New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-07-06
CASE OF MAJOR KETCHUM
HIS EXPLANATION OF THE MEIHoDS
OF HIS ASSOCIATION AND THE
REITERATIoN OF THE WAR
DEPARTMENTS CHARGES.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

come wears l sorry to have been so active as
~ have become annoyance to the War Depart
INT But Cod forbid that l should so shape my
c,rse or conduct my affairs as to make it possible
Gov al men 10 speak we'll of me. 1t is not worth
t,ra "a 90 over at length any differences with the
Wa recruitment. They well known The out
oceans treatment of enlisted men by brutal Off
rs the embalmed beef mess" the government
aloon in the post eanteen and other things against
hich we have publicly protested are all before
,be rublc Hence these attacks by the Depart
mani can only have for their object the destruction
OF our influence. In the old days it was easier.
Herod took an eHectua4 melhod 10 sllehce rouble-
some persons.
The War Department complains of my methods
as secretary Of organization with which nave
,esn associated forty years for religious work
IN the United States Army. The peculiar character
Of these methods is not stated but the Inference is
that they are not commendable. The matter
20 me trivial Forty years intelligent experience
however 10 what is possible and what is wise
should entite 70 respectful consideration and
confidence. Our long and honorable service during
the war Of 1s6l65 in establishing and maintaining
post and hospital libraries of thousands of books
At Governors Island, Fort Wood. Fort Hamilton,
David's Island Rikers Island and Fort Schuyler,
and at the New-York State Soldiers Home. in
citation and City Hall Park. in this city and our
incessant labors all through that period should
not be forgotten, nor our efforts 10 follow the men
into the regular army. down to the present time.
been.
The association is really a very small orsaniza-
ton, composed of a few Christian men ana
women interested in the moral and religious wei
fare Of the army. The cash receipts from the pub
lie are only about s. 900 per annu, which is mainly
extended for books for libraries, organs singing
books stereoptcons. chapel supplies, printing SUIT
able publications of religious character Tor iree
distribution by our chaplains. etc Personally. /
am held responsible by the trustees for faithful
performance Of duty. ! have always felt this LABOR
provdentally laid upon me ana nave CoiSedT T5.
and the public viii Judge between my long and
honorable service and the constant attacks upon
NV motives and acts inspired, as have reason 10
believe. by a single individual - ,,o,,.
On z 6s Gs Sr yhf am e under dog in
significant and weak society on the one nsr1 amf
Of the government the other. The Secretary no, OK
va S ays our nsse 90O%T h are War no M
see any for an intermediary eTII on To The
This general G d} view Is # Would
SesfroV fO every religious missionary and humane
0Tgan Tibr s the time that have been engaged
in this work have had associated With me ba gen
temen Of the hghe S tb S ety S my work has been
Under constant supervision by committees and l
and that is BY calling directly at the headquarters
Of Win Fh TesSeef To the Mems
for all We have tried to eo-operSte s1d
me n9ss r1anv Of them would be willing so TO
testify Personally an man sNt ~ fg ea cause SCI
have been very great sna have spent salary
NAT ssye IN rece hs is about $50 per
would not my education; public ac9uantance, ana f
me for earning much larger sum than that If
wT be W Sny rST g4n aS is aS mistaken IN
there vas no cGngenop OF enrse smp
SON o. S. A.. chairman am Chaplain intt Q; j
Ia uieaGlre in referring, to Work TO me
following clergymen WIG are The Oldest chaplains
John n Maccmbsr, {: {. Batenanz J.; A Potter.
eoGse s % Simpson " B9w Anderson M H Keey
r "; Barry and in fact; any army chaplain Of Of
willing TO give testimony in our behalf.
The affairs Of the association are managed by
sible. No interested person need fear TO intrust
to ms any osqeS aesd sng toT ape
The association is a regularly organized and in.
SeRoYork. End Committee consisting of General
Charles a Miller president: the Rev Joseph H.
any one who may desire f 6aS e Rf4SarM
New-York. June 90. 1902
Washington. July 4.-In the single quotation
from The Tribune's dispatch which Major"
Ketchum makes OF, he confirms the declaration
Of the War Department that the absolute veracity
Of his appeals is not 10 be relied upon. His loose
ness Of statement, OF methods and Of accounting
discountenances. The correct quota ton from the
dispatch is Without dispara ging Mr.. Ketchum's
motives the War Department fails to the
necessity for such an intermediary" referring to
Mr.. Ketchum himself. and then the dispatch went
tell how easily obtainable was list of chap
lains and how advantageous IL is to communicate
directly with them Nor does Mr. Ketchum in his
letter dispose OF the fact that there but four
chaplains in the army in 1896, notwithstanding his
statement in his appeal for funds, dated June 2.
1872. that his organization had been commended
by general convention of all the regmentaI
chaplains at st. Louis IN 1895"
The truth is that the War Department and
benevolent persons generally who have knowledge
Of Mr. Ketchum's methods have been overgenerous
70 him. If there is any doubt as to that the fol-
lowing authoritative statement will dispose of it,
AS long ago as 1855 complaint was made to the
War Department CT the workings of an association
bTsrY zane Gf the af eWYork cty Which
claimed 20 have sent large donations OF books
periodicals. etc, to the army, and solicited con-
purpose OF ascertaiaing whether al any time during
he ten years any sT Tan o nad
bad been Of any service 10 the army circular
@ TO t ths IN tToaps o f. t qf
letter lS3 posts responded OF which number l2s re-
years had any donations been received from that
Sss9eo ane tngse ay pests unguane1y 1eee
10 the command The following year QSs6) com
can and Foreign Literary, and Subscription
agency. Of No. 81 NessaT5st. New-York City with
which the name of Mr. Ketchum was associated.
but the department began an investiga-
attention was called the workings of the United
States Army Aid Association Of New-York g" Mr..
for its work the religious and educational interests
OF the solders at fronteE posts Agsin was RE
the greater number responded that no donations
Of books periodicals had ever been received from
the association; a few replied that they had re-
eeived some old tracts and showroom magazines;
the department. was called 10 practice of this as