Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-29
MONFORT ANDCO[E -.
LEAD IN c. A. R. RACE
Three Other Candidates for
Commander in Chief Said to
Have Doubtful Strength. !;
GEORGE n. SLAYBAUGH !
i WILL GET HIGH POST
Practically Certain That Next En-
campment Will Be Held at
Atlantic City.


between Capt Elias R. Monfort Of Gin
cincinnati. Ohio. and Frank o. Cole of
Jersey City. N. J.. according to those
well informed as to G. A. R. politics
George NJ Slaybaugh Of Washington
Is to be next senior vice commander
in-chief, without opposition.
Atlantic City Is to get the next ma
tional encampment OF the Grand Army
by an almost unanimous vot.
The proposition brought forward by
some powerful interests to establish
a permanent headquarters of the
Grand Army at Washington is to be
rejected. I'm spite of some strong in
f1uences that are at work.
The proposition hereafter to have the
Office of adjutant general thrown open
to election will be turned down.
1t is likely that hereafter the office
receive more careful consideration and
be thrown open to general election in
stead of being given in compliment to
the entertaining department.
! cast Of Grand Army politics that will
be decided Friday. 1t is gathered from
careful survey Of how all the largest
departments will vote.
Solid for Atlantic City.
| New York, Pennsylvania. New Jersey.
Maryland. Department of the Potomac
and the middle west states are all solid
! that the choice Of the next convention
city should be Atlantic City. So con-
ident are some OF the Grand Army
leaders that they are considering this
| matter as already decided.
Monfort and Cole have a close contest
on for commander-in-chief. Ohio is
/ here strong for its home state man
and has large delegations from the
west pledged to Monfort. To offset this
New York is pledged to Cole. and has
sent an unexpectedly large delegation
here to vote for him.
The other candidates for commander
| in-chief are William J. Patterson Of
pittsburgh: Pa; Orlando A. somers Of
Coney of Topeka, Kan.
Orlando A. Somers and Capt. Patrick
h. Coney are generally conceded to be
out of the running. The illness Of the
former has prevented him from taking
an active part in the campaign, while
| the latter. according to reports. is not
backed unanimously BY the Kansas
delegation.
The reasons advanced now for the
probable election of Capt. Monfort are
his undoubted strength throughout the
middle west and his overwhelming Sc
| lection by other states as second
choice" His supporters maintain that
a.
Der Of favorite sons.
Count Upon Break.
On the other hand, both Patterson and
Cole claim sufficient strength to enable
them to hold their own until q break
throws the election their way. Coles
claims are receiving particular atten-
ton from uninstructed delegates. par
ticularly through the eastern states.
1t is argued that New Jersey, home Of
the President, has had but one COM
mander-in -chief. despite the prominent
part she played In the civil war. Cole
served as his adjutant general
w. J. Patterson claims the unofficial
backing Of the G. A. r. In other words.
his adharents are inclined to consider
him the organization candidate, and
they express their belief that 'other
eastern claimants" rather than see him
lose. will withdraw in his favor
All of the candidates are men with
enviabLe military records. and all have
r. Somers. who a month ago was con-
sidered one of the leading candidates.
is reported to be willing to withdraw
in favor Of the Ohio candidate IL his
own vote proves to be negligible.
1t is an unwritten law in the G. A.
r. that the man who is elected COM
chief must first have the
unqualified Endorsement Of his own
Conveys delegates are not unanimously
in favor Of him has done more to hurt
his campaign than anything else.
Mr.. Slaybaugh to Get Place.
In compliment to the Department Of
the Potomac for inviting the Grand Army
to its jubilee celebration here. this de-
partment will be allowed to name the
senior commander-in-chief. The choice
is George H. Slaybaugh. unanimously.
Mr.. Slaybaugh is chief Of a division in
the Treasury.
Washington veterans will, however,
support a resolution to be introduced by
Corp. James Tanner, urging the abandon
ment of this practice. They feel that the
veterans are getting SO old that the COM
mander-in-chief may be called away by
death at any time. and they should devote
more attention to the selection of the vice
commander-in-chief, who would, in that
event, succeed to tho Office. The proposal
is to make the senior vice commander-in-
chief an elective Office
E. K. Russ Of New Orleans is ex-
pected to win the contest for junior
vice commander-in-chtef over Levant
ter department had the ONCE three
years ago. while the Department OF
and Louisiana has not been
thus honored for twenty-one years.
nen a' hea SqeTaa % Of the Grand Army
in some large city. and Washington
has been principally mentioned. is OPP
posed by several of the past command
ers in chief. who declare that such ac-
ton would start the mummifying proc
ess, be a sort fembalming of the
remains. They say that the Grand
rmy will continue to hold reunions
for fifteen years more and that all
sections of the country should have the
privilege of entertaining the old
soldiers.
Fl ASH SIGNAL & OPENING