Evening star., 1903-08-03
GEN. MILES MENTIONED
PUT FORWARD FOR COMMANDER
OF THE G. A. r..
Will Go to San Francisco Encampment
as Guest Of the Department
of Maryland.

The name of Gen. Nelson A. Miles. who
will retire from the position of lieutenant
general of the army Saturday next. has
suddenly sprung into the politics Of the
| national encampment of the G. A. r.. which
| meets in San Francisco this month. How
far reaching will be the new injection no
one now tell, as the whole thing is
so sudden as to take G. A. r. men 10y sur
prise.
General Miles has accepted the invitation
of the Department of Maryland. G. A. r.,
to accompany the department as its guest
to San Francisco. The invitation was ex-
tended Saturday by committee from
Maryland G. A. r., and was accepted by
General Miles at that time.
The Maryland department will leave Bal
timore next Sunday morning a 10 o'clock
So enthusiastic are the Maryland men who
are going along that they are already
claiming that General Miles is just the man
for commanderin-chief of the c. A. r.,
and they stand ready, it was stated ex-
cellent authority today, to back him should
he have any aspirations in that direction.
The matter has been broached to General
Miles. who naturally refuses to be consid
cred in the fight for commander-in chief at
this time. and who has given his friends
no reason to believe he would become a
candidate. But that 'oes not keep the
Maryland men from looking ahead and iig-
urlns on the possibilities at San Francisco
Venezuelan Military Academy.
The two leading candidates for COM
mander-in-chief Gen. John c. Black of
illinois. former commissioner of pensions
and ex-Gov. Bulkeley of Connecticut The
fight is becoming very hot and is even SAID
to he acrimonious between the supporters OF
these two men. Ii it should become exceed
ingly bitter, it is claimed that Gen. Miles
would be an acceptable compromise canii-
G ate. That is The. MARYLAND
put it. They are for Miles for COMMANDER
in-ohief If the opportunity should present
itself to win with him.
Briefly. Gen. Miles would be put forward
as I. harmonZer and might carry the
ticnal encampment by storm. The magnet
ism of his presence and the enthusiasm OF
his supporters, it is asserted, would be fac.
tors in what might prove an interes-n
struggle Gen. Miles is member of La
fayette Post. New York. and is of the
organizers of the q. A. L. He organized
the Department of North Carolina and is
past mander of that department. As
past commander he has a life membership
in the national enctmpment. with both
vote and voice in It's councils.
Upon retirement from the army Cen
Miles will have at his command plenty OF
time. his Maryland friends assert. to attend
to the duties of chief. They
also allege that he has great influence With
prominent men throughout the country
which would make him probably the most
powerful commander the encampment could
select.
The announcement that Gen Miles has
consented to go to the enca mpment and Will
take part in It's work and business is ie-
garded with interest here. AS factor II
G.. A. K. circles in the future, either rs
commander-in-chief or prominent
member, he would be in position to square
accounts with some of the people who. 1t is
alleged. have handled him unfairly in the
last few years.
In a Special Train.
The trip will be made in special tram
of Pullman cars by way of the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad to Chicago, where a stop
of about twelve hours will be made, and
from Chicago west by way OF the chicago
and Northwestern the Union Pacific and
the Southern Pacific routes. Arriving at
Sacramento some of the party will proceed
direct to San Francisco while others VII
go first to Los Angeles and thence up the
coast to San Francisco.
With Gen. Logan. Gen. Miles was one OF
the moving spirits in the organization OF
the Society of the Grand Army of the Re
public in 1868. In that year Gen. Niles
organized the Department of North Car
olina. wi tn ten posts. and was vice com
mander df the department. He was after
ward transferred to the Barbara Freitchts
Post of Los Angeles and next to the George
II. Thomas Post of Chicago and later tC
Lafayette Post of New York He will be
accompanied to San Francisco by Col. NJ. p
Maus of his staff and by several of his
old associates in the war of the rebellion
The program for the national encanp
ment at San Francisco will cover the entire
week Monday, the 18th, will be given oveI
to the reception Of delegates from all over
the country. Tuesday there will be a
parade Of the Naval Veterans Prisoners OF
War Association and other bodies. Wei-
nesday the grand parade of the q. a. X
will take place and Thursday and Friday
will be occupied in the consideration OF
business of the eEcampment. grand
program of Entertainments has been ar
lxf fha ,ay,t