is a general order was drawn up
and promulgated by the Commander-in-
Chief expelling the command from the
Union Veterans Union.
The order was read at a meeting of the
Porter Post Monday night 1t resulted in
the adoption of another resolution de-
nouncing the action of the Comnander-in-
Chief as unjust, Illegal, and subversiye
TO the spirit of true comradeship. The
paraphernalia of the order was then turn
ed over TO headquarters. and the command
was dissolved. Later it will appeal for vim
dication of its action to the next general
encampment OF the Union Veterans Union.
IL Is claimed by the member of the Porter
command that the general sentiment of
the union is in sympathy with their reso-
luton. They also state that there are 4
number of officials in the organization OPP
posed to any sentiment which would tend
TO erase the Mason and Dixon line. The
expression of members in the organization
who were seen yesterday seems to verify
the assertion of the Porter Command. 1t
was found that the privates in the organi-
zation were in perfect sympathy with the
sentiment of the President
Dyrenforth's Statement.
General Dyrenforth was seen last night
by Times reporter TO whom he dictated
the following statement:
The first time / saw the resolution of
the Porter Command was in The Times
and ] was surprised to find that it con-
tained such language as this:
g II is conceded by ALL that the soldiers
OF the Confederacy, though misguided as
they were in upholding the cause of seces-
sion. nevertheless fought for what they
believed at the time TO be right. Their
valor was shown on many hard-contested
field. Their sincerity was evidenced by
the sacrifices they made. Their bravery
and endurance were never excelled either
in ancient or modern warfare
Il naturally enquired if the resolution
had been adopted. i consider that any
such Interpretation of the sentiments of
the President is an insult to him, and |
sent one of my staff TO Porter Command
asking il TO rescind the resolution. This
IL refused to do II Is true that there
were not many present when the resolu-
ton WAS adopted or when they refused to
comply with my request. but ii appears
OF course. as the resolution of a body
There was but one course left for me TO
pursue, and that TO revoke the charter
i began an order to this effect. but upon
Investigation found that il had no charter,
SO was only compelled to refuse to recog-
ntze the command. There is no bubble as
to whether IL had charter or not; il ii
had had one should have revoked it.
have seen the suggestion that had taken
the charter away from the Porter Com
inand in order to have the name correct
ed. Any such statement Is entirely with
cut foundation.
When the Porter Command was ineor-
porated il was known as the Joe Hooker
Command, but most of the members Being
from the navy the name was changed to
its present one. ] have never had The
charter of the Joe Hooker Command in my
hands for an instant. ! do not believe that
ever saw il, and ] aTa sure that It has
never been at headquarters. II is some
what amusing to read the unanimous les
olution of antagonism to the Commander
in-chief when il appears that the command
is very small. Besides many OF the former
Porter people have been to see me today
in regard to enlisting in other commands
OF the department The union has been
for some time and will be more so In the
future. careful TO keep out of the union
any man who has been kicked cut Cf
another organization.
Il understand that a person who is max
ing himself quite prominent in this little
Porter Command matter was turned out
OF the Union Veterans Legion or court
msrtialed or something of the sort | have
been told that il was on the ground. among
other things. that he enlisted in the Con-
federate army. II such be the case / can
easily account for the obnoxious sentiment
quoted in the resolution.
Rebels Once and Always
THE position take as Commander in
Chief Of the Union Veterans Union, and I
voice the sentiments of the whole organ
ization. is that while we hold no animosity
against the rebels. We intend 10 fight
everything which win lessen the prestige
of the Union soldier. We are against any
sentiment which will make the people If
the United States forget that the rebels
fought against the country and are still
enemies to ii. We do not want to ohliteI-
ate the distinction between the Union
soldiers and the men who endeayored TO
destroy this nation and thus break down
the preference which is 10 be given TO the
Federal soldier. We are moi lambs TO he
led TO the slaughter. and contribute TO
the other fellows feast We are not ready
10 say that If he will call IL square We will
try TO be good in the future, and he can
have the pie.
My principal function as Commander
in-Chief is TO look after the old soldier
have gone through the departments here
IN Washington endeayoring 10 get some
comrane position under the Government
which he helped in saving and have found
Inc positions hlled with copperheads and
rebels What would the condition he il
This feeling of fellowship were allowed ,o
90 on The first thing We would know Con-
grsss would abolish the pensions 10 the old
soldiers. and the law which gives them the
preference to Government positions. Later
the Union man would probably be thrown
out altogether. movement is now on
foot 10 reorganize the soc 900 veterans of
fhe civil War into one body so that when
they are banded together they will be able
10 demand their rights and get Them. We
are not satisfied TO be called has beens
and We intend to show that there is sim