Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-27
Disclaimer From Members of
the G.. A. R.
RUMORED MOVEMENT
PRIVATE DALZELL'S STATEMENT
CoNTRADICTED.
Effort to Bring Politics Into organiza-
ton Strongly Disapproved by
Union Veterans.

The published statement of Private ).
NJ DalZen of Ohio to the effect that
formative movement is afoot among MEM
bers of the Grand Army of the Republic
to convert that organization into politi-
cal organization for the good of the
soldier is entirely discredited by Mr.. Ben
jamin F. Bingham, present commander OF
the Department mt of the Potomac, G. A. R.,
and Messrs. Israel c. Stone and Nathan
Bickford, past commanders of the same
department. All three of these gentlemen
take exactly the same position-that the
Grand Army is not a political body, ana
that no effort to make 1t so will enlist the
support of the men of influence now in the
Grand Army. From their statements the
inference seems fair that no such move
ment can obtain any considerable support
from the veterans in the Department of the
Potomac.
None of the three veterans Indicated had
seen Private Dalzelrs statement. When
the clipping was handed them by the re
porter for The Star each read it through
with surprise and amusement. Their eX-
pressions indicated with fully as much en-
phasis as their words that the movement
had absolutely Importance in their eyes
and would amount practically to nothing.
Commander Bingham was reluctant TO
speak of the statement for publication.
This matter or any matter like 1t is
primarily for the national encampment to
decide he said. Until it reaches the ma
tional encampment it can hardly have any
national status. and as this proposition is
essentially national in it's nature l cannot
see there is anything for me to say
When pressed to indicate whether he
knew of any such movement locally he
said:
In my Judgment no such movement will
find any large following in the Department
OF the Potomac. The sentiment of the
great majority of our men is Overwhelm-
ingly against politics in what is exclusively
benevolent and patriotic society. ! have
heard nothing of it either here or elsewhere,
and l doubt whether anyone else has heard
of it in this department.
Mr.. Bickfords Views.
Mr.. Bickford read the statement through
carefully and then said: ours Is essential
ly a patriotic and fraternal body. 1t cam
not have any political bias. Now and then
some such idea as this is expressed and
supported spOradically, but it seldom OBJ
tains any following of any Importance. ]
remember that during the encampment in
Cleveland there was great deal of talk
about political organization which was to
be formed of G. A r. members exclusive
ty. But nothing came of it. All other
movements of the same kind have failed l
think they always will fail because they
are directly opposed to the principles of
the e. a. r. and cannot receive the in
dorsement of any notable proportion of its
members.
Regarded as a Fake.
You may say for me- said Col Stone.
that the whole thing is a fake The idea
that the G. A. r. can be converted into a
political body is preposterous 1 have all
ways been and am now very active in nv
Grand Army affiliations, and I have not
heard even the slightest whisper to s11pDort
this statement by Private DaIzeI Here
ana there one or two men may discuss such
plan. but they are not and cannot be the
men Of influence.
AS whole, the Grand Army of the Re-
public Is distinctly opposed to the injectio,
Vi politlcs into its organization. What use
would II serve? All that has ever been
Hone Ior the soldier has been done by the
republican party. If, then, the G. a r
were to vote unit in the interest of the
soldier II would become practically a re-
publican political organization. OF course
the republican party has done many things
Whlch We soldiers wish had not been dome
But II Is. nevertheless, distinctly the uarty
OF the Union soldiers
Besides all this, there is already a bod,-
OF veterans organized along exactly the
lines set forth by Private DaIzell 1 mean
the Union Veteran Union. Not long ago
some one in that body issued a general or.
der that the members of the L. V L should
vote for Mckinley. and the announcement
made half the men in the G. A r laugh
ne idea that any one should presume TO or
DER the members of a great patriotic and
iraternal body like the G. A r. to vote
any particular ticket, You may saw for me
that the movement has absolutely no fol-
lowing In the District of Columbia and
pro6aDi has none anywhere in G. A r.