The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-23
ROE AND THE GRAND ARMY.
HE STILL REFUsEs TO LET VETERANS
HEAD THE LAND PARADE.

When tho Governor FlndA Out Thnt Gen.
Hoo IL Not Acting in the Matter rs
Major-General of tho National Guard.
Major Gen. Charles F. Roe Chairman Of the
Committee on the Land Parade Of the reception
In honor OF Admiral Dewey refused yesterday
TO allow the @. A. r. Posts OF Now York city to
take the place they had asked for at the head
Of the line. Notwithstanding the fact that Gov.
Roosevelt sent him telegram directing him to
give the @. A. II. mon the place they wanted
Cen Roe's action in refusing the right OF the
line TO the G.. A. II. men was approved by a
unanimous vote OF the Committee on Plan and
Scope OF the celebration.
Gen. Roe went yesterday morning to the Of
fee OF President OF the Council GuRgenheimer.
who is Acting Chairman Of the Committee on
Plan and Scope. The two held short con-
sultation. When Gen. Roe left he was asked
II he had received a telegram from the Cover
nor. He refused to say anything about the
matter. Mr.. Guggenheimer. however. said that
Gen Roo had brought such telegram to him.
According to Mr.. Guggenheimer. the Cover
nor's telegram directed Gen. Roe to place the
G. A. r. men at the head Of the parade. The
Governor withdrew the order when he learned
that Gen. Roe was not acting In the matter az
Major General OF the National Guards OF New
York.
Mr. Guggenheimer refused to say what Gen.
Roc had said to him concerning the telegram
or what the result OF their conference had been.
and Gen. Roe steadily refused to discuss the
matter.
In the afternoon. however. Gen Roe read
this statement at the IN Getting Of the Committee
on Plan and Scope:
I'm order that there may be no misunder-
standing. / wish 10 mako this statement In
reference to the declinaton OF the Grand Army
OF the Republic to take part In the Admiral
Dewey land parade,
On my representation. at my instigation
and on my resolution. was authorized by this
comm ttee to extend an invitation to the Grand
Army of the Republic OF Greater New York to
take part In the parade by having q certain
number OF men selected from each post form
ing q battalion or regiment. according to the
number | put myself in communication with
the State Commander as soon as possible At
the request OF prominent Grand Army man.
Iwrote and asked Con. o. o. Howard to take
command OF this body. being assured that this
was agreeable to the State Commander. At an
Interview between the State Commander sew
eral members OF the Grand Army and myself.
Understood that the selection OF Gen. O. o.
Howard was agreeable. Atthis same interview.
after some discussion. Informed them that the
Grand Army would be assigned n position In
the lead OF the unarmed organizations
One OF the mem ers Of the Grand Army pres
ent agreed with ue that that was their natural
pace. anu InS OlntT meuDeTs oApToSSlng HO
abstraction. At a later interview between
the Commando in Chief OF the Grand Army
OF the Republic. the State Commander. Col.
Coulden and myself. practically a demand
was made that the Grand Army should have
tho right OF the line or the head OF the
column. Col Coulden stated that at meeting
held tho day before it was the sentiment Of the
Grand Army OF the Republic that il they could
not have the lead they would not parade l
Al - NloN, 80
Grand Army affair. that 1t was a city affair
and that that position was not their
proper one and said positively and abso-
lutely. the Grand Army cannot have the head
Of the column. whereupon they retired. At
another interview the COMMANDMENT Chief.
with the State Commander present. stated that
no thought Gen. Howard should not command
the Grand Army. informed him that he was
nsked at the request OF several Grand Army
men. but l would write and ask Gen. Howard
to withdraw. whereupon tho Comm ander-in-
Chief said. That was simple matter and
could easily be arranged and then asked II
would allow picked body OF 300 Grand Army
men and himself to have the head OF the
column. I answered: I positively and abso-
lutely will not authorize any portion OF the
Grand Army to be at the head OF the column
subsequently received the letter OF decina-
ton.
AT nearly every interview stated that the
Grand Army could be assigned on the Boule-
ward at Fifty-ninth street. near the Columbu
statue. going to that position when they pre-
ferred and to take their proper position In the
column at the proper time. hating the ex-
Confederates and eN-volunteers OF the Spanish
American war at that point to allow them to get
into their place. thus having probably over
three thousand men behind them. have
taken the position from the beginning that the
day was emphatically a navy day that Admiral
Dewey and the sailors OF the Olympia should
be In the lead with nothing whatever to de-
tract; was. and am STILL in favor OF not hav-
ing marshal. but that it Is impractcable. as 1t
10 absolutely essential to have some one In
command to control the column. have taken
this stand relative to the Grand Army. as am
thoroughly convinced am right. assume all
responsibility. do not ask the committee to
approve my action. but abide by what have
done.
Il have the honor to be n me mber OF the
Grand Army OF the Republic. George WASH
ington Post"
John P. Kane moved that Gen. Roe's stand
in the matter should be approved by the com.
mittee.
There is no need of that" said Maurice F.
Holahan. He knows that we approve what
he has done
THE committee ought to 60 on record just
the same" said Mr.. Guggenheimer. who then
put Mr.. Kane's motion to a vote. 1t was unani
mously adopted.
The following despatch was received last
night from Utica:
Gov. Roosevelt was seen at the Butterhelt
House this evening Just previous to hi
departing for the Fort Schuyler Club
where reception was rendered him b.
the club. In answer to query from TIL
Bun representative as to his position in thu
G. A. r. controversy and mis- authority to orde
Major Gen Roe to accord the right of line il
the Dewey Parade to the veterans. the Cover
nor said:
I was under the impression that Gen. Roe
was acting as Major General OF the National
Guard. and so had authority to direct that thu
veterans be given the right OF line. As al
found out that it was a matter exclusively IL
the control OF New York city officials tele
graphed withdrawing my previous order t.
Gen. Roe. l have no advice to give nor criti