Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-09-23
ROOSEVELT POWERLEsS TO AID
HAS NO AUTHORITY IS FIXING THE
ORDER OF PARADE.
Committee Stands by General Roe, I'm
Spite of Governor Rooseycit's
Tclcgrnms-Command
Chief Shaw Gives the
q. A. X. Side.


Roe. who Will command the National guard
OF New York state in the Dewey land pa
rade. received n telegram from Governor
Roosevelt to-day directing him to give the
G. i. l.. the choice OF any place in the pm
radc. Immediately on receiving the tee-
Gram. General Roe had n conference with
Mayor Van Wyck. and then Chairman Gug-
EcnheiGscr. of the plan and scope COM
mittce. which has charge OF the parade,
vas notified OF the governors dispatch.
After pointing out that his committee alone
had the right TO assign places in the line
OF march. Mr.. Guggcnheimer said of the
governors action:
''lt IL peculiarly Roosevcltian. 1t IS most
impudcnt, unjustiied and unwarranted in
tcrfcrence in Il matter that is without his
province"
Governor Roosevelt sent his telegram un-
der misapprehension. General Roe Ia not
acting In his capacity us major general
commanding the state militia. but rs chair
man OF the subcommittee on land parade
OF the Dewey celebration committee of this
city.
dispatch from Utica quotes Governor
Roosevelt as follows:
~ have tclegraphed General Roe that if
the matter is one purely for the city au-
II.
then. OF course, l withdraw my former
telegram. ! had understood that General
Roc was acting as major general of the
national guard in the management of the
parade, and in that event ], of course,
had the power to direct that the veterans
be given the right of the line. and accord
ingly did 1t. II. however, as appears TO be
the case. it is n matter purely for the city
officials l. of course. have nothing to say
and no advice to give"
AT to-day's meeting of the plan and
scope committee General Roe made the fol-
lowing statement:
In order that there may be no misuuder-
standing, ] wish to make this statement in
reference to the declination of the G. A.
r. TO take part in the Admiral Dewey land
parade:
''On my representation, Mt my instigation
and on my resolution. l was authorized by
this committee to extend an invitation 10
the q. A. r. of Greater New York to take
part in the parade.
''At the request of a prominent Grand
Army man 1 wrote and asked General O.
o. Howard to take command of this body.
being 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, l
understood that the selection of General
Howard was agreeable. At this same
Interview informed them that the Grand
Army would be assigned n position in the
lead OF the unarmed organizations
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
Grand Army should have the right of the
line. or head of the-eolumn. 1 called their
attention 10 the fact that 1T was not a
Grand Army affair; that 1t was n city
affair and that that position was not their
proper one, and said: Positively and abso-
fely the Grand Army cannot have the
mead OF the column whereupon they re-
tired. t. s-
"At another interview. the commander.
in-chief. with the state commander pres,
ent. stated that he thought General How.
ard should not command the Grand Army
informed him that he was asked at thS
request OF several Grand Army men. but
would write and ask General Howard tc
Withdraw. whereupon the commander-in
chief said: That is simple matter ant
can be easily arranged r..
Then he asked IL would allow picket
body Of 800 Grand Army men and himself
10 have the lead OF the column I an
swered: 4 positively and absolutely viii
NOT authorize any portion of the Grant
Army men 10 be at the head of the col
Of declination.
81 have taken the position from the be
ginning that the day was enpbaticalty :
navy day. that Admiral Dewey ard thu
sailors of the Olympia should be in IN,
lead. with nothing whatever to detract
Il have taken this stand relative 10 Thu
Grand Army. and / am thoroughly con
vinced ] am right I assume all responsi
blIity / DO not ask, the COMMITTEES to an
prove my action. but abide by what / hav,
done.
81 have the honor to be n member NJ IN.
Grand Army of the Republic. Georgv
Washington post"
The committee agreed unanimously. upo,
the motion Of Mr. Guggenheimer. to an
prove the action, taken by General Roe.
chief Of the Grand Army of the Renublir
has issued an address to the public /,
which he saws: 81
THE reasons given in the letter from
Department Commander Kay and present
cd in person to General Roe embodied III,
views I personally and strongly pras.e,
upon him and which should command IN
place for the comrades In the line in uues
tion. | made this request following tn
precedentP of two states T-f-et n, rbi
caEo. at tho Jubilee parade, the veteran
were accorded the right of line nm,
marched ahead Of ell armed troops. second
on the RETURN al the Tenth regiment Penn
sylvnn!n volunteers from the PHILIPPINES
the G.. \. r. had the right or line in pitts
burg, followed by the president and gov
ernors ard their staffs.
In the light of these comparatively re-
cent parades, the latter in honor of ON
pines and who. possibly heard some q
Admiral Dcwey's guns. could not bu
feel that the Grand Army comrades n
New York. representative of the creo.as
state In the Union. which sent more me-
than any other state TO preserve the ma
tion from ruin. were as richly entitled 4
head the line Of tho Dewey parade as wrr