Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-20
BREACH MADE WIDER
TROUBLE BREWING IN ARMY
AND NAVY UNION.

I Sehi oHoSuci 10 tHc controversy
In the ranks of the Army and Navy Union
in this city Is expected to be written to-
night when. it Is said. the newly appointed
| department commander. Robert C. Gal
braith. with his STAFF. will pay official
visitation to the Admiral Porter Garrison at
| its regular meeting at G. A. r. Hall.
The salient features Of the present dis
| turbance between national headquarters
| and the District garrsons were described
| today by G. L. Snider, adjutant of
the Col. Theodore Roosevelt Garrison, who
| was delegate to the recent national con-
vention of the Army and Navy Union in
| this city.
| Mr.. Snider said:
| THE appointment of Mr.. Galbraith to
| the position or department commander, an
| office without any prescribed duties or de-
| fined limitations except such as he may as
| sumo and the national commander approve,
places the national commander In an un-
| tenable position. The local delegates to
| the national convention remain part of the
| national or governing body for two years.
| and naturally are expected to voice the
sentiments Of the garrisons which elected
| them. Only preliminary measures were
| passed at the national convention looking
| toward the possible necessity for the crea-
| ton of departments in localities.
| HEADQUARTERS has not yet favored Wash
| ington with copies of the amended con-
| stitution etc, which marked an advance
| In the work Of the organization. and there
| Is not measure Of Importance that was
| not introduced in some form by the WASH
| fngtonians. Entire paragraphs and sections
| were introduced by them and adopted by
| the convention as drafted. In return they
! are being treated to a series Of general
orders from the national commander, cir
| culars necessary and otherwise, and Mr.
| Galbraith Is also engaged in the same busi-
ness on his own account, prescribing In de-
| tail how and what the garrisons must do
mo hnr orn 7r,nf nod 70 ha r0
with the delegates for their conciliatory
attitude in convention.
Regarded as Dictatorial.
"It is useless to deny that the Washing
ton members, who pay more toward-the
| maintenance of the national corps than
those of any other city, are tired Of Com
mander Brownies dictatorial methods. He
cannot understand, seemingly, that a men,
Der can be loyal without becoming parti-
san. He could have the undivided sup
port Of Washington II he would forget as
they would forgive.
Twentysix delegates represented Wash
ngton regularly in convention. They were
unanimous for an improved order and har-
mony. A single additional delegate alone
was discordant, and he represented a garri-
son about two weeks old
Without consulting the commanders of
the old, established garrfsons, approximate
ing 800 or 700 members, Commander
Browne authorized Mr.. Galbraith, whom
Roosevelt Garrison failed to elect a dele
gate, to form a new garrison. This was
more than a breach of official courtesy
1t was an evasion of provision of the
laws that requires a report from the head
of one garrison before another can be In
stituted in the same locality. The entire
Washington membership was ignored and
Gatbraith brought Browne the additional
vote from The Presidents Own Garrison
palpable counterfeit of the name of
Roosevelt Garrison.
This is the man that by order we are
to obey and respect, and by order he
has already directed the local officers to
forward reports concerning membership.
moneys, etc.
Gen. Browne the national commander,
also withdrew from Roosevelt Garrison
after the election. He had the assistance
of an ADLER member from New York city
who had been early equipped with Informal
ton regarding membership, delegates etc,
while the same information was denied the
Washingtonians. Gen. Brownies campaign
managers, In accordance with well-known
principles Cor lack of them) In politics
knew what to do with the advantages
offered them. And just before leaving
Washington he was publicly berat ted by
member from Tammanyland because the
prearranged program for a distribution OF
the spOils of war had not been fully OBJ
served.
Department Commander Not Needed.
posity of a gaudy general with an ornate I'M
abridged staff. More privates are needed
in Washington and elsewhere in order to
bring the membership up to a mark where
the real situation may be disclosed with
pride rather than eQuivocation, and none
should know this better than the national
commander. When necessity arises for
department commender in Washington the
order at large and Its friends in public will
Washington members, otherwise there will
surely be another tea party.
washington has the largest unit Of
membership in any given locality, the finest
| garrisons in point of numbers and financial
standing, and many Of its members are
prominent, well-known citizens. There are
| two divisions In local circles-thOSe that are
mad clear through and rendering their
designations by the dozen II Mr.. Galbraith
| Is to be retained, and others who smile at
| what they regard as huge joke.
Several members who are also men,
! bers of the Washington bar. will probably
| be retained to investigate and report upon
the constitutionality of the several acts
which led to Brownies election and Gal
braith's appointment, and. as the Army and
Navy Union Is chartered body, 1t Is
| claimed that the members who represent
| the Washington contingent, an important
branch of the whole, may properly seek an
injunction IN the courts and prevent the
| two principals from exercising any author
| ity until there Is another special or general
| event, 1t is already certain that the reve-
| nues of the national headquarters will
| show a marked diminution when the pres
| ent quarters per capita tax Is forwarded"