The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1900-08-09

where a soldier was turned down in the
Isaac Dyer, the recently appointed post
master of skowhegan, was one of Names
most efficient and valiant regimental
commanders. He has the impression
that he is veteran, his townsmen have
that impression and the members of the
Grand Army in Maine had that impress
sion when they elected him as Depart
ment Commander, some ten years ago.
The first name appearing on this print
ed circular as one of the committee is
that of j. w. P. Johnson, a soldier in
Maine. The placing of skowhegan
among list of towns whose postmaster
is not a veteran is false upon the face Of
it and shows the extremity to which the
enemies of Mr.. Burleigh were willing to
go, to help their lame cause. 1t is very
evident that Mr.. johnson, if he signed
the paper, did not even know the name
of the postmaster at Skowhegan, other
wise he would have recognized his old
commander and would not have signed
the foolish statement he did. 1t is fair
to presume he was as ignorant of the
other statements in the circular as he
was of that one. 1t is fair to presume
also, that the chairman of the com
mittee knew as much about this as other
members of the committee, two of
whom, we are informed, state they
signed the paper under misrepresentation
of the facts, and have expressed their
regret for so doing.
The recent appointment of postmaster
in the town of Madison is also mention
ed as 'notable example, of utter dis.
regard of the claims of soldiers who
! fought in the war for the Union. The
facts are that neither of the three appli.
Giants for the Madison office was sol
dier in the war of 1861. Neither of
them was old enough to serve in that
war and one of them was unborn at its
close. Thus both of the Somerset cases of
alleged outrage treated in this docu-
ment, exhibit dense ignorance or utter
disregard of fact.
The view the Department Commander
of the order takes of the document APP
pears in a circular issued by him to
the several local organizations making
up his command, in part as follows:
UNION VETERANS UNION.
Headquarters Division of Maine.
Augusta, Maine, August 9, 1900.
Circular No. 2.
Your department commander deems
it his duty to caution the comrades
against injudicious haste in condemn
ing the action of public officers in mat.
tiers pertaining to appointment of sol.
diers to office. While it is our duty and
privilege to stand by our comrades in
such matters, we must also bear in mind
that the requirement of everything be.
ing equal' must not be lost sight of
One regiment in this division has re.
Gently adopted resolutions condemning
the action of member of ongress, in
the matter of appointment for postmas.
ter in certain city, for not appointing
comrade of their choice.
In the same set of resolutions the as
sertion is made that a certain member
of Congress has "in his recommends
tons for federal appointments utterly
disregarded the claims of soldiers" and
the Skowhegan post Office is cited as an
example of such alleged disregard.
Such language is scarcely warranted, in
view of the fact that he has almost uni
formly endorsed the candidates. of sol
diers when they have been presented to
him, that scores of them all over the
district are, today. holding federal ap,
pointments upon his recommendation,
and that the postmaster appointed at
okowhegan as "a result of his endorse
ment, is one of our worthiest and most
enthusiastic comrades of the 10Th Regi-
ment of this division.
By heeulessly disregarding such facts
and publishing hasty and ill.considered
! criticisms, we only hurt our order, as it
gives an opportunity for interruptions
persons to place us in false position.
LEWIS SELLING,
Department Commander.