Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-24
OFFICER ARRAIGNED
CAPT. WALLACE ORDERED BE-
FORE CoURT-MARTIAL.
Trouble in Ranks Of Spanish War
Veterans - Incident Of G.
A. r. Week.


by the Corps of the District of Columbia,
Spanish War Veterans, has been ordered
to assemble at headquarters, 612 E street
northwest Friday evening, October 81. Spe-
cial order No L. converting the court, was
promulgated today by order of Corps Com
mander Fred. S. Hodgson
The court is to be assembled to try
charges preferred by Senior Vice Corps
Commander George West Byron against
Capt. Samuel B. Wallace, commander of
Charles Young Command. No 112, Spanish
War Veterans. the only coored organfza-
ton in the District corps. The charge and
specification preferred against Capt. Wal
lace follow:
"Charge.-Disobedie of orders in viola
ton of section o article 10, of the rules and
regulations of the Spanish War Veterans.
Specifcation.-In that said Wallace,
while commanding Young Command of said
corps having received lawful order from
his superior officer. Senior Vice Commander
George w. Byron, to form his command in
then and there willfully refuse to obey the
order and marched his command out of
line, and further refused to march his COM
mand in the parade. This at Washington,
ID. G., the Ith day of October, A. d. 1902.
Members of the Court.
The court is constituted of thirteen mem
bers, the senior ranking officer to preside
as follows:
Capts ]. Lyon King, F. B. Wheaton and
w. S. Hodges of Henry W. Lawton Com
mand. Capt. w. F. Ulrich of Gen. Nelson
A Miles Command, Capts. c. ]. Harlow
and D. V. Chisholm of Richard j. Harden
Command. Capt. F. ]. Widman of Willard
Command, Capt. G. Leyburn Shorey of
John Jacob Astor Command, Capt. F. w
Alexander of the 4th Immunes Command
Lieut.. Homer J. Locking and D. c. Eberly
of the 4th Immunes Command. Lieut. Thos
p. Guyton of Miles Command and Lieut.
Charles Read of Willard Command. The
order states that the court will sit without
regard to hours. Rufus w. Pearson will
act in his official capacity as corps judge
advocate
The assembling of this court-martial has
caused widespread comment among the
members owing to the alleged efforts of
certain parties to make it appear that the
color line has been drawn by the officers of
the white commands against the Charles
Young Command, which is composed exclu-
sively of colored veterans of the war with
Spain High officers of the corps deny that
there Is any truth in these statements, and
aver that Senior Vice Comman der Byron
was following a rule enacted by the corps
courCil of administration when he ordered
Young Command to take position on the
left of the line. The trouble occurred the
Spanish War Veterans were forming in
front of their hall, 612 E street northwest,
to take part in the parade of the naval vet
Grams during the G. A. R. encampment.
John Jacob Astor Command, which is
composed of crippled and invaded regular
soldiers from the Soldiers Home, being
the last command organized in the District
corps. had heretofore taken position on
the left of the line. On the occasion of
the naval parade, however. Gen. Nelson A.
Miles Command, No. /, which had always
taken the right of the line gave up it's
position to Aston Command. This threw
Young Command on the extreme left of the
formation.
Takes Exception.
Captain Wallace took exception to this
change, and when ordered to parade by
Senior Vice Corps Commander Byron re-
fused to do so. it is said. and marched his
command away from the locality, after
ward dismissing the members without
parading. The absence of the colored COM
mand from the line was noticed and
caused no small amount of comment
An officer of the corps stated today that
at late meeting of the corps council of
administration an order was adopted pro-
vidng that in all future parades Charles
Young Command should be assigned to the
second position of honor which is on the
left of the line. He also stated that the
commanding officer had the right, by both
law ana precedent, 10 assign DOdleS or men
as in his judgment may give the line the
best appearance, with reference to distinc-
tive uniforms. height, general appearance
and other consideration
Captain Wallace, when asked for a
statement to his side of the controversy
declined to give He said he would
make his statement to the court when 1t
assemblies. The contest promises to be an
interesting one and will be watched with
unusual interest by not only Spanish War
Veterans, but army people generally.