The National tribune., 1901-08-29
SENIOR VICE coMMANDER-IN-cHIEF.
Discussions Among the Cleveland Comrades

The following, from a prominent Cleve-
land (O.) Comf;iGc, appears in the Leader
of that city:
The following open letter is issued to
TIA, Grand Army men of Cleveland by L..
W. Bailey: 70
Comrades of the Grand ARM of the
Republic.
There seems to be n wrong impression
on the minds of some of the comrades in
regard Ia the candidates for Senior Vice
-in-Chief.
In the first place the name % Comrade
JOHN &. Roland was suggested by some
of his friends. Then comrade Gen. james
Barnett name was placed before the
comrades, and as long as it was thought
there was possibility that he might be
induced to accept the honor, no conrA lie
had thought Of anyone else. " hon TIE
General declined to be candidate, the
woods were full of candidates, IN the
minds of the comrades. j. {. Roland.
]. J. Sullivan. J. l.. Smith, {. c. Dew
.t1r, j. .. Winship, James Hayr, .. L.
Mcllrath and several more were men
toned in connection with the office.
At the first meeting of the committees
from the several city Posts all the huSl-
ness brought before it was to elect Il
Chairman and Secretary. Af!Hl that
E.ecting adjourned the Chairman, III the
presence, of several comrades, Sal'l il the
comrades from Army and Nay Post
wuuld withdraw the name Of C0mrad2
Roland, they Of Memorial PoSt would do
the same by ComrIdc Smith, ana would
uriie on Comrade Sullivan OF some "ther
good man. But as no cOmradc ; name
had been placed before the meeting there
was none to withdraw.
At the next meeting. it having been
demonstrated that the committees could
not unite on either Roland or Sauth. and
in pursuance Of the desire for harmony,
and bearing in mind the promise of the
Chairman at the close of the previous
meeting. | placed the name of CnMfade
J. !. Sullivan in nomination. lie re
ceiycd the votes of Army and Navy and
Forest City Posts: COmrade George Low
~. of Commodore Perry Post. received
tie votes of his Post. and C0mrade j. l..
Smith received the rest of the votes cast,
including BrOugh Post. which, beng out
side of the city should not have taken
part in the meetings. unless the other
Posts of the county were represented. 1t
has been stated that Army and Navy
Post was responsible for the presence OF
representatives from Brough Post, which
NEST emphatically deny.
1t would seem from the result of the
ballot that the promise to unite on Com
rada Sullivan was not made in good faith.
4 motion prevailed to indorse the candi-
dacy of COmrade Smith, notwithstanding
the vigorous protest of the entire COM
mittees of at least two Posts.
The fact that the city Posts cannot
unite upOn any candidate makes II eVl-
dent the office will seek some other city.
If BY hook or crook, when small MEN,
bershiD were present at either of the two
Posts who have refused to give their in
dOrsement to C0mrade Smith. n resolution
to indorse his candidacy, if adopted, would
not bind the majority, and under existing
circumstances would fall fiat.
| regret very much that this matter has
reached this unpleasant stage, but see no
other way to in any modify 1t, except u
have the office of Senior Vice Command
er-in-Chief go to some other city. Had
tbe committee from Memorial Post come
TO the committee from Army and Navy
Post in fraternity instead of thanking
God they did not belong to Army and
Navy Post" and other expressions OF
abuse. we would have united with the
majority: but | cannot speak for Forest
City Post.
This entire matter is a closed incident
so far as | am concerned, providing no
more "bull-dOzing" tactics are resorted to,
but if persisted in will call forth the
united efforts of myself and friends to
make the road to success of any local
candidate anything but pleasant l wish
TO state in this connection that Comradc
7. G.. Roland was not at any time can
didate for the Office of his own yoiition,
and demonstrated with his friends many
times for trying to put him forward.
/ have the utmost respect for GOmrade
]. L. Smith as a man, but he Is not my
choice for the office of Senior Vice Com
mander-in- Chief, and is not the unanimous
choice of the Posts in the city, nor of his
own Post. Yours in F., c. and L.,
L. W. BAILEY.