Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-24
McE|roy Going After Man
Who, He Says, S|andered Him.
HE WILL PREFER CHARGES
Enemy From Washington, He Says,
Circulated Malicious Tales.
WANTS HIM C0URT-MART1ALED
Tells Motives That Prompted Him
to Retire as Candidate for
Commander-in-Chie

Col. John McElroy, who withdrew from
the race for election as commander-in-
chief of the forty-third national encamp-
ment. G. A. R.. in Atlantic City Wednes-
day because, as he said. he had been
made the victim of ISLANDERS and innu-
endoes quietly circulated by personal en-
emies which he had not time to refute
before election, returned to Washington
this morning.
Col. McElroy is in a decidedly militant
mood. He is preparing to bring his al
legged traducers before courts-martial, ii
| necessary. to clear his name.
McElroy Exonerates Gilman.
The local G. A. r. leader attaches no
blame for the scandal circulated in At
lantic City to the successful candidate
and new chief, Col. John
E. Gilman of Boston. According to Col.
MElroy, the man who was largely re-
sponsible for the stories and who saw to
it that they received prominence at AT
lantic City is Washington G. A. h
man. Col. McElrOy has about decided TO
request a court-martial of the member
in question, preferring formal charges OF
slander against him.
Speaking of the cause of his wlthdraWal
from the race, Col. McElroy said:
There were formal charges pre-
ferred against me. Everything was done
by innuendo and quiet stabs in the back.
When | approached delegations from
which / had every reason to expect SOLID
backing at the election, l learned that
slanderOus stories. connecting my name
unpleasantly and dishonorably with the
Grand Army colony in st. Cloud. Fla.
had been put in circulation.
Il could not place the blame definitely
then. nor had time to refute the charges
before the election.
Thinks He Has Placed Blame.
There is one man whom l have every
reason to believe was responsible for put
ting the stories into circulation. He is
Washington man, and l may ask for
court-martial for him. L won't mention
his name at present. but may later.
when l found that any considerable
number Of the comrades seriously enter
tanned the charges, there was nothing left
for me but to withdraw from the race.
The Grand Army is pre-eminently an or
ganizatiOn Of honor and 1 could not ask
or receive a vote from any man while any
stigma, however groundless l knew 1t to
be, was attached to my name.
The only course open to me was to
request court of inquiry to investigate
the charges. Had l been elected, l could
hardly have appointed a court for my
Sell. 11dO run ana Dcon QeIcdtSQ IL
would have closely resembled whining If
had asked a court of inquiry following
$50 l withdrew. saying I would accept
no vote for any Office until a court of in
quiry had cleared my name. l asked for
d court made up of my enemies
My request was granted. Commander
in-Chief Van SAINT is now considering the
| membership of the court.
Gilman Not Involved.
Il exculpated my opponent, Comrade
Gilman, from any completely in the at
tempt to cast discredit on my name.
LAS for the attempt to connect my
name dishonorably with the land deals
which resulted in the establishment of
Grand Army colony at St. Cloud. Fla,
| about a year ago, a large delegation from
that place to the encampment proved, in
large part, vindication. Forty-one
| comrades from there came to the con-
vention, backing me solidly for COM
mander-in-chief.
THE trouble had it's inception with
| small bunch of kickers among those who
took up land in the colony. About % per
cent were and have been satisfied from
the first with conditions there. The re-
| naming 2 per cent have been making
| all the noise.
with the exception of four comrades
who voted against me from purely per-
sonal reasons, the entire Department of
| the Potomac delegation insisted on cast
| ing their votes for me after l had an
| nounced my withdrawal from the race.
Mckee Eloquent in Nomination.
I'm nominating me Warden Thomas H.
Mckee made a speech that electrified the
| audience. 1t was one of the most elo-
quent addresses of that kind 1 have
| heard
Department Commander H. A. John
| son and others of the department worked
hard and faithfully in my cause. The re-
! suit of their labors is seen in the 213 men
| who insisted on casting their votes for
| me even after l had refused to continue
| in the field"
| Col. McElroy complimented the Depart
| ment Of the Potomac representation high
ment made the trip to the encampment
| THE Department of the Potomac made
| magnificent showing with 2S0 uniformed
men in line" he said I'm the parade we
were led by the Old Guard, sort OF
inner organization we have, no member
| of which, / believe, finished the war
without having felt the sting of a Con-
| federate bullet They made a fine i'm
| preston leading our line
| Few members of the local body that
| went to Atlantic City had returned this
| morning. Most of them will take advan-
/ tage of the week end to visit friends near
| Atlantic City or in Philadelphia and
New York, returning to Washington Mon
day morning.