The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-09-25
Friends of Colonel MAY Ask
CouTt-Martial for His
Enemies.
WASHINGTON MAN
PRAISES GILMAN
Commander PLAYS No Part In Fight.
Chief TTaduCeT Is
Known.

Even If Col John McElroy should de-
eide uot 10 prefer charges against his
tTaducers who circulated seusa tionaI
stories about him when he was a can
didate for COmmaHdeT-31-Chief Of the
c. A R. while the orEanizatiO was IN
annual session at Atlantic CITY last
week. there Is every probability that his
friends in Washington viii sift the mat
ter 70 the bottom
This and similar statements made TO-
day by influential members o. the local
Grand Army organization. show the
manner in which Washington civil war
veterans have taken I'D the gauntlet
which is said 10 have been thrown down
10 them by some of Colonel McElroy's
enemies who circulated the stories about
him just prior TO the election Of new
cOmmandeT-In-Cnief
Friends Determined
Grand Army men Of the District to-
day are discussing a suggestion TO de-
mand that the informal charges made
against Colonel NcElroy be formally de-
clared- without foundation They VIII
not stop here. They viii follow up the
first action by demanding that the
whole affair be rhreShed out IN formal
cOUrt-martial, and that every man who
had been known TO repeat me stores
be forced to testify either in person or
by sworn deposition. as to the source
of the charges against the Washington
Colonel McElrov himself was in de-
cidedly militant mood today He said
he had not the slightest suspicion that
the new COmEander-in-Chief. Col John
z. Gilman, Of Boston, had anything TO
do with circulating the stories which
beat the Washington man for head Of
the veteran organization
Praises the Victor.
col John Gilman would no more
countenance the use Of such weapons to
defeat rival or eject himself than he
would have gone over to the enemy in
time Of war; said Colonel McEIroy to-
day. 1t is sUperfiuoUs for me TO say
Colonel Gilman had nothing 10 do with
the stories circulated about me
1T was a Washington man who was
responsible for the stories circulated,
and I know who the man IS He knows
that I know who started the untruths,
and ne knows that when the right time
comes I viii brand him as the source Of
the stories and IT I deem IL wise have
him -coUrt-martialcd- I viii not tell his
name just now But I Will give his
name out when the time is ripe
Colonel McElroy explained that since
the charges were sprung against him
within such a short time before the
election that e was impossible for him
to have made any kind Of a fight for
exOneration, he withdrew
Withdrawal Only Course
when I found that any consider
able number of the comrades seri-
CUsIy entertained the charges, there
was nothing left for me but 10 with
draw from the race The Grand AruFs.-
is prominently an organiza ton of
honor, and I could not ask or receive
q vote from any man while any
stigma, however ETCundleSS knew il
To be was attached to my name
The only course open 10 me was TO
request court of inquiry TO inveSfi-
gate the charges Had I been elected.
I could hardly have appointed a court
for myself Had 1 run and been de-
feated Il would have closely resem-
bied whining If I had asked court
OF inquiry following my defeat
80 1 withdrew. saying I would &C
Cept no vote for any office until \
court of inquiry had cleared my name
asked for court made UP Of nv
enemies
Ny request was granted. Com
mandeT-in-C Chief Van SAINT is now con-
siderlnE the mem berShip Of the court.