The San Francisco call., 1909-04-08
G. A. R. SPLITS ON
ROBERTS ELECTION
Former Assistant Adiutant Gem
eraI Again Point of ContrO-
versy in Organization
Four Candidates Already in the
Field for Appointment as De-
partTent Commander

General John II. Roberts, formerly
assistant adjutant general, Grand Army
of the Republic, for the department OF
California and Nevada. is again point
or controversy in the politics Of the
organization. The annual encampmen'
Of the Grand Army will be held IN
Pasadena from April IA TO April i, and
the local delegation viii leave here IN
a special train from Third and Towns
end streets at IL o'clock on the morn
ing OF April Is. There are four candl-
dates for the office of department COM
mander. and one of these is being op-
posed on the ground that IL he is elect
ed he viii appoint General Roberts as
sistant adjutant general
The veterans remember that in April
Of last year Roberts addressed a camp
fire given by Ellsworth post, G. A R.
at Santa Rosa, and during the course
OF his address told a broad story, IL is
reported. that shocked two clergymen
present. so that they left the hall. The
clergymen were Rev. Monroe H Alex
ander of the First Methodist church
and Rev. Arthur B. Patton, pastor OF
the First Congregational church OF
Santa Rosa. One Of them said TO Rob
erts. General Grant would never have
told such a story"
INCIDENT INFLUENCED ELECTION
That incident. it is declared, had an
influence on the election of depart
mental officers which followed soon
after. Roberts candidate. who was also
supported by Henry c. Dibble, the re-
publican politician of this city, was de-
feated by Colonel Samuel Merrill Of
Long Beach, a veteran with a brilliant
war record and who was lieutenant
colonel in the regiment OF which Ben
5smin Harrison. the president Of the
United States. served as colonel
This year Roberts is supporting, II
IS said, William $. Daubenspeck OF
stanton post No. 55, Los Angeles, and
81 Daubenspeck is elected Roberts will
be appointed assistant adjutant general
OF the department J. NJ. Quinn is the
incumbent assistant adjutant general
Daubenspeck has a strong following
aside from Roberts friends and their
support. All the Los Angeles posts
have declared in his favor and the del
egates from Lincoln and Thomas posts
Of this city are for him. The Los An
geles veteran was the first candidate
10 announce himself
PLIMPTON 4 CANDIDATE
Colonel II. A. Plimpton of Riverside
post No. lis is a strong candidate and
was the second veteran TO announce
himself for the position of department
commander. Many Of those antagonistiC
10 General Roberts are. working for
Plimpton. Colonel Plimpton had q
good war record. He enlisted in the
Thirty first Illinois volunteer infantry
as a private in the early days Of the
war and was mustered out as lieuten-
ant colonel Of the regiment.
Other candidates are J. H. Shepard oi
Admiral ID. d. Porter post No. 169 of
Oakland, and Senator E L. Hawk ol
Colonel +. D. Baker post No. Il OF
Newcastle, Placer county.
The people Of Pasadena have made
elaborate plans for the entertainment
of the veterans of 81 and large num-
Der viii answer Here" when the roll
is called in the southern city nexi
Wednesday.