The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-21
A Number of Reasons May Have ope-
rated to Cause MIR. M'Kinley 10
Delay I'm Taking Action
OPPOSITION OF THE G. A. R.
POTENT INFLUENCE IN BRINGING
ABOUT MR. EvANs's FALL.
Attempts to AIlay the Feeling Have
Been Unnvailing-Tenness Sit
uation Also Had an Influence
special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, May 2o.--H. Clay Evans,
United States pension commissioner, has
resigned. He sent his letter OF resignation
to the President early last week. no action
has yet been taken upon 1t. Whether the
delay is due to reluctance upon the part OF
the President to see Mr.. Evans sever his
connection with the Pension Office or to
difficulty in finding a suitable successor OF
this most difficult OF all offices 10 I'LL sat
isfactorily Is not definitely known Indeed.
the delay Of the President TO accept the
resignation may be due to desire on his
part to have Congress adjourn before he Is
called on to name a new pension commis-
sioner. II the naming OF the new man
could be put of until after adjournment
there would be no trouble about his con-
firmation, as the Senate would not be in
session. Commissioner Evans has been Of
ficialiy Objectionable to the old soldiers
and it was only by the use of the full power
and influence OF the administration that the
Grand Army Of the Republic, at its en-
campment in Philadelphia. last fall, was
restrained from adopting red hot resolu-
tions denouncing the conduct OF the PEN
sion Office. 1t was found utterly impossible
to induce that body to say good word for
him. The administration was powerless TO
accomplish that; all it could do was to pre-
vent the passage OF denunciatory resolu-
tions. Since then the feeling against Evans
among the veterans has increased, instead
of abating, as the administration hoped IL
would.
f,la of NH f1fa
in the minds of the old soldiers is found in
the resolution recently introduced in the
House by Representative Curtis. Of Kan
sas. Republican, representing the Topeka
district. in which there are thousands of
civil war veterans. calling for an investiga-
ton into the affairs OF the Pension Office.
The resolution was referred TO the commit
tee on invalid pensions. where It stiil IL.
No investigation Of Evanss conduct OF that
office is desired by the administration, and
with him out Of the way the matter would
probably be allowed to drop. Mr.. Curtis Is
not himself civil war veteran. being but
forty years old, but his district contains q
very large number Of old soldiers. I'm pro-
portion to population. and his sympathies
are entirely with them. II Evans should be
retained In Office Mr.. Curtis would undoubt-
edly press his resolution and the Houso
could not afford to refuse 10 overhaul the
pension commissioner ard his official acts.
Commissioner Evans might have survived
the storm raised about his official person
If 1t was not that he set to control HIS
State. Tennessee. politically. or. rather.
the Republican organization there. In this
he has been badly defeated by Representa-
tive Brownlow. of the First district, who
is now serving his second term in Congress
Mr.. Brownlow is a nephew OF the cele-
brated William @. c'Parson'D Brownlow.
Evans is Northern man by birth. and IN
still referred TO as a ''carpet-bagger" by
the ultra Southern element. though he has
resided in Tennessee for thirty-five years
and has been closely identified. during that
time with the industrial development Of
the State. While Evans was pension COM
missioner, position inferior in rank only
to Cabinet office and superior in impor-
tance and political opportunities 10 some
OF them. Brownlow was a congressman.
chairman of the Republican executive COM
mittee OF Tennessee. and its member OF
the Republican national committee. In the
fight for the mastery OF the machine tho
latter has won out
The tide Is against him and he must CO.
Such is the verdict, though tomorrow. I'm
Difference to the wishes of his superiors.
he may deny having resigned, and dis
claimer may be sent from the White House.
but 1t is fact. just the same. that the
President has had Evanss resignation In
his possession for several days.