Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-07-06
HE MAY HAVE PROMISED
Senator SCOTS Diplomatic State
ment About Mr.. Evans.
NEEDED GRAND ARMY VOTE.
The President Embarrassed by Developments
in Controversy Over the Pension
CommIssionership.
Commlssionership.

washington. June ~. - senator
Scott, of West Virginia, who had
charge of the Presidential campaign in
the Eastern States for the Republican
National Committee last fall says that
the objections of the Grand Army to
the retention of Commissioner Evans
had given the Republican committee
great deal of trouble during the
campaign and that he had received
many letters on the subject, which
he answered as best he conld. to hold
votes that there might be danger of
losing.
1t was not improbable, he said, that
in some of these letters he expressed
the opinion that change would be
made in the office il Mckinley were
reelected or this might have been
left to be inferred by an appeal to
those who were discontinued to help
elect Mckinley first, trusting to every
thing being made right afterward
He said he did not remember
whether he had or had not written to
General Sickles or made to him YER
bally promise that the change would
be made. If General Sickles said that
if he had made such promise he
would not deny it. He said he
remembered having called on Gener-
al Sickles twice to urge him to take
the stump and that the objection of
the Grand Army to Commissioner
Evans was a difficulty in the way
of the General doing so. But
whether he bad made any promise If
a change in the Pension Office after
the election he would not he stated,
affirm or deny.
Senator Scott said he had no au-
thority from President Mckinley to
make such promise and if he made
IT there was no authority for it but
his own.
The controversy over the Pension
Commissionership has become ex
tremely embarrassing to the Presi
dent The question is assuming
moral aspect inasmuch as General
Sickles endeavors to make it appear
that the President perhaps owes his
election to promise made TO men,
bers of the Grand Army that Commas
sioner Evans should be removed from
Office if Mr.. Mckinley was reelected.
1t is known that the President does
not desire to remove Commissioner
Evans. but, if he did so desire the
implication that the removal was
made in compliance with a pledge
given, for the sake of the Grand Army
vote that a man who displeased that
body bv strictly enforcing the law
should not be retained in Office would
render the removal disceditable TO the
Administration.
The hope is entertained by those
who want to get rid of Commissioner
Evans and have man appointed III
his place who will be more liberal
than the law requires in the distri-
button of public money among the old
soldiers that his friendship for the
President will lead the Commissioner
to resign the Office.
The President has taken the posi-
ton, denfiitely and finally, that he
will retain Commissioner Evans I'M
less he volun arily retires to accept a
higher appointment. 1t is not impro-
bable that the final solution of the
irritating question will be the APP
pointment Of Commissioner Evans to a
position of greater importance; but
in view of the demand made for the
change on the ground that pledge
was given to secure the soldier vote,
even the promotion of the Commits
sioner out of the office will imply a
purpose to give the pension agents a
freer hand in the Pension Office and
is liable to leave a bad impression on
/ ~. III