The Washington times., 1905-07-22
PLEASED
WITH PROSPECTS
Corporal Discusses Grand
Army Chief Candidacy.
LAUNCHED BY NEW YORK
Came Unsolicited, But Sirce Then Many
Other Departments Have Fallen
Into Line

When asked today about his condtdacy
for commander-in-chief of the Grand
Army of the Republic. Corporal James
Tanner, Register of Deeds of the Dis
trict. said:
How goes my candidacy for com
mander-in-chief? Well. / think if you
asked the question of any of my three
competitors. they would frankly tell you
j that it looks formidable. / have no de-
sire to disguise the fact that 1 shall
go to Denver absolutely confident Of
election.
You have the circular the New York
comrades have put out. There are no
extravagant statements therein, regard
ing the prospects of success however
much they may have drawn the long
bow in proclaimiug the asserted merits
of their candidate. Ten States have
unanimously instructed their delegations
to support me. Right here in my files
there lies such a mass of most positive
and unqualified assurances from the rep
TesentattVeS of the States which have
not instructed. that taking them all to-
gether | must believe one Of two
things. that is. either | am going to
be elected hands down. or else. while
t may not be true that all men are
liars [ must believe that Ihoze is a
vast number of most unnecessary liars
in our order.
Candidacy Sought Him.
I did not dream of getting into this
contest, and the truth Of il is / did not
get in. l was thrown in by the COM
rades of New York. New York seldom
acts with unanfnity on such matters,
but this year in an encampment of eight
hundred delegates, they rose as one man
and unanimously instructed their dele
gates TO press my candidacy. Then
they fairly took my breath away when,
with equal unanimity. they instructed
ne to name the whole ticket. There is
no discount on either New YoTk's
unanimity or her enthusiasm this year.
Right here in this city something
occurred which in the outcome coula
Somehow the word was passed West
that while / held my membership in the
order in New York. ], a S Is well known,
live here and that from this department
OF the Potomac | could not have vote,
iHferentfaily saying. you see. that where
| was best known OF late years could
have no support Wen; my friends
and they passed around very strongly
worded Endorsement of me, and here it
lies with twenty-one out of twenty-eight
declaring in my favor.
His Three Competitors.
Who are the three competitors of
whom l spoke? They are Comrades
Burrows, of New Jersey; Brown. Of
Ohio. and ex-Congressman Burton, of
Missouri They are all brainy men of
chable records. worthy and will
receive the enthusiastic support each
OF his State
Brown will poll more votes than eth
er of the other two, but If the total vote
of the three could be massed on any
one Of them l am sure that it would not
change the result. The fact is though.
that If any one OF them should drop out
of the race [ would a once receive a
liberal share Of the vote from his State.
General Carnahan, Of indiana, WAS
first in the field, but ! am sorry, genu-I
inely sorry. to have 10 say that here lie
letters announcing his withdrawal by
serious Illness. One of his close friends
writes me that he had Just seen him
and doubts if he ever gets up again. 1t
is very sad to us, He I a fine man and
has hosts of friends.
Il have already plenty Of assurances of
support from Indiana. our bows are
passing away 5000 month. 50 900 IA year
Do you wonder that We desire a little
expedition in the matter of a service
pension? So many of them need liltJls
help.
1t is indisputably great honor. espe-
ctally 50 considered among our veteran
soldiers. To be chosen commander-iu-
chief of the Grand Army of the Repuh-
lie. After nearly forty years of exis-
tence its ranks number now some guar
ter of A million of members. But few
can in the natural order of things wear
the chieftan's badge, ana the highest A..
the land might we'll be proud so 10 do.
The national encampments bring to-
gether high class of men the pick and
the leaders of ali the survivors of the
Union army, They surely were the men
of strenuous lives from 81 10 '65 and
there is great deal of energy left in
many of them.
The Office of commander-in-chief is one
Of grave responsibility and will not be
lightly assumed by anyone II all fitted
to discharge its duties.
He should speak guardedly and act
with discretion as becomes one. who is
chosen to lead a body OF a qua rter of Il
million of our fellow citizens The
constituency of Buncom should never
be considered by him While he should
he in fact as well as in name a leader
and should. so to speak, blaze the
trail he should so guide his utterances
and his acts as 10 feel sure of the mora
support and the approval of those who
placed him a the front Without that
approval and support, il is very sure he
would never achieve the support of the
general public, which is absolutely nee
essary for the success of anything pro
posed for the general good Of our com
rades.