The Portland daily press., 1899-09-23
Gen. Roe Makes a
Statement.
Com mander Shaw Explains His
Position.

New York, September 2s.-General Kos
who viii command the national guard Of
New York state in the Dewey land parade
received a telegram from Governor Roose-
welt today directing him to give the g. A.
X. the choice of any place in the land pa
rade. Immediately on receiving the tels-
gram General Roe had conference with
Mayor Van Wyck and then Chairman
duggenheimer of the plan and scope COM
mittse, which has charge of the parade
was notified of the governors despatch.
After pointing out that his scom-
mittee alone. had the right to assign places
in the line of march, MIR. Guggenheimer
ssid of the governors action: at is pc
culiarly Roossveltian. 1t Is most impu-
dent, unjustitled and unwarranted inter
ference in matter that is without his
province. do not believe, however, that
our committee will take any notice of It,
STATEMENT BY GEN. ROE.
At today's meeting of the plan and
SCOPE co,umittee. General Roe made the
following statement:
"In order that there may be no misun-
Outstanding, wish to make this state
ment in reference to the decliuation of
the Grand Army of the Republic to take
part in the Admiral Dewey land parade.
'on my representation at my instIga.
tion and on my resolution, was autho-
rized by this committee TO extend an In
vitation to the Grand Army of the Re-
public Of Greater New York to take part
in the parade, by having certain num-
Der of men selected from each post form
ing battalion or regiment according to
the number. l put myself in oommu-
nication with the state commander as
soon as possible. At the request Of IA
prominent Grand Army man, wrote
aud asked General o. o. Howard to take
command of this body, being assured
that this was agreeable to the state com
mander. At an interview bstween the
state commander several members OF the
G. A. R.. and myself 1 understood that
the selection Of General Howard was
agreeable. At this same interview, after
some discussion, informed them that the
Grand Army would be assigned posi-.
ton with the una m "a organizations.
Zone of the members of the Grand
Army present agreed with me that was
their natural place and the other members
expressed no dissatisfaction. Eat a later
interview between the commander-iu-
chief of the Grand Army Of the Republic,
the state commander, Col. Gou lden and
myself practically demand was made
that the Grand Army should have the
right of line or head of the column, Col.
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. called their attention to
ths 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 absolutely, the
Grand Army cannot have the head of the
column whereupon they retired. At an
other interview, the commander-in-chief,
with the state commander present, stat
ed that he thought General Howard
should not command the Grand Army. /
dnsWef6Q MN tnhO ne was ASKED at the
request of several Grand Army men but I
would write and ask General Howard to
withdraw. Whereupon the commander
in-chief said: That is a simple matter
and can be arranged and then asked If
would allow picked body of three:hun-
dred Grand Army men and himself to
have the head OF the column, answered,
I positively and absolutely will not au-
thoriz any portion of the q. A. r.. to
be at the head of the column Subse-
quentiy received the letter Of 1eolina-
tion.
SAT nearly every interview stated that
the Grand Army could be assigned on the
boulevard at 59th street near the Colum-
bus statue, going to that position when
they preferred and take their proper pcsi-
ton in the column at the proper time,
hating the Confederatas and ex-yolun-
teers of the Spanish American war at
that point to allow them to get into their
place thus having probably over 5000