The times., 1901-04-29
THE VETERAN IN POLITICS
An Interview With General Dyren-
forth Regarding U. V. L. Plans.
The Organization Seeks to Control
state and Municipal Elections
To Secure Benefits for the Old
Soldiers Strength of the order.

The Union Veterans Union, a self-de-
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 I'LL
nois and Ohio and in these two States
the political aggressiveness of the organi-
zation is most pronounced at the present
time. In Chicago and Cook County,
where the organization claims to control
45. 600 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 its ma
tional headquarters in this city, and Gen.
r. G. Dyrenforth is the commander-in-
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 as 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
125, 900 voters in its ranks, who will follow
the dictates of the organization. There
are still 1,032, as soldiers of the civil war
alive, according to the estimates of the
Pension Bureau. To these add their sons
and grandsons, and the sons and grand
sons of a million dead veterans, and other
relatives and friends over the country,
and you have political power that can
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 as lief vote against the Repub-
lican party as any other were our own
interests at issue. We are for the man
nf he
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 recog-
milton for municipal and State positions,
as well as Federal offices.
This organization has several times
made it's 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
I
! the personal escort 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 to exact
! from the Government proper appreciation
! of the services OF the Union soldier, and
| a lust recognition Of his claims, his pref
! erence for positions OF public trust, ana
| for employment by the Government, ana
| TO support the election 10 positions OF pun
% Z 1ga ri n =
| respective of politics or creed, ana 10
! vigorously antagoniZe every man VINO is
! inimical or merely even Indifferent 10 ms
| interests The chief IS dl-
| rected to note anu analyze the public acts
| of Government officials, and the trend oil
! public affairs, and TO advise ana instruct
! the order OF any action requisite Ior It's
| good. This means that he shall keep hlIn-
| self informed of the attitude toward the
| Union solder of the National AdminiStTa-
! tion, 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 perSuaQe
other comrades to do the same.
| 'As commander-in-chief, In May, 1893
| l issued a circular letter advocating the
| selection of Henderson for Speaker, as
| a comrade and friend of the order
| Letters which were sent to me by Union
| Veterans Union comrades showed that
| members of Congress were notified that
| port of Henderson for the SpeakeTshlp,
| and the resignation of Hopkins of Hi
| uois as a candidate for Speaker, in favor
! of Henderson, was the result OF our move
| ment in the latters interest. Despite the
| fact that Mr.. Mckinley had somewhat
! antagonized the order by his failure to
| remove Commissioner Evans from his po-
| sition at the head of the Pension Bureau
at the request of veterans, we gave the
! Republican candidate our support, and /
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 aggrandizement. We VIII not be
| employed in the interest OF any individual,
| except in so far as his interests are the
interests of the veteran.
Tile movements in Chicago and the
State of Illinois and Ohio are merely
| such as are going forward everywhere the
| uDiOn is represented. The greatest numer-
ical 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
| eran IT may be desirable some time TO
| select some politician who is inimical 10
our interests and exhibit our power IN
| eXtinguisning him from the political
| arena
General Dyrenforth refused 10 say that
| anyone had been selected as the victim
| Of the organization, 1t 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.