Evening star., 1903-07-24
A N Err RY WA R
Miles Command and Its
Auxiliary.
RESULT OF ELECTION
CHARGE OF UNFAIR METHODS
MADE BY COL. DYER.
He Tries to Have the Command Sever
Its Relations With Its
Auxiliary.

There is the merriest kind of a war going
on now in the Nelson A. Miles Command,
Spanish War Veterans. The last meeting
| held at the new Spanish War Hall, 10 9th
street northwest, Tuesday evening. is said
| to have ended in a small-sized riot. mem
| bers almost coming to blows, and, not con-
| tent with vigorous discussion in the hall.
continued it on the sidewalk.
The discussion, which was said to have
been precipitated by the captain of the
command, l.. c. Dyer, arose over an effort
made by that officer to induce the Nelson
A. Miles Command to file bill of divorce
from its auxiliary. known the Mary
Sherman Miles Auxiliary. The command
is named after the distinguished lieutenant
general of the army. who retires next
month, and who is a member of the COM
mand.
The auxiliary is named for Mrs. Miles.
who was so picturesquely made a member
of the auxiliary which bears her name,
at social function given by Dr. Anita
Newcomb McC1ee early in March, as re-
ported in The Star at the time. Other
prominent members of the Miles Auxiliary
are Mrs. Judith Ellen Foster. who is the
legal representative of the District auXil.
larry; Mrs. Lillian Corbell Pickett, wife of
| the late General Pickett and mother of
Colonel Pickett; Mrs. Newton Ferree and
many others.
One of the officers of the Mary Sherman
Miles Auxiliary who served until its last
meeting, which occurred last week some
time, was Mrs. L. c. Dyer, wife of the
captain of the Miles Command At that
meeting Mrs. Dyer and a number of her
friends and supporters demanded transfer
cards and it is said, made a dramatic
exit from the auxiliary hall.
Here begins the story which bids fair
to disrupt Miles Command At previous
meeting of Mary S. Miles Auxiliary an
n1o not no
mer president, Mrs. Celynda Werner Ford,
having resigned. The charge was made
that she resigned to enter the race for
District president, but this is denied in
her behalf
Many nominations for president were
made but the members suggested declined
the honor, so 1t is stated, among these be
ing Mrs l.. c. Dyer Her friends insisted
that she should run, however, and after re-
peated refusals she was finally induced to
permit her name to stand. 1T IS said that
the vote was about to be taken when some
one arose and nominated Mrs. Harriet L.
Scribner making two candidates in the
field. Mrs. Scrbner was elected
Methods Regarded as Unfair.
1t is stated that Mrs Dyer very in
dignant at what she regarded unfair
methods in forcing her to run and then de-
feating her Her Indignation was shared by
her husband, who is editor of the official
organ of the Spanish War Veterans, and
also adjutant general Of the national or
ganization, of which Gen tren Is COM
mander-in-chief
1t is said that Capt. Dyer Immediately
planned a scheme to even up his wife's
defeat 1t eliminated in an appeal to the
membership. Miles Command is the larg-
est in the national organization, but each
member got a postal card on which was
printed In boldfaced type a call to at
tend the next regular meeting of Miles
Command. when the question of severng
!, fhr Mnr ryfN2 n 90
Auxiliary would be discussed. These were
signed by l.. c. Dyer as captain of the
command
1t is said that Capt Dyer also wrote a
very offensive letter to the acting presi-
dent of the Miles auxiliary, and called on
another member of the Miles auxiliary and
talked to her in such a manner in the hear
ing Of witnesses in another room that she
threatened to bring suit against Capt. Dyer,
but was induced to hold the matter In abey-
ance for time.
In the letter. and in his attack upon the
other member, Capt Dyer, 1t Is said, de-
clared that the Mary Sherman Miles Auxil-
iary had been a positive detriment to the
command which, he declared, had never
officially recognized the auxiliary anyhow
and demanded that 1t Immediately ask to
have its relations with the command sew
cred. He said his wife had been very badly
treated by the auxiliary.
The language of the letter Is said to have
been very offensive Capt Dyer made it
very plain in this letter and in his personal
interview with Ile Otner lazy tndt ne was
actuated thereto by his dislike of two
three members of the auxiliary, who, he
insisted. had connived to defeat his wife
for the presidency.
1t Is said that Capt. Dyer Immediately
set himself to work to influence the mem
bers of Miles Command to his way OF
thinking. by telling them. as he had told the
ladies referred to. that his wife had or
ganized the Miles Auxiliary, and had pro-
cured its charter and that certain names
were placed upon that charter by ladies
who were not asked to sign 1t. Now. when
his wife who had worked hard for the
auxiliary-and in Justice to Mrs. Dyer the
auxiliary members say she has worked
very hard-and there was a chance for her
to be elected president. these charter mem
bers combined to defeat Mrs. Dyer.
Tuesday evening there was the largest
attendance at Miles Command in months.
it is said, and discussion was prectpita ted
the resolution declaring that Miles Com
mand desired to sever Its relations with
the Mary Sherman Miles Auxiliary Capt.
Dyer was presiding. and thus had the ad-
vantage and 1T Is said he recognized only
few OF the auxiliary's friends Just exactly
what was done in that meeting, which was
secret cannot, Of course, be ascertained,
but a good deal leaked out and members
have stated that the session was cOnSpic-
uously hot.
1t is also stated that Capt. Dyer did not
wish to sign the resolution which he intro
duced, but was forced by the command to
attach his name. A member who was pres
ent says several of them were on the point
of sending in a riot call at various times,
and that the whole thing was disgraceful.
Resolution Goes Over.
The outcome Of the scrap was that the
command voted to lay the resolution over
for two weeks and then elected a commit
tee to investigate the matter and ascertain
| in what manner the auxiliary had failed in
its duty to Its command. and discover II
| possible the manner of it's offending.
Capt Dyer stated in his letter to the act
| ing president that the auxiliary had never
| done anything for the command. The men,
| bers of the auxiliary reply to this that
| scarcely was the auxiliary organization
completed when 1T proceeded to raise money
| for a magnificent stand of colors, which
| We're presented in time for Memorial day
| one year ago Since then the auxiliary
members have given receptions for their
| command, have found places for needy
| Spanish veterans and their wives and
| daughters. and have expended during the
| last six months nearly 500 in relief work.
The members point out also that at the
| recent lawn fete the Mary Sherman Miles
! Auxiliary raised and turned to the
| Miles command over 500.
The auxiliary members also say that
| Miles command had an auxiliary once be-
| fore, organized by Mrs. Dyer, and that dis
/ tNnfx ..;.-