Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1899-09-28
The Old Vets Will Not Appear in
New YOrk's Celebration.
ROE TURNED THEM DOWN.
Their Request TO Head the Big Pro-
cession was Refused-BOth sides oi
the Argument Presented in the Fol-
towing statements.

made the following statement.
''In order that there may be no ms
understanding 1 wish to make tins
statement in reference to the decllna'
ton OF the Grand Army of the Repub.
lie to take part in the Admiral Dewey
land parade: At my instigation ! was
authorized by this committee to eN'
tend an invitation to the Grand Army
of the Republic OF New York to take
part in the parade. by having certain
number of men selected from each
post forming a battalion or regiment,
according to the number. l put myself
in communication with the state com
mander. At the request of a promi-
nent Grand Army man | wrote and
asked q. o. Howard to take command
Of this body, being assured that TINS
was agreeable to the state commander.
At an interview between the state
commander. several members of the
Grand Army and myself / understood
that the selection of O. O. Howard was
agreeable. At this same interview |
informed them that the Grand Army
would be assigned a position in the
lead of the unarmed organizations.
AT a later interview between the
Commander-in-ch of the &. \. r., the
state commander and myself prac-
tically q demand was made that the
Grand Army should have the right of
the line. or head of the column. the
state commander stating that at
meeting held the day before II was TN"
sentiment of the Grard Army OF the
Republic that if it could not have the
lead it would not parade. / called
their attention to the fact that IL was
not a Grand Army affair: that it was Il
CITY affair and that that position was
not its proper one, and said positively
q absolutely the Grand Army can
au have the head of the column,
10 ereupon they retired. AT another
WI $Aicw the -in-chI"i,
mn ,t,i The state commander present,
stated that he thought o. O. Howard
should not command the Grand Army.
/ informed him that he was asked at
the request of several Grand Army
men, but | would write and ask him To
withdraw. whercupon the commander
in-chief said that is simple matter
and can easily be arranged, Then
I've asked if | would allow Il picked
body of 300 Grand Army men and him
<ss.ff to nave the head of the column. |
answered 1 positively will not author
ize any portion Of the Grand Army to
be at the head of the column. Subse-
oiently | received a letter of dcclina-
tion. | have taken the position that
the day was emphatically navy day,
that Admiral Dewey and bis sailors
of the OLYMPIA should be in the lead
with nothing whatever to dctract.
am a member of the G. y. Il.
The committee agreed unanimously
10 approve the action taken by Gen.
Roe. Gen Roe reported that he had
learned that Ohio proposed to increase
its representation from 800 to 5000
men. lie suggested that III view of
the lack of funds the committee au-
1horiZe him to announce that no more
organizations would be accepted. \
motion to that effect was adopted.
A. d. Shaw. coumarder-in.chief Of
the G.. \. r.. has issued IN address TO
the public in which he says: The
reasons given in the letter from De
partmcnt Commander Kay and pre-
sputed in person to Gen. Roe embodied
the views | pressed upon him, and
which should command the place for
The comrades in the line III question.
made this request following the pre-
cedcut4 OF two states. First in Chi
caro- nj the mbiiee parade the Veterans
were accorded III" right Of line ana
marched ahead Of all armed troops:
second Oh the return of the Tenth regl-
ment, Pennsylvania volunteers. from
the Philippines the G. \. X. had the
right of line in Pjttsburg, followed by
the president and governor and their
statfs.
in the light of these comparatively
recent rarades | could not but feel
that the Grand Army comrades of New
York were as well entitled to head the
line of the Dewey parade as were oEe
comrades Of Pennsylvania TO lead Il
similar civic pageant III honor OF our
Spanish war heroes, and felt when i
made thc plea that the precedent set
by Pennsylvania in having the veI-
Grams lead the line. President MCi\fn-
ley and the governor OF the state fol
lowing. was one that might be fol
lowed without any loss Of dignity 20
those controlling the Dewey parade in
New York"
Utica, y. y, Sept. % Regarding
the dispute as to the position to he ac-
corded the 6. \. K. in the Dewey
parade AT New York. GOV. Roosevelt
said last night: ~ huvc telcgraphcd
Cen. Roe that if the matter is one
purely for the city authorities and in
which have no power then Of course
| withdraw my former telegram. I
had understood that Gen. Roe was act
ing as major general ui the national
guard in the management Of the pa