The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-11
Movement Started to Prevent
Posts Being Imposed Upon.
Plan Is to Put Stop to All
Recommendations.
OFFICIALS BEHIND TT.
Would End Use of Organization
by Politicians.
How Gov. Stanley SqueIched an
Office Seeker.

A movement has been 1nauguraleu III
Kansas for the purpose of preventing
individuals from converting to their
own personal use and advancement, the
influence and prestige of the Grand
Army of Kansas.
While the department headquarters
officials will not admit that there is
cause for a movement of this character,
a State Journal reporter has it from
high authority that the present depart
ment officials are quietly at work de-
veloping a sentiment of this kind.
The Interpretation of the new policy
may be just what is notwithstanding
so far as the public is concerned-but
the facts bear out the conclusion that
from some quarter or another comes the
influence which hopes to rob designing
men of the fruits of their labor to Sc
cure political or personal advantage
through this organization.
recent general order issued by the
department commander contains par
agraph calling upon the members of the
Grand Army in Kansas ito take no &C
ton of endorsement until subjects so
presented come through official chan
nels."
1t appears that this suggestion comes
from the commander in chief of the or
ganization in the United States, and in
no uncertain tones.
This attitude on the part of the ma
tional officers. which is readily assumed
by the various state departments, is due
to two principal causes.
The first and perhaps the most inn
portant is that individuals have been
using the G. "A. R. as stepping stone
to political favor.
The second cause is that the country
is flooded with enterprises, designed eS-
pecially to plumber the old soldier, under
the representation that the scheme has
41<7fa 11xv ,l--e afk1 Nv l7c
national or some state department.
In Kansas the time never was when
politicians did not pose before the peo-
pie as the SOLDIER or Grand Army
candidate
When Governor Stanley was inaugu-
rated there were probably a dozen men
seeking preferment who represented
themselves as having been endorsed by
places because the governor found from
official records that no such endorse
ment had been given. In one particu-
larly important case, in which this con-
dition prevailed, the governor, not many
weeks ago, called a candidate into his
office and said:
You claim to have the endorsement
of the G. A r. department"
eS, sir" said the candidate.
1.-The records show no such endorse |
ment,' said the governor.
Il mean" stammered the candidate |
that some Of the department officers
have endorsed me-
Officially or as individuals?'' inter
rupted the governor.
LAS officials; I presume was the re-
ply.
Il have here said the governor, as he
dived into a pile of papers, Il think all
of the recommendations and petitions
which you have filed. Look over them |
and see if any are missing"
The candidate made the investigation, |
returning the papers to the governor,
saying:
ssrT,hav ara I'll 4ba,.o,
Il fail to find the official endorsement !
of the G. A. r." said the governor.
Some of the department officers sign
ed my petition" was the confused re
ply.
Il think you have attempted to de-
ceive me-" roared the governor land |
no man who does that need expect ia
vorS from me-
This is but one of similar seances
which the governor has had, due largely |
to the fact that there are many men
who are ever ready to work the G. A r. |
deal on everybody with whom they |
come in contact. This is one of the evils |
which has added to the difficulties of
keeping the organization in a progress
slve condition 1t has now attracted the |
attention of the principal officers and
reforms are promised.
With reference to those schemes which |
have been designed to obtain the money |
of the old soldier, all such are placed |
under the ban. Posts are urged to en- |
dorse only such matters as are endorsed |
by the national department This if |
effective, prevents the general bouquet |
throwing on the part of posts which |
may have pride in some local enterprise |
or something of interest to local mem
brs.
This state is full of fakirs selling |
from house to house, books, medicines, |
and everything else ina ginable, in many |
instances with forged recommendations |
from G. A R. posts. Then there is the |
solicitor who claims official endorse |
ment of his particular scheme of rails |
ing funds for some great purpose US [
ually PERSONAL benefits alone-all of |
which the G. A. r. department is pur-
suing and will continue the chase until |
the fakirs who prey on the unsuspect-
ing pensioner are driven out of the |