Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-09-23

TER THAN THE HEAD OF THE
UNARMED DIVISION EXPLAIN
ED THAT IT IS NOT A GRAND
ARMY AFFAIR, BUT A PURELY
NAVAL DEMONSTRATION.
NEW YORK, September 22.-Maior
General Roe, who will command the
National Guard OF New York State in
the Dewey land parade, received tele-
gram from Governor Roosevelt to-day
directing him to give the G. A. r. the
choice of any place in the parade. I'm
mediately on receiving the telegram
General Roe had a conference with
Mayor Van Wyck and then Chairman
Guggenheimer, of the plan and scope
committee, which has charge of the
parade, was notified of the Governors
dispatch. After pointing out that his
committee alone had the right to as
sign places in the line of march, Mr..
Guggenheimer said of the Governors
action: 1T is peculiarly Rooseveltian.
1t is most impudent, unjustifed and
unwarranted interference in a matter
that is without his province. do not
believe, however, that our committee
will take any notice of it."
Mayors Ashbridge, of Philadelphia,
and Harrison, of Chicago. have accept
ed invitations to be present at the
Dewey ceremonies. Governor c. H.
Thomas, of Colorado, and Patrick A.
Collins, of Boston, sent regrets.
All the arrangements for the sailors
smokers at the Waldorf-Astoria are now
completed. The guests will include
1000 men of the Olympia and other
warships in the harbor. Admiral
Dewey, Rear Admirals Sampson and
Schley, the other commanding officers
OF the ships and the guests of the city,
have been invited TO occupy the boxes
around the bali room where the smoker
is to be held.
At the meeting Of the plan and scope
committee, Gen. Roe made the follow
ing statement:
In order that there may be no mis-
understanding | wish to make this
statement in reference to the declin-
alton of the Grand Army Of the Repub-
lie to take part in the Admiral Dewey
land parade:
ION my representation, at my instig-
alton and on my resolution, l was au-
thorized by this committe to extend an
invitation to the Grand Army of the
Republic of Greater New York to take
part in the parade by having a certain
number of men selected from each post,
forming battalion or regiment. ac-
cording to the number.
II informed them that the Grand
Army would be assigned a position in
the lead of the unarmed organizations.
Later the State commander. Colonel
Goulden, practically demanded that the
Grand Army should lead the column,
Col. Goulden stating that at a meeting
held the day before it was the senti-
ment of zhe Grand Army Of the Re
public that if they could not have the
lead they would not parade ! called
their attention to the fact that it was
city affair and that position was not
their proper one, and said: Positively
and absolutely, the Grand Army cannot
have the lead of the column, where
upon they retired. AT another inter-
view, he asked if would allow a picked
body Of three hundred Grand Army
men and himself to have the head Of
the column. l answered: I positively
and absolutely will not authorize any
portion Of the Grand Army to be at
the head of the column Subsequently
l received a letter of declination.
Il have taken the position from the
beginning that the day was emphatical-
ly navy day. that Admiral Dewey and
the sailors of the Olympia would be in
the lead with nothing whatever 10 de-
tract.
Il have the honor TO be member Of
the Grand Army OF the Republic
George Washington Post"
The committee agreed unanimously
upon the motion Of Mr.. Guggenheimer
to approve the action taken by Gen.
Roe. No mention was made Of the dis
patch of Governor Roosevelt.
Gen. Albert d. Shaw, eommander-in-chief
of the Grand Army. has issued an address
to the public. in which ne says:
The reasons given in ne letter from De-
partment Commander Kay and presented
in person to Gen. Roe, embodied the views
1 personally and strongly pressed upon
him. / made this request following the
precedents Of two States. First. in Cnica-
90. al the jubilee parade. tie veterans were
accorded the right Of line ard marched
ahead Of ali armed troops; second. On the
return OF the Tenth regiment Pennsylya-
MA, from the Philippines. the Grand Army
had the right Of line in Pittsburg. followed
by the President ard Governor and their
STATS.
ALBANY. y Y September 22--Com-
rnander Kay. Of the State O. A. R. Depart-
ment, maded the following statement to-