Evening star., 1901-09-05
Much Interest in Coming Gathering
at Cleveland.
SICKLES AND MR.. EVANS
Opinions Of Department Com
mander Stone on the Subject.
NEW PENSION OFFICE CHEF

While there will probably not be a large
attendance Of the Grand Army from the
District of Columbia at the encampment to
be held in Cleveland next week, the meet
ing will be Of unusual interest to the De-
partment OF the Potomac. because 1t was
really this department that first moved for
the election Of General Sickles as COM
mander-in-chief Of their national organiza-
iton. General sickles secured great popu-
larity among the veterans OF the local de-
partment because of his earnest work in
securing for the Grand Army the honor Of
forming the personal escort to President
Mckinley upon his second Inauguration.
The veterans had been assigned a place
In the third division Of the parade on inau-
guration day, and they did not like their
assignment. They claimed that as the Pres
ident was their comrade they should be
given the place Of honor at the head Of the
column. and when 1t was learned that they
had been put into the third division they
decided that they would not enter the pa
rade at all.
1t was at that time that General sickles
worked vigorously to have them accorded
what they desired, and when they were
made the personal escort Of the President.
General Sickles was given the credit for
bringing about their victory. The only OBJ
lection that had been urged against giving
was that it was desired to place the most
soldierly-fooking companies at the head
Of the line.
Believes He VIII BE Elected.
Immediately after the inauguration De-
partrnent Commander Israel w. Stone,
backed by other members Of the Depart
ment Of the Potomac, conferred with the
representatives Of the Grand Army In New
York state, and at their suggestion Gen.
Sickles was put forth prominently as a
candidate for the position OF commander
dl@1r1 ~
the commissioner OF pensions has not
enected his support. SO far as Department
Commander Stone Is concerned. and the
latter. when seen by q Star reporter today.
said the Department Of the Potomac would
be for Gen. Sickles. and he believed he
would be elected commander-in-chief
would the election Of General Sickles,
in view Of what has taken place, be regard
pension Office and to Commissioner Evans
personality? Commander Stone was asked.
Will Not Indicate AntaSenism.
1t may be regarded as showing antag-
onism to certain methods carried on in the
pension bureau" he replied, ''but 1t will not
be possible to construe 1t as showing an
tagonism to the administration. General
Sickles did as much to re-elect President
Mckinley as did any man in this country,
SO that II. cannot be construed as having
any element of antagonism to the admins
tratton."
When asekd il the encampment would be
likely to adopt any resolutions in relation
to the administration Of the pension bureau
Commander Stone replied that he was in
favor OF omitting the pension bureau from
the discussions Of the encampment
Il am In favor OF making no mention Of
the pension bureau in our encampment"
he said. ''for the reason that the Presi-
dent has promised that when the proper
time comes a change will be made in the
office Of commissioner Of pensions. In view
Of that fact I do not see why we should
have any discussion Of the pension bureau.
Says Peters Has Been Selected.
1T Is well understood" he continued,
that man has been picked out by Presi-
dent Mckinley to be commissioner Of pen
sions. He Is former Representative 8. R.
Peters Of Kansas, who served four and a
half years In the Union army, entered the
service as a private soldier, and was mus
tered out as a captain. He has served q
long term in Congress and has been a
Judge Of a state court In Kansas. He Is In
every way well qualified to fill the post Of
commissioner Of pensions, and. am sure.
will prove to be acceptable to the Grand
Army at large. He is now a practicing at
torney at Newton, Kan"
Other Candidates.
Speaking Of other candidates for the
place Of commander-in-chief, Commander
Stone said Mr.. Ell Terrence. who has been
Judge advocate general OF the Grand Army,
and who served through the entire period OF
the war, will be candidate with consider
able following. Mr.. Thomas w. Stewart OF
Pennsylvania. who has been adjutant gen.
eral Of the organization. he said. would also
be before the encampment for the honor CT
being made its head, and while he is very
popular and widely known. the fact that he
served only three months during the war
and was not outside of his own state would
probably be sufficient to defeat him.
It is thought, from present Indications
that not over 800 people will go from this
city to the Grand Army encampment in
Cleveland. and Of that number not over
half will be members Of the organization.
The Old Guard will leave Sunday night, ac-
companied by band. The headquarters
officers Of the department will not leave
until Monday evening. While this Is a
small party from this city to attend the en-
campment 1t is larger than that which
went to Chicago last year. The Philadel-
phia encampment was attended by party
of about 1000 from the District, but that
was because Of the especial interest attend
ing that encampment, together with the
fact that 1t was short trip.