The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-26


kinIey's Old Comrades in Arms
VIII Either Act as Escort or Not
Appear ia the street Pageant.
The fiat has gone forth that the veteran
organizations will either serve as the per
sonal escort to the President to or from
the Capitol. or they viii not march on
March 4. Gen. Daniel E. Sickles. who has
been selected as the marshal of the vet
eran division. will not act in that capacity.
if the wishes of the veterans are not met.
General Greene. Grand Marshal of the in
augural parade has declined TO alter his
determination in regard to the position
of the old soldiers in the column of march.
and following this preliminary discussion
the President has directed that the Grand
Marshal be notified OF his wish that The
veterans be granted their desire TO serve
as his personal escort.
Two plans have been suggested by the
veterans and rejected by the Grand Mar
shall. The second, or alternative, plan
now finds most favor with the veterans.
They have expressed through General
Sickles. the wish 10 serve as the escort
of the President to the Capitol from the
White House in lieu OF the arrangement
first rejected by the Grand Marshal. that
the position of the President in the pa
rade be altered from the head of the
column to q position in the centre of the
veterans division.
General SiclIes was seen last night at
the residence of his daughter. 1Tl3 Con-
necticut Avenue. He explained the stu
alton fully. He stated that he had ac-
cepted the position of marshal of the
veteran division of the inaugural parade,
at the instigation of the President, as
conveyed through the Grand Marshal He
had subsequently written to the President,
that he extend especial honors
10 the veterans by reviewing them at the
conclusion OF the parade, and also by re-
ceivng them at the White House follow
ing the review. The President had readily
assented to the first suggestion but said
that the great fatigue which the day would
bring with its many arduous calls upon
his endurance was an imperative reason
for not receiving and shaking hands With
the men who had served the Union IS a
concluding mark of respect for his old
comrades in arms.
The veterans, General Sickles stated
had on learning that they were to march
in a fourth division. insisted that the
Presidents position be changed from the
head of the procession to a position in
their midst. Upon the arrival of Gener-
al S.ckles in the city last Saturday he
had held conferences with the heads of
the local veteran organizations and on
Sunday morning, when called upon by the
Grand Marshal, had submitted their de-
rejected the proposition. and suggested
instead that the veterans should not be
required TO march from the Capitol. but
should be assembled at New York Avenue,
and, at the proper time, be marched to
the position in the Court OF Honor where
the President would review them. This
General Sickles submitted to the officers
in command OF the veteran organizations
at a subsequent meeting. General
Greene's suggestions were at once reject
ed, the veterans contending that they did
not intend to lend any support to the
charge that they We're old and decrepit
by not marching in the parade. General
Sickles then suggested the plan of escort
ng the President from the Capitol to the
White House. The veterans gave this
plan their entire endorsement Sunday af-
.eruoon. General SiCkles returned the
all of the Grand Marshal. and laid this
alternative suggestion before him. Cen
sral Greene stated that he had request
y the cadets from Annapolis and from
Vest Point to act in this capac city, and |
hat he could not adopt the plan. Gen
raj Sickles then stated to General |
ireene that not a veteran would march !
n the parade. and announced his own |
of the duties imposed upon
lin as marshal of the veteran division. !
General Sickles states that ii was his |
Intention TO return at once to New York, !
ut believing it to be his duty to explain !
o the President his reasons for refusing |
o march at the head of the veterans. he |
isited the White House and laid the mat |
er before Mr.. Mckinley yesterday In |
eply the President stated that he had |
tated TO Mr.. Edison. Chairman of the In
ugural Committee. two weeks before. |
is desire that the veterans be placed at |
he head of the column OF the inaugural |
arade, as his escort, and had believed |
hat this would be done. The President.
Lates General Sickles, endorsed the prop
sition that the veterans should escort
i'm to the White House, before the cere-
lonies of Inauguration, and sent for Gen.
|. c. Corbin, Adujtant General OF the
rmy, and directed him to convey to Cen
raj Greene his wish that the veterans
fishes in the matter be acceded TO-
General Sickles is now awaiting the re-
urn Of General Greene, who is to return |
rom New York this morning General |
reene's reception OF the Presidents ex-
ressed wishes in the matter will deter
line whether the veterans march in the
arade, or If General Sickles acts in the
apacity OF marshal. General SickIes
tates that General Greene received the
uggestions of the veterans courteouslv
rhile declining them, and expressed his
esire TO do all in his power to adjust the
rouble.
General Sickles also said that Captain
.ipscomb of the Spanish War Veterans.
ad given the entire support of his organ
cation to the position taken by the civil
-ar veterans. The Spanish War Veter-
ms will march if the older veterans
larch, and will decline to march if that
the decision Of the civil war veterans.
a meeting of the Union Veterans Union
as held last night in Oppenheimer's Hall
nd the question Of the position Of veter-
lis in the inaugural parade was discussed
en-. r. G. Dyrenforth, commander in
hief. presided. and explained to the vet
ran organizations the correspondence and
differences concerning the matter A let
er from General Sickles, written imme-
lately after his appointment as marshal
the veterans division, was read in
hich General Sickles announced that IL
0uld not be agreeable to him to retain
lie command unless the veterans were
yei. proper consideration. General by
,nforth related the results Of the discus
on between General Sickles and General
reene. Concluding he stated that if the