The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-29
THE VETERAN In POLITICS
An Interview With General Dyren-
forth Regarding q. V. U. Plans.
The Organization Seeks to Control
State and Municipal Elections
To Secure Benefits for the Old
Soldiers Strength of the order.

| Soldiers - Strength of the order.
clared political organization, which ex-
| tends into nearly every Northern State
| that defended the principles of union dur
| ing the civil war, is about to assume an
aggressive attitude in State and municipal
| politics wherever its numerical strength
will permit. The greatest strength of the
| Union Veterans Union is found in ILL
| nois and Ohio. and in these two States
| the political aggressiveness of the organi-
| cation is most pronounced at the present
| time. In Chicago and Cook County,
where the organization claims to control
| 5000 voters, the Republican machine is
/ to be attacked. and possession to be Sc
| cured in the interests of old veterans.
| The purpose of the organization is to OBJ
tain a friendly majority in the Legisla-
| ture of the State. and by that means to
secure the election of a United States
| Senator who is either an old soldier. a
son of a soldier, or known to be an active
friend of the veteran. In municipal and
State offices the Union Veterans Union
desires to enforce the same rules of prefer
ence.
The Union Veterans Union has it's ma
tional headquarters in this city. and Gen
/
chief. Speaking of the political character
of the Union Veterans Union, he said
yesterday:
The Grand Army of the Republic
organized to educate and perpetuate
the patriotism of the Union is non
! political, as it should be. The
Union Veterans Union is organized
to do political work in the inter
ests of the veteran. The Union Vet
Grams Union is organized to unite the
veterans into a power to command re-
spect for their rights We are tired of
being treated back numbers. In the
United States a man is of little import
ance unless he has political significance.
and no body of men has any influence
unless it has political power. Our aim is
to obtain our rights and maintain them
| by an exhibition of strength in the mat
ter of elections
The Union Veterans Union has about
1851 900 voters in its ranks, who will follow
the dictates of the organization. There
are still 1,G32, AS soldiers of the civil war
alive, according to the estimates of the
Pension Bureau. To these add their sons
and grandsonH, and the sons and grand
sons of a million dead veterans, and other
relatives and friends over the country,
Z
not only change the political complexion
of Congress, but can determine any
Presidential contest.
The Union Veterans Union is in
politics; not in partisan politics, and not
as politicians. We are not the tail to any
political kite. We are not Republicans,
nor are we Democrats as "A body, and
would lief vote against the Repub-
hcan party as any other were our own
interests at issue. We are for the man
or party that is for the veteran Of the
civil war and are against the man who
is antagonistic or only Indifferent. The
man who periled his life for the preser-
walton of this great country shall not
now be treated with neglect. We pro-
pose that our men, and their sons and
grandsons shall receive the same recdg-
milton for municipal and State positions,
as well as Federal offices.
This organization has several times
made its power felt in political matters.
The selection of David B. Henderson as
Speaker of the House of Representatives
is the result Of our concerted interest in
his election. The organization car
ried the States of Nebraska and Kansas
for Mckinley during the recent election,
and possibly Indiana was likewise con-
trolled in his interest by the efforts Of
the union. A minor victory was that Sc
cured In the selection Of the veterans as
the personal epcou of the President. in
the Inaugural parade to the Capitol 1t
was the unbending attitude of this order
which secured the final result.
One of the objects Of the order, as an
nounced in the constitution, is 10 exact
from the Government proper appreciation
of the services OF the Union soldier, and
a Just recognition of his claims, his pref
erence for positions of public trust. and
for employment by the Government, and
TO support the election TO positions of pub
lie trust of the friends of the soldier, ir-
respective of politics or creed, and TO
vigorously antagoniZe every man who is
inimical or merely even indifferent to his
interests The commander-in-chief is di-
rected to note anu anaiyze the public acts
of Government officials and the trend of
public affairs. and to advise and instruct
the order of any action requisite for its
good. This means that he shall keep him
self Informed of the attitude toward the
Union soldier Of the National AdminiStra-
ton, and OF all political parties ana IN
dividuals and to instruct the order as to
the attitude which the order shall assume
in consequence. 1t is obligatory upon the
members to accept and carry out in good
faith such instructions, and TO persuade
other comrades to do the same.
las commander-in-chief, in May, 1899,
issued circular letter advocating the
selection of Henderson for Speaker, as
a comrade and a friend of the order
Letters which were sent to me by Union
Veterans Union comrades showed that
members of Congress were notified that
their reelection depended upon their sup
port of Henderson for the Speakership
and the resignation Of Hopkins of Hi
ncis as a candidate for Speaker, in favor
of Henderson, was the result of our move
ment in the latter's interest. Despite the
fact that Mr.. Mckinley had somewhat
antagonized the order by his failure to
remove Commissioner Evans from his po-
stion at the head of the Pension Bureau
at the request of veterans, we gave the
Republican candidate our support, and l
issued a circular letter calling upon the
comrades to help. Two doubtful States
were carried for him, as the result of our
support and his vote was materially in
creased wherever the union has branch.
The union does not desire to afford
membership to politicians for their own
political ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We will not be
employed in the interest OF any individual
except in so far as his interests are the
interests of the veteran.
The movements in Chicago and the
State of Illinois and Ohio are merely
such as are going forward everywhere the
union is represented. The greatest numer-
zeal strength Of the order is there, and
is therefore more patent than elsewhere.
1t is no new movement, but one that is
now manifesting the strength of the vet
cram II may Toe irable some time TO
select some politician who is inimical to
our interests. and exhibit our power In
extinguishing him from the political
aren't"
General Dyrenforth refused to say that
anyone had been selected as the victim
of the organization IL is expected that
the political direction of the Union Vet
erans' Union Will be given great impetus
by the meeting of the order in national
convention this summer In Chicago.
FOUGHT IN AN ICE BOX.
butchers Quarrel and Both Are Cut