The Washington times., 1902-07-27
FOR COMMANDER N-CHIEF.

McElroy will have strong rivals in hi
candidacy for the first honor In th
Grand Army. The most recent :orma
vania. Louis Wagner, past commander
in-chief, chairman; Thomas G. Sample
past department commander, secretary
Robert B. Beath, past commander-in
chief; J. P. S. Goblin. past commander
in-chief; j. NJ. Vanderslice. past de
| rartDent commander: William Emsley
past department commander; H. H
Cummings, past department commander
James F. Morrison. past department
commander; Charles Miller. past depart
ment commander; Levi G. McCauley
past department commander; H. H
Bengough. Post No. 151, and Ezra r
Ripple, Post No. 139, have been ap.
pointed a committee on the part o.
Pennsylvania veterans to advance Gen
reral Stewards interests. They have is.
sued the following circular in his be-
half:
THE committee appointed In accord
ance with the above quoted resolution
respectfully present the qualification.
which Comrade Stewart possesses foI
the satisfactory performance OF the
duties OF commander in chief.
I1lS III liz WOEh VI LII
Grand Army of the Republic as n pos
commander. as assistant inspector gen.
eral. as assistant adjutant general fol
seven years. as department commander
and as adiutant general under Com
;nanders- in Chief Goblin, Sexton, John
1 son, and Shaw has given him informa
| tion and experience as to the history
proceedings, customs, and rules anC
regulations that render him especially
equipped to fill satisfactorily the hon.
orable position for which the depart
nent of Pennsylvania heartily presents
him as candidate.
by his unselfish devotion to our or.
der, as evidenced by his serving as ad-
jutant general during the years 1897
9S. and 1S9S-99 without salary. and dur
ing 1S99-1900 for less than half the salary
paid previous to 1897, thousands of dol
lars were saved to the Grand Army oil
the Republic, and this at time when
the finances of the order were at a low
ebb.
He has been a member OF the board
of trustees OF the Pennsylvania Soldiers
and Sailors Home since its organiza-
tion sixteen years ago, and was O men,
Der of the commission in charge OF the
Soldiers Orphans Schools for twelve
years.
I'm civic life in Pennsylvania he was
q member Of the general assembly, 1885,
Sc; was elected secretary of internal af-
fairs in 1886: reelected in 1890; served
until 1895. when he resigned to accept
appointment as adjutant general OF
Pennsylvania, to which position he was
reappointed in 1899, and in which ne is
now serving
His administration of affairs as an
official OF the State of Pennsylvania for
eighteen years has been characterized by
an ability and fidelity that have won for
him the respect and confidence OF all the
people.
For twenty-five years he has been On
active, untiring worker in the post to
which he belongs, and in departmental
and national encampments, and being a
fluent public speaker. his services arc
eagerly sought and freely given at re-
unions, campfres, and veteran occasions
generally
Meantime Colonel McElroy is receiving
promises of earnest and effective sup
port from many quarters. The old SOL
der papers are particularly friendly to
him, and many veteran subscribers to
his papers will sit In the Grand Lodge
convention. A sample of the enthusi-
astic notices he is receiving Will be
found in the following from the "Ohio
Soldier" printed under the caption NC
Elroy Is All Right"
I'VE note with a great deal of pleasure
that Comrade John McElroy will be a
candidate at the national encampment
for commander-in-ch chief. Comrade Nc
Elroy is senior vice commander in chief,
having been elected by unanimous vote
at the Cleveland encampment. For a
number OF years he has been editor OF
the National Tribune at Washington, a
newspaper devoted to the interest OF
the old soldier. We have not always
expediency or desirability OF matters ad-
vocated by his paper as of urgent i'm
portance, but concede to him the
same honest, conscientious purposes we
claim for ourselves. We cannot all
agree as to what policy is best to pur-
sue at all times, but we can all concede
integrity of purpose. where nothing to
the contrary is apparent In long years
of service. This integrity everybody con-
cedes. and we know that Comrade Nc
Elroy has worked at nights in the in
terests of his comrades, while those
who have worked less and thought less
of his comrades have gathered greater
honors. He learned comrade-
ship In surer and sterner field, where
the odor was gunpowder. the music was
the blare of trumpets, and the eloquence
was the sharp. curt orders Of the off,
GERS, and the answering applause was
the deadly volley of the rebel rife and
shell: where the lid of a
cracker box was the festal board; or In
that deadly dell of damnation, Ander-
where even crackers and
cracker boxes were unknown except IN
the hungering dreams of famish!ng pa
triots. 1t was picked up on the line of
march where the already overburdened
shoulders did not hesitate to lend
helping hand by bearing the belongings |
of sick or weaker companions. or skirt |
the road for miles that he might have |
drink OF clean. fresh water. or some |
delicacy not found in the army ration: |
where selfish seeking had no existence, |
and the strife was all for one and one
for all. In that school he learned COM
'adeship. the ties of which were as |
strong as iron, and, with all their rough |
and jagged edges. as tender as a wo-
mans love. and endures forever"