The Topeka state journal., 1899-09-18
Leaders of G. A. r. Will Force
Advanced Stand.
Nothing But Denunciation of
Mckinley Will DO.
SOLDIERS ON RECORD.
State Reunion to Be Scene of
the Contest.
Republican Politicians Will At
tempt to Defeat Resolution.

Next week will witness the star poIit-
ical gathering of the year in Topeka
1t will in reality be the first round in
the political battle Of next year.
The politicians have been sum
lnoned from all parts of the state and
the opponents of President Mckinley
and Pension Commissioner Evans have
been ordered to report.
These two factions will clash at the
reunion. The enemies of the national
administration have announced that
resolutions will be presented censuring
and denouncing the pension policy Of
the present national administration To
prevent the adoption of such a series Of
declarations the friends of the presi-
dent will rally and make fight.
The friends Of the administration
claim that a victory for the kickers at
this time means much for next year
when they propose to defeat the propo-
sition to send a delegation to the ma
tional convention for the denomination
of Mckinley. Therefore. it is important
that the friends of Mckinley win the
first contest which comes next week
This pension business is now past
the pension commissioner Ihe presl-
dent is the responsible party explain
ed 0. H. Coulter to a Journal reporter
Coulter is the department commander
istration is responsible for Evans.
Evans is only clerk He is not the
head of the department
Does the president ever see a PEN
sion paper?'' asked the reporter
mo, the president does not pass on
any papers, but the president makes
the policy and rules for the depart
ment The pension office is the only
department at Washington where the
appropriations are not expended in
specific manner. The pension commits
sioner regulates the expenditures by
the pensions which he allows He can
save money by knocking out pension
claims and this seems to be the policy
of the department. The president knows
this as well as any of the rest of US
know it, and therefore we hold that he
is responsible
Mr.. Coulter explained that the ma
tional encampment at Philadelphia
criticised and asked for the abrOgatiOn
of certain rules in the department
These rules were adopted by HOke
Smith and Commissioner LOchren," ex-
plained Mr.. Coulter, and the present
administration has put them into use
without either change or amendment
These rules cause the trouble"
Mr.. Coulter admits that the effort now
being made by himself and others to
secure a criticism or denunciation OF
the Mckinley administration pension
policy will be pushed at the reunion He
also says to his friends that Kansas Re
publicans must not declare next year
for the denomination of Mckinley. This
is the fight which the politicians expect
to see Coulter lose.
1t will be an interesting contest, bur
the politicians predict that the opposi-
ton to Mckinley will be buried under
an avalanche of protests from the peo-
pie of the state. If the politicians win
next week the anti-McKinleyites will
receive a severe set back. If they can
not compass a criticism of Mckinley
among their own members and follow
ers it will be difficult for them to gain
a footing in a convention managed by
the politicians.
To the men whom he can count on
for support in this contest, Department
Commander Coulter has communicated
his desire to have them present To the
fighters in the organization who do not
care to see an untimely action on the
part of the G. A. r. reunion the friends
of Mckinley have communicated the
necessity of being present to take care
of the administration.
These two influences Will bring to
Topeka what is expected to be the larg-
est crowd that has assembled at a re-
union for several years. The reunion
is likely to be attended by a good many
men who do not belong to the Republi-
can party and they are likely to vote
with the anti-McKinley crowd, thereby
forming a combination which may
cause the politicians some trouble to
overcome. Whatever may be the con-
ditions next week, lively times are
promised by this preconcerted effort to
denounce McKinley's pension policy