The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-28
Lincoln Post Refused to Stand
For Mckinley Memorial.
Objection Made to Selection Of
Governor as Speaker.
IN DELICATE POSITION.
The Committee Had Already
Invited Mr.. Stanley.
Decided to Hold Meeting With
out Post Sanction.

Because Governor William f. Stanley
was chosen to make the address at the
William Mckinley memorial exercises
held at the United Presbyterian church
on Sunday, Lincoln Post No. L of the
Grand Army of the Republic voted to
not hold services and it was only by
the efforts of few old soldiers Work
ing outside of the post circles that the
memorial was held.
To all appearances the exercises were
conducted in a harmonious manner and
with spirit of patriotism but the story
of how political intrigue and diScord
among members of the post nearly
caused the meeting to be abandoned
and a notice sent to Governor Stanley
that his services as speaker would not
be required, has just leaked out.
Arrangements were made by Lincoln
Post to hold the memorial exercises ana
at the same time, in pursuance with
the suggestion issued by Governor
Stanley naming January 26 as the day,
to take up a collection for the Mclxin-
ley memorial. There was the usual
harmony among the members of the
post The veterans wished to honoaA<he
memory of Major Mckinley.
A committee composed of w. w. Dem
ison, quartermaster general of the Kan
sas G. A. R., Chaplain J. E. Sidwen of
the post, j. E. Stewart, Rev M F. Nc
Kirahan and John SanderSon, all MEM
bers of Lincoln post, was named to
have full charge of the memorial exeE-
cises and to make all arrangements. 1t
was intended to hold the exercises In
some large hall
From the general committee Mr.. Den
ison and Rev. Mr.. McKirahan We're Sc
lected to make the arrangements for
the speaker of the day. The commit
tee invited General j. K. Hudson to
make the address. 1t was understood
that he would be the speaker but week
before the exercises were to be held
General Hudson notified the committee
that as he would not be in Topeka on
the day of the memorial that he would
han
started in search of another speaker.
The committee decided to invite As
sociate Justice E. w. Cunningham, of
the supreme court who is an old soldier,
TO make the address. The committee
visited the state house and found that
Judge Cunningham was not in the city.
Whom to select was the question Gov
ernor Stanley was suggested but the
committee understood that he was not
in Topeka. AS the committeeman We're
at the state house they decided to visit
the executive Office, nevertheless. The
committee found that the governor had
Just returned.
The committee invited Governor
Stanley to make the address, thinking
that as he issued the call for the day
to be observed throughout the state in
memory of the martyred president that
the selection would be appropriate
Governor Stanley consented and the ar
rangements were made.
At the next meeting of Lincoln Post
the committee reported that Governor
and had accepted. The report started
lively row in the post.
Captain p. H. Coney, A. K. Rodgers,
the political manager of Congressman
Charles Curtis, and Captain G. H. Titus
led the fight on Stanley. Major T. j.
Anderson was also there and he was
not idle.
Mr.. Rodgers moved that the report of
the committee be laid on the table
That precipitated the trouble. The
rumor was that as Mr.. Rodgers is Con-
md
that as the congressman and the gov
ernor both have aspirations for the seat
to be vacated in the senate at Wash
ington by Senator Harris, that he was
not friendly to Governor Stanley for
political reasons and did not wish the
state executive to receive any such
honor.
Capt Titus was as bitter against the Sc
lection of Gov. Stanley as was Mr.. Rod
gers. Rumor had It that the captain was was
prejudiced because he formed the Mcf<ln-
ley Republican club of 1000 members in
missioner of elections in Topeka and
thought he would get it. The old soldiers
would get it and made. no great fight for
him, and Sherman Williams was appointed
Capt. Coney made up the fighting trio;
He opposed Gov. Stanley on the ground
has not been friendly to the members of
I the G. A. R. Coney is an active worker
| ion is not at all friendly to the governor.
W. w. Dennison and M. f. Mckirahan,
/
him. Mr.. Dennison said that the governor
had attended four G. A r. reunions where
! he was and that he found him friendly to-
ward the old soldiers and quite popular
with them.
/ The vote on the motion to lay the report
on the table was taken and the motion was
carried by a majority of two votes The
| opposition to Gov Stanley had won by a
| bare majority. The supporters of Stanley
| made a strong fight to defeat the motion
| with the arguments that such a proceed
| ing would place Lincoln post in bad odor
with the governor and the public. By the
| vote. however. it was decided that Lincoln
post would not stand sponsor to the me
| mortal exercises with Gov. Stanley as the
| speaker.
| Then Rev. Mr.. McKhahan and Mr.. Den
nison, who were responsible for the invita-
| tion being extended to the governor. de-
\ cided to hold the memorial exercises in
| spite of the action of Lincoln post. Rev
| Mr.. McKirAhan made arrangements TO
| have the exercises held in his church, at
| the corner of Eighth and Topeka avenues,
| under the auspices of the old soldiers and
/ not of the post
! There were plenty of veterans willing to
/ lend their aid and the services were held
but Lincoln post had nothing to do with
| them. Now Mr. Dennison says he intends
| to report the entire matter to Gov. Stanley
| that he may know who opposed him in
| the post