The San Francisco call., 1899-05-10
OBJECT TO
THE EULOCY
OF ALCER
New York Sons of the Amer
ican Revolution Repudi-
ate Action at Detroit.
MILES IS A MEMBER
Therefore the Society Does Not Like
the Slap at Him or Slur on
Our Brave Soldiers.
MILES IS A MEMBER
Special Dispatch to The Call.

The New York members of the
Society of Sons of the Revolution
are not inclined to follow General
Merritt IN his fuLsome praise of
AIger as "the best Secretary of
War the world has ever seen, and
are less so because General Miles
IS a member of their order, and
they do not believe he should have
been slapped IN public at the ma
tonn convention in Detroit.
The result IS likely to be a very
pretty little tempest IN the order.
NEW YORK, May 9.-There is likely
to be lively discussion at the meeting
of the Empire State Society of the Sons
of the American Revolution on the 23d
inst. of the acts of the society's dele
gates in Detroit last week, which have
been heralded as an Endorsement of
Secretary Alger or affirmation of the
Endorsement of the Secretary by Cen
erals Merritt, Wheeler and King. The
constitution, rules and practices of the
organization require members as such
to eschew politics, as the membership
includes Republicans and Democrats
and men of other political proclivities.
These general reasons, it is held by a
contingent Of the New York society.
should have restrained delegates to the
national convention at Detroit from do
ing anything or appearing in any light
which might be taken as giving support
to one side of a controversy essentially
political. But besides these general rea-
sons there are specific and delicate
ones, which, it is urged, should have
kept the New York delegates from ap-
plauding the generous praise accorded
Secretary Alger by Generals Merritt,
Wheeler and Horatio King. General
Miles is a member of the Empire State
Society and the conspicuous tribute to
General ,Alger by the New York dele
gates is indirectly slap by them at a
fellow member.
The dissatisfaction crystallized in
these resolutions presented in the meet
ing of the board of governors of the
New York society:
The Empire State Society of the Sons
of the American Revolution repudiates in
the strongest manner the use of its ma
tional meeting for political purposes. Es-
pecially does it condemn any attempt to
vindicate regulations of public officials or
to compliment those who have been ac-
cused of unpatriotic neglect of soldiers
who exposed their lives for the country.
The first duty of all patriotic societies is
to assist, protect and uphold the armies
of the nation and to aid in giving them
the support that the resources of the
country command. This society claims
its part in such patriotic duty and repudi-
ates with Indignation the fippant senti-
ment that "supposing they had a little
spoiled beef, what of it?' Or that in
supplying them with food it was not
necessary to be particular to quality.
This society looks with horror upon off,
cials who can express such sentiments,
or who, having the entire resources of
this wealthy country at command not
only furnished soldiers "a little spoiled
beef" but gave them little else. even in
home camps, where good food in abun-
dance was everywhere at hand. and who
also failed to supply them with suitable
clothing, shelter and medicine.
Resolved That copies of these resolu-
tons be sent to all affiliated societies.