The Washington herald., 1906-10-14
FOUGHT MEXICAN WAR
Aztec Club Veterans Meet
Here and Elect Officers.
J. ]. MARTIN MADE PRESIDENT
banquet in the Evening Attended by
Distinguished Guests-HOn. J. w
Yerl1es. Gen. r. +. Elliott, and Al
miraI Schley Among Those Who
Responded to the TOasGs.

Following the close o. the national en-
eampment of the Order OF United Span
ish War Veterans the youngest military
organization IN the United states. vas
Yesterdays annual meeting of the Aztec
Club, one of the oldest, and composed
of members who. like the younger vet
Grams who thrCnged the streets Of Wash
ingtOn last week, saw service in q for
elgn country, unlike the heroes of the
civil war. the "embattled farmers of
the Revolution, or the participants in the
numerous conflicts with the abOrigines
which have marked the history of
America.
The Aztec Club was formed in the
City OF Mexico. October b. 1Sl1. within
a month after the occupation OF that
capital by Gen Scott and his army,
known as ''The Army of MeNico.' It's
membership was originally limited 10
commissioned officers who served in that
army; but later, AT the reorganization
OF 1869. one descendant each of such Off
Ger was admitted under the law Of
primOgeniture; so il is seen that tho or
ganization car never be large IN numbers.
Ia fact, its total membership IS only
about 200. OF whom but 10 per cent are
among the original members.
Business Session Yesterday.
Yesterdays meeting opened with a bust
ness session at the Shoreham. at which
the following officers were elected for the
ensuing year: President. Hon. J. J. Mar
tin, Of Atlanta, Ga, who commanded
South Carolina regiment during the war;
=. xice president, Gen. r. c. Drum. &. s A..
whose home IS at Bethesda. Md: secre-
tary, Edward Trenchard, OF New York;
treasurer, William Trumbull, also Of the
metropolis.
The retiring president. Gen. 5. G.
French. presided at the meeting. The
other officers elected simply stepped up
one rank. following the military rule Of
promotion inherent in the club. The pTi-
mary members who were present yester-
day. and who are residents of Washing
ION, are Maj. W II. French. Gen o. Is.
WILCOX. Gen, r. c. Drum, Gen. Ruczer,
Ges II. G. Gibson. Gen. Robert Murray
aHd Hon. Edward LAUDER. The retiring
L Secretary, AIcEae Sykes, Is q member by
The law of primoseniture.
Received by President.
Al Z o'clock last evening the members
OF the club were received by President
Roosevelt at the White House, after
which they returned 10 the Shoreham,
where n banquet was served. NJ which the
guests included J. G. Stokes. of Pittsburg
Pa; Col J. = WitheT. L. s A; Robert
Fidgway New York; Murray Cobb +. o.
IIier, &. n Tower. Charles MCFee. ".
g. Ross. Gen 6. r Elliott. United States
Marine Corps, Hon. George G. GOrham.
Hon J. W. Yerkes. Collector of Internal
Revenue, and Admiral Winfield Scott
Schley
Elaborate Toast List.
An elaborate list Of toasts had been
prepared, the subjects and the speakers
being: TO the President" Hon. J. ".
Yerkes; ''The Army Of Mexico and Win
field Scott Gen. Marcus !. Wright,
4 -'The Army of Occupation and Zachary
Taylor, Hon. J. j. Martin. The Con
quest of California, Hon O.. u. Cor
ham; THE Marine Corps" Gen. E +.
Elliott; THE Army and Navy" Gen. G.
= c. Bates. Our Comrade whose statue
is soon to be unveiled by loving hands
and loving hearts-Georse B. Mcclellan, 3"
Gen. II. @. Gibson; "The Noble Trio
Winfield Scott Winfield Scott Hancock,
and Winfield Scott Schley-tWO Of our
household, and one OF our nOn9reG
guest, Admiral ". s. Schley; "The Two
illustrious leaders of the armies Of states
discordant, discovered. bClIgereut-
Ulysses 8. Grant and Robert r. Lee. %
Gen. r G. Drum. Chaplain Mccarthy.
as Soldier Of the Cross, as q servant of
the Republic. he nObly fulfilled the mis-
sion of the one, the commission Of the
other" Rev. William Taylor Snyder.
4 Gen. Gibson Talks.
Gen Gibson. in conversation with 81
Herald reporter, last evening, said: u
was not in the City of Mexico at the
lime OF the formation Of the Aztec Club
in 1917, for the reason that I was sta
IiOned with my regiment at Pueblo.
which was garrisoned with our troops;
but I became d member shortly after
This is the fourth time our annual
meeting has been held in Washington
since the reorganization Of the society
III 1862 Once we were entertained in
Philadelphia by Gen. Patterson. who was
then our president, and once we were
ientertained IN the White House, by Gen
iGrant, when President OF the United
States, for Grant was one Of our pri-
mary members; he was a Lieutenant under
Gen Scott There are few. very few. of
my original comrades alive to-day: but
we who survive feel as young as ever IN
the patriotic motives which inspired us
sixty years ago"
The badge Of the Aztec Club is a hand
some desigu-an eight-pointed star. pen
dant from a ribbon Of blue. green and
white. the COlOTs Of Mexico. The star is
of gold, and bears on one side the arms
ana c0lOTs of the United States, and on
The reverse those of Mexico.
The members who attended yesterday
afternoons meeting are Gen. K. g Drum,
Gen. II. c. Gibson, James Malcolm Hen
~, Charles Forterficld, James w. An
GersCT, William Stone Albert j. Kennedy
Stout, A. s. Nicholson, L. :. n c.: James
W. Greer. Robert Fitch Shepard James
Morris Morgan. Thomas IL Johnston,
Judge J. J. Martin George A. PorterfeId
Barry Nachuts, Benjamin I. II. Sewer,
J.. q. Craig. Mai John Bjddle Porter,
L. :. \; McRae Sykes Rev. William
Taylor Snyder. J Reynolds Snyder.
major. SIXTH United States Cavalry;
Capt Z. WtHoughby Anderson. Clarence
IT. Eagle r. c. Drum Hart.
SEE INSANE MEN ESCAPE.