Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-07
CONTROVERSY ARISES
FAILURE TO UNITE SPANISH
WAR ORGANIZATIONS.
The Amalgamation Believed to Be De-
ferred Until Meeting Of Ma
tonal Bodies.

An interesting and spicy controversy has
arisen between the national officers Of the
Spanish American War Veterans and GER
tain past national officers of the Spanish
War Veterans over the failure up to this
time of the proposed consolidation of the
two organizations. Col. D. Jack Foster of
Chicago, who recently resigned as COM
mander-in-chef of the former body, in a
communication received here charges the
failure to bring about the amalgamation to
the committee of the Spanish War Veterans.
He says:
ITO our surprise and disappointment the
Joint committee (on consolidation was not
called together, owing to the illness of Col
Urell the joint chairman"
1t is to this particular statement that
Capt. Dyer, late adjutant general of the
older organization, and other past national
officers have taken exceptions. They claim
1t is misleading and wrong" and in pa
per just issued say: This statement is not
true. the joint committee adjourned sub
ject to the call of the committee represent
ing the Spanish-Amercan War Veterans
That committee though urged by Col
Urell never stated to him that they were
ready to have the joint committee meet,
but the opposite. Col. Urell was ready and
willing al all times to have the committee
meet, and was anxious to call the members
together. The fault is with the Spanish
american War Veterans as regards the fall
ure of the meeting of the committee
Col. Foster further states that after
consultation with Commander-in- Chief Har-
old C. Megrew of the Spanish War Vet
Grams by Col. Russell B. Harrison, repre-
senting the amaigamatton committee OF
Spanish-American War Veterans, the latter
reported to these headquarters that there
is no immediate prospect of the two organ
liza tons getting together, and We hasten to
place the information before the comrades.
Col Fosters Statement.
Referring to the many complaints that
have been received over the failure to eff
feet a consolidation of the two national
bodies, Col. Foster adds:
1.-The national headquarters and the COM
mittee have not deemed 1t wise to consol-
idate under conditions that would not be
honorable to our association. Every effort
consistent with dignity and the welfare Of
our own association has been made to ef-
feet this consolidation. but thus far the
committee has been unable to make an
equitable arrangement with the committee
from the other organization. The national
headquarters have never been able to Sc
cure the records, rituals and other printed
matter of the association from Liller, al
though repeated efforts have been made to
do So"
In view of the chaotic condition of affairs
IN the Spanish-American War Veterans
Association representatives of the older or
ganization say the outlook Is that the pro-
posed amalgamatio will be deferred until
the next annual assembly of the S. w. "
at st. Louis in September, 1904, when 1t Is
likely both bodies will assemble at the same
time and place. In the meantime many
camps of the Spanish-American War Vet
Grams are surrendering their charters and
aft1fating with the Spanish War Veterans.
The latest move in this direction was
made several days ago by the Department
Camp of California, Spanish-American War
Veterans. at which were present represen-
tatives from nearly all the subordinate
camps in that state The following resolu-
ton was passed without a dissenting vote:
That the Department Camp of Califor-
MA, Spanish-American War Veterans, sug-
gests that this department join the Spanish
War Veterans, and the camps Of this de-
partment be requested to take action in the
matter and report to these headquarters
positively not later than January 10. 1904
Comment on Resolution.
In offering this resolution Department
Commander Col. Thomas F. O'Neil said:
81. From many quarters we have learned
that the Spanish War Veterans is the COM
ing organization of the late war, they be-
ing very strong in the east. having a sound
national association. are in good financial
all the large cities and have among their
members men of such prestige as Hon.
Theodore Roosevelt our President; Gen.
Nelson A Miles and many others of equal
prominence"
large command of Spanish War Vet
Grams formerly service men, was mustered
in at st. Louis several days ago.