Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-28
GEN. ESTES SUCCESSOR
SPECULATION IN g. A. B. CIRCLES
OVER MATTER.
Difference of Views - Matter Submit
ted to Judge Advocate General
for His.

The death of Gen. Llewellyn G. Estes last
week has raised an interesting question in
local G. A. r. circles as to who shall sue
coed him as senior vice commander of the
department. The whole matter has been
submitted to the judge advocate general for
opinion. as there is some difference among
the local members as to just what action
should be taken.
The question which comes up in the
minds Of some of the members is whether
or not Gen. Estes was legally the senior
vice commander. 1t will be remembered
that Gen. Estes was elected to that posi-
ton after hard fight. and that at the time
of the installation of the other officers
elected at the recent annual encampment
he was too ill to be present and his in
stalation was postponed until such time
as he could attend. Gen. Estes died within
a few days after the installation of his as
socates He was never installed. There
fore it is q question in the minds of some
of the members of the department whether
or not Gen. Estes could be considered ever
to have been the senior vice commander.
The constitution of the organization pro-
videS that the department officers shall hold
Office until their successors are installed.
Capt. Hiram Buckingham. the senior vice
commander under the old administration,
still holds that office, according to a strict
Interpretation of the rules. AS Capt Buck
ingham desires to be relieved of the duties
of office and refused to permit his election
department commander. the members Of
the organization feel that they may safely
assume that he does not want to continue
in office and he has declared himself in this
regard therefore they want to know how
is the Department of the Potomac to Sc
cure senior vice commander.
Rules of the Order.
Under the rules of the order the council
of administration of the department is en-
powered to elect officers when vacancies
occur, but, it is contended by those who
believe in a strict Interpretation of these
laws, no such vacancy exists, as Capt.
Buckingham holds office until his successor
Is installed, and no successor has been in
stalled. majority of the members of the
department council are pretty well salts
fed that they would be acting within their
rights to elect a new senior vice COM
mander, but in order that there shall be no
question as to the method of procedure
the whole question has been left to the
judge advocate general.
Should the judge advocate general decide
that the department council has the power
and authority to elect a new senior vice
commander there is every prospect that the
fight that was made by General Estes for
election will be taken up again. Mr. B. F.
Chase of Lincoln Post, No 3, who was the
candidate opposed to General Estes, will,
it is understood again become a candidate
which claimed the office as belonging to one
of its members, owing to the resignation of
Captain Buckingham, who is member of
that post, still asserts its claim, and will
probably put forward a candidate The
name of the Rawlins Post candidate cannot
be learned at this time, and it is understood
that he has not yet been decided upon. Com
mander Martin of Kit Carson Post, No. .,
will also be candidate for the Office, it is
said, and will put forward strong claims.
However, Colonel Martin comes from the
same post Past Commander Abram Hart,
and Colonel Hart was commander last
year and the senior vice commander to be
chosen will succeed to the office of depart
ment commander next year. 1t is believed
that the claims of Post No. l will have
stronger weight than those of Post No. 2.
unless Colonel Martins personal popularity
overrides the prevailing idea of giving the
department commandership to the posts in
order. The whole matter, however, will
rest in allegiance upon the decision of the
judge advocate general.