The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-03-02
Admiral Declines to Act as Men,
ber Of the Inaugural Ball
Reception Committee.
GENERAL is ITS CHAIRMAN.
Washington Gossips Say the Decli-
nation Is an Outgrowth of the
Army and Navy Jeal-
ousies.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL

SfEClAh
Washington. March 1.-Admiral Dewey
has refused to serve under General Miles
as member OF the Reception Committee
for the inaugural ball. General Miles is
chairman of the committee. and the gossip
is that Admiral Dewey was piqued by the
precedence given to him. The Admiral as
signs as his reason for refusing to serve
the state of his health, which. he says. Is
SO poor that he cannot promise even to at
tend the ball. His physician, he says,
wishes him to go South.
The Admirars full letter Of refusal was
as follows, sent to the Secretary of the
Inaugural Committee:
Dear Mr.. Dingman: beg to acknowl-
edge the receipt of your letter notifying
me Of my designation by Lieutenant Gen
eral Miles to act as a member Of the Re-
ceptton Committee at thei inaugural ball.
My health Is just now so poor that 1 can
not make any engagements. and 1t Is
probable that shall not be able to be
present at the ball. as my physician Is
very anxious that I should go South as
soon as am able to travel Yours truly,
GEORGE DEWEY"
Those familiar with the jealousies be-
tween the army and navy say there Is no
doubt In their minds that the invitation
Of General Miles served to keep the Ad-
m;ral away from the ball: that rather than
appear at that function in minor position.
as would be necessary If he decided TO
serve as General Miles's aid. he has con-
cluded to stay at home.
different, for he will be at the head of the
naval division, with distinguished escort
of naval officers.
G. A. r. Dispute Compounded.
The dispute between the Inaugural Com
mittee and the war veterans over the mat
ter of precedence in the parade Monoay
resulted to-day in a compromise, under
which the veterans will take part to a GER
tain extent in the ceremonies.
At a conference between Secretary Root
General Francis Greene, grand marshal OF
the parade, and General Daniel E. Sickles
It was decided that the visiting Union vet
Grams will form the honorary escort to the
President from the White House to the
Capitol on the 4th of March. The further
conclusion was reached that the veter-
ans will not participate in the aft
ernoon parade and on the return
from the Capitol to the White House, after
the procession has passed through the
court of honor. they will be reviewed by
the President.
After the conference Secretary Root sent
the following instructions to General
Greene, the grand marshal of the parade:
'T am Instructed by the President to re-
quest that the Union veterans of the Civil
War should be assigned as his personal es-
cort from the Executive Mansion to the
Capitol on the occasion Of the approaching
inauguration"
General Greene replied to Secretary ROOTS
letter as follows:
"I have the honor to acknowledge the re-
ceipt of your letter Of this date and to state
that 1t will give me great pleasure to carry
out the wishes Of the President in every re-
epect."
Letter to General Sfckles.
General Daniel E. Sickles has received the
following from the Secretary of War:
"1 am directed by the President to ad-
wise you that he has requested the grand
marshal Of the inaugural parade to assign
the Union veterans OF the Civil War to act
as his personal escort from the Executive
Mansion to the Capitol on the oc-
casion Of the approaching inauguration. and
to ask you to convey to the several veteran
organizations an expression of his wish that
they should act in that capacity
There has been considerable controversy
for several days as to the part the Grand
Army veterans would take in President
McKlnley's Inauguration, and until the de-
yelopments Of to-day 1t was thought that
the veterans would decline to participate
at ALL According to the original programme
they were detailed to bring up the rear Of
the military grand division of the parade.
They refused to accept this position, and
General Greene thereupon requested that
q detail Of twenty men from each G. A. r.
post form the honorary escort to the Pres
ident. This assignment was likewise re-
fused. In view Of this situation, the Pres
ident delegated Secretary Root to express
to General Greene and General Sickles
his desire that the difficulties be agreeaoly
adjusted, and the outcome has been as
stated.
PORTO RICAN TROOPS ARRIVE.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Newport News, Va, March 1.-The United
States transport Rawlings arrived in Hamp-
ton Roads tonight from San Juan. Porto
TALON of colonial troops, consisting of four
companies of Porto Rican natives who have
been organized for several months under
officers Of the regular army.
made fast time up the coast, being under
orders to come at full speed in order that
there might be no delay IN putting the
native troops in Washington in time for
the Inauguration next Monday.
The Rawlings will come up TO the CITY
in the morning and the natives Will be
| transferred from the ship to the two special
| trains which are in readiness to start I'M
mediately the men are aboard.
| The battalion will leave here about 9oon
fhe Second Battalion. Tenth Infantry.
which arrived yesterday from Cienfuegos.
left this morning shortly after O'Clock on
two special trains over the chesapeake
and Ohio for Nebraska and Wyoming.
The Chesapeake and Ohio has been IN
structed to move to Washington Sunday for
| the inauguration the entire Fort Monroe
garrison, consisting Of seventy-two omcers
and COO men in seven batteries OF artillery.
1