The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-06-22
NUMBER 1870.
OPPOSITION TO MR. EVANS
The Fight Against the Pension
Commissioner Renewed.

Persistent Reports That He Is to Re
main at the Head OF the Bureau
the Cause of Acttvity Among
Those Who Favor Change.
The growing belief that Commissioner
II. Clay Evans is to be allowed to retain
his position at the head of the Pension
Bureau has led to a renewal of activity
on the part of his opponents to accomplish
his retirement from Office. This is espe-
cialy true in regard to the strong ele-
ment among the old soldiers It is said
that the encampments held within the
past two or three weeks in New York, Ne
braska, Missouri, and number Of States
have adopted resolutions condemning Mr..
Evans policy and have forwarded them
to the President with a request for his
removal
Corporal Tanner, who was formerly
Pension Commissioner. was at the White
House this morning. but did not discuss
the matter Of the appointment Of Mr..
Evans successor with the President. He
was. however. free in commenting upon
the subject
The old soldiers have by no means
ceased their fight on NJ. Evans said
Mr. Tanner, and viii rot until he retires
from the Office I do not know whether
it is a tact that is known to the public
or not, but it is true nevertheless, that
the National Republican Committee prior
to the last election promised faithfully
that MI Evans would be retired from the
Office of Pension Commissioner upon the
beginning of President McKinley's sec
ond Administration in case of his re-
election We have that promise in black
and white It is in the form Of a letter
written by the National Committee to
General Sickles and ne still has that com
1nunication
That is why believe that Mr.. Evans
succe ssor will soon be appointed,
I do not, of course, know who the man
viii be, but We hope he win be more
friendly to the old soldiers than the pres
ent Commissioner has been At any rate,
the National Committee made that def
mite promise, and I believe it viii be
kept"
Mr. Tanner intimated, although he did
not say so definitely, thai it was because
Of this promise that many Of the old sol
diers were kept in line for the Republican
ticket
Representatives Brownlow and Gibson
Of Tennessee were at the White House
this morning and had a talk with the
President
It is understood that they are assist
ing in the attempt to obtain Mr. Evans
official scalp. although they would not
state what reason they had. if any. 10
believe that Mr. Evans would be retired.
When asked # the report that the Evans
and Brownlow factions in Tennessee had
adjusted their differences and reached an
an1icable agreement. Mr.. Gibson declared
emphatically that such was not the case.
and that no truce had been declared lIr-
Brownlow said that he had not heard OF
any settlement outside Of the newspaper
reports.
A new candidate has entered the field to
secure the appointment Of Pension Com
missioner when Nj Evans retires. He is
James 1 Davenport. the present Deputy
Commissioner of Pensions He is cfti-
zen OF New Hampshire and his nannc. has
N~-i P4SSt'iltu bE representative cyrus
A Suiloway, Of that State Mr. Daven-
port and Mr Evans are on friendly terms
and II Is said that the formers candidacy
Is conditional upon the retirement Of his
chief It is said that his appointment
would be open to objection from the old
soldiers on the same grounds thar thew
protest against Mr. Evans. only in a less
degree. and they would be likely TO op-
pose his selection.
In the meantime IT is said that the Pres
ident has not stated that Nj Evans was
soon 10 retire and the belief prevails that
he viii hold on until there is another
equally good position open to which he
can be appointed