Evening star., 1901-09-10
CRITICISM M EVANS
- d
Enemies Of the Commissioner in
Evidence at cleveland.
HAS MANY FRIfggpls, E1glg HOWEVER
Gen. SickIes VIII Probably Be
Next Commander G. A. r.
asSte-
VETERANS GATHERING IN
-Ff
VETERANS GATHERING II
special From a -stafr Correspondent.

Special From Staff Correspondent.
CLEVELAND, Ohio. September 10.-The
Union veterans in session in this city may
be classified into three parties on the ques-
tion Of pension office administration First
to be mentioned are the friends Of Com
missioner Evans. and they are here In con-
siderable numbers. Next are his critics.
also in considerable numbers. and last are
those who oppose the commissioner policy,
which, it is claimed, is adverse to the in
terests Of deserving soldiers, but who are
against the Introduction of resolutions OF
censure lest the act be construed as an
assault upon President Mckinley.
The commissioners friends are very earn
est They point to his annual report. cx-
tracts from which are being distributed
in typewriter form. To prove that In the
year ending June 80 last there was total
of A, 225 names added to the roll OF those
who deserved claims for original pensions,
and the net gain Of 4,208 over the previous
years showing. The roll for the year just
closed they say, is "highwater'' mark in
the history Of the bureau, with a total Of
997. 735 names, all classes Of pensions; the
next highest number, It Is stated- was
in 1893 also under Commissioner Evans,
when the total was 993,529. Considering
these and other figures, given, the commits
sioner's partisans~ ask what there Is in
his record to cr1ttciSe.
They say that were 1t not for centain
pension attorneys. who, are making war
upon the commissioner, there would be no
dissatisfaction with the administration OF
the bureau.
Those Who Favor Censure.
Those who favor vote Of censure are
equally with others averse to being put In
the attitude Of antagonizing the national
administration. It did not need the deed
of an assassin, they declare, to arouse In
the hearts of Grand Army men enthusi-
astic affection for President Mckinley,
their. comrade. He has always been held
in the highest esteem they affirm-the rec
ords Of previous encampments bearing wit
ness to it. But they do. not approve of
Commissioner Evans policy, and they pro-
pose to say SO. ~
AS an index Of one phase Of GA R. SEN
timent the following from Gen. Leo Ras-
sieur, the present commander-in-chief, is
given
Following precedent. the commander-in-
chief of the Grand Army of the Republic
will make an annual report to the encamp-
ment. In all probability THAT report will
have something to say In criticism of the
administration of the pension Office. There
will be no condemnation Of the President
nor of his administration. Of his high Office
but If the Grand Army believes it to be
necessary to criticise a bureau of the i'm
portance of that under consideration. where
the vital interests Of the. old soldiers are
concerned, you may be sure there will be
nothing left unsaid. ina dignified way, IN
the expression Of its dfsapprobation or con-
demnation Of the workeof faithless off,
cial."
General Rassfeur's Statement
Gen. Rassieur read over this statement
after 1t had been written at his dictation
for The Star and gave 1t his approval He
added that he had given. q copy of his am
nual report to the Associated Press and
that 1t would doubtless appear In print at
the proper time. He hopes to begin reading
1t. he said, within ten minutes after 10
o'clock. the hour for opening the encamp-
ment Thursday morning.
81 Whether Justly or not, Gen. Daniel e.
Stckles, a most conspicuous figure of the
present gathering, who Is much sought
after by members Of all the delegations. is
regarded as the leader in the anti-Evans
party. Upon being asked last night for a
brief statement Of his views on the situa-
ton as affecting the commissioner, Gen.
Sickles preferred to be excused. II can saw
nothing upon that subject for publication
put snail certainly express my views In
the committee and in the encampment," he
said. The general Is member OF the pen
sion committee Of the encampment to
which Will be referred that portion of the
commander-in-chiefs address which re-
iates to the pension bureau administration
The Conservative Position.
Col. E. G. Milliken of Maine, present se-
nior vice commander, ranking next to the
commander-in-chief, represents the con-
servative thought Of the encampment on
the question In response to request for
statement Of his opinion OF the outcome,
he said: II believe the action of the en-
campment upon that and other matters
viii be what 1t believes to be for the best
interests Of the veteran soldier and sailor
OF the civil war" =.
the issue had been made SO conspic,,ous
he SAID no man can speak for the encamp-
ment nor state in advance what the body
VIII do upon that or any other question.
MAJOR McElroy OF WASHINGTON gave ex-
preston to some very vigorous Sentiments
concerning the pension office controversy
In an interview published in the afternoon
papers Yesterday. He favors the proposed
antt-EVans resolutions j. -
The major is prominently mentioned as a.
candidate for the Office Of senior vice COM
mander The prediction is made that Mrs
Colista Jones of Vermont will be elected
national president of the W. r. c.
Corporal Tanner In Demand.
Corporal James Tanner of WASHINGTON is
very much In demand as a campfire ora
tor His name appears six times in the
program for as many addresses.
The Department of the Potomac is nearly
solid for General Sickles for commander
in-chleI Inc department of the Potomac
has its headquarters In the Hollenden,
Room 1O3. Captain Oldroyd and s. W. Nc,
Elderny put on the finishing touches in the
way of adornment this morning Pictures
OF Lincoln, Grant, Garfield and Mckinley
grace the wall, and choice collection Of
flowers Is provided as surprise to Com
mander Stone The train bearing the head
quarters officers was SO late In arriving
that the Old Guard abandoned it's purpose
of acting as escort frofif the depot.
Forest City Lodge, Knights of the Golden
Eagle. Of this city, fases night expelled
Czolgosz, known to the order as Fred c.
Nieman, and anathefhatRzed his heinous
crime. :afofW
Di.cu..ins Canal sstss. 8 q for once.
Friends of each OF thes three known can
didates for commandments chief are In every
group in the hotels. A.frfend OF General
sickles. who confidenfly predicted the sue
cess Of his candidates deprecated the fact
that an attempt has Deeni made to bring
the administration intb the contest He
said i had come to esrs that the ad-
ministration is quoted as., favoring Adtu-
tant General Stewart of Pennsylvania.
This. he said, he did pot believe. but cir
culation of the rumor, was, in his judg-
ment, prejudicial to harIhony He could
xxyl.x <l4e H.