The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-16
WARE IS POPULAR
The Soldiers of the Civil War Seem
to Like the New Pension
Commissioner.
The Plan to Help the Confederate
Veterans Has Proven
Popular.
From The Jo"rnat Bureau. Room 90 Poss

6Hiding, Uasht,a0tohas
Washington Oct. 16.-Pension Commits
sioner Ware was a very popular official
during Grand Army week, and thousands
of the vetehans called to see him and look
him over. The Grand Army doesn't yet
know where to place Ware. The pension
department has been running very smooth
ly since his advent, and nothing has de-
veloped to determine what his policy Is to
be. Should he follow in the footsteps Of
Henry Clay Evans, another cry Will go up
from the veterans, and another effort Will
be made to secure new commissioner. 1t
IS highly probable that Mr.. Ware Will IOl-
low the Evans policy in its general fea-
lures. The commissioner, however, has
considerable discretionary authority with
I'm the law, and at this point Ware is eX-
pected to be better friend to the SOL
Giers than Evans was. 1t Is charged that
in the exercise of his discretionary au-
thority Evans almost invariably gave the
veterans the worst Of the argument. There
were two reasons for the appointment Of
Ware. First in Importance, he was at the
head Of the crusade which was organized
against Evans, and naturally would not
he expected as Evans successor to do the
things which had made Evans unpopular.
In the next place, the appointment had
something to do with the literary Character
which Ware sustains to the country. The
president was glad to recognize in so gen.
erous way representative OF American
letters from the great west
In his contact with the old soldiers last
week. the new commissioner made very
favorable impression. He Is good en-
tertainer knows how to tell a good story
and withal Is modest and una assuming. The
veterans seem to like him.
TO Help the Southern Veteran.
The plan put forward by Judge Torrance
as COMMUNICATIVE chief Of the Grand Army,
of having the union soldiers help In the
work Of erecting homes for Confederate
veterans In the south, received a great
deal Of encouragement during the encamp-
ment last week. Judge Torrance had laid
the plan before the Grand Army bodies
of the several states before encampment
week, and so the delegates and others
came to Washington with their minds
pretty we'll made up as to its merits. 1t
was enthusiastically Endorsed by the en-
campment, and it is said that several thou
sand dollars already have been subscribed.
General Sickles has sent a contribution
of $50, and so has Corporal Tanner. Other
leading men in the Grand Army, east and
west, have come forward In very liberal
manner, and there is every reason for
believing that the total to be raised will in
every way be worthy Of the cause to which
the money will be devoted and will reflect
honor upon the Grand Army as an organ
zaton. In the judgment Of Judge Tor
RANGES friends, the subscriptions by this
time would have amounted to $4,000 but
for the position Of q prominent Confed-
crate post In New Orleans, and Of the
New Orleans democratic press. This OPP
position served to chill the ardor Of the
Grand Army people. but still a large sum
of money will be secured. Judge Torrance
thinks that If several cottages can be
built at comfortable homes with money
raised among the union soldiers, great
t{~r
Of obliterating sectional lines and feeling
And it Is very apparent that the Grand
Army as whole agrees with him.
The Dyrenforth Fuss.
General r. G. Dyrenforth, conmander-
In chief Of the Union Veterans Union, haC
big scrap with the organization during
It's annual meeting in Washington las
week. and while he won out and was re
elected, the organization will probably suf
fer a good deal because Of the quarrel. Mr.
DyrenfOrth is a very strenuous individual
and his policy in several important re
spects did not meet the approval Of lead
ing men In the order, who came to Wash
ington this year prepared to make trou
BILE. They made 1t. There appearing n
better way, ugly charges were preferre'
against Dyrenforth and a committee wa
appointed to investigate them. The com
mittee reported clearing him, but the com
motion which had been kicked up cam
near breaking the order in twain. AS
Is, it Is in pretty wobbly condition. an
during the coming year, at least, wi
not cut anything like the figure among tn
old soldiers which it cut in the years gon
by. 1t was one Of Dyrehforth's plans t
have the Union Veterans' Union this yea
adopt policy which would carry 1t int
politics in q very determined fashion. Can
didates were to be voted for with specis
reference to their feeling for the oil
soldiers, who in every way were to schem
to get a larger share than before Of tn
loaves and fishes. OF course, the ROY
in the meeting prevented the scheme fc
this new organization from being consid
cred. The Union Veterans Union for year
has been the chief political organization {
the old soldiers. No politics Is Above
in the Grand Army, but the men who be
long to the Grand Army also belong to tn
Union, and there they have done gres
deal to bring the veterans into prom
nence as candidates for public office. O
the whole the influence Of the Union ha
probably not been bad; but 1t has NJ
helped It's reputation by the Dyrenfort
trouble in Washington this year.
w. w. Jermane.