Omaha daily bee., 1915-09-26
$780, as.vyA
onOd 9nt1StaDss

TT is with great reluctance that have had to seni
regrets to urgent personal invitation TO attend
the annual reunion In New York next month OF
the Society OF the United states Telegraph Corps.
being its Observation-Disclosures meeting Davn
Homer Bates the secretary who il also the historian
OF the telegraph in the civil writes me thar
the last time the reunion held in New York was
In 1906 when picture OF a number Of the more
prominent military telegraphers, including my father
taken, which have before me-" adding that
"the OF Rosewater is closely interviewer with
our military telegraph. particularly in our war de-
partment office" that he wants It represented again
Quoting further from the letter what is am sure OF
moro than personal interest:
"Our reunion this year Is going to be OF great
and special ] will show the screen
after the dinner some very rare documents, includ-
Ing Postmaster General Kendalls appointment OF
James d. Reid the first superintendent Of tele-
graphs. This ia dated 1876. Also reproduction of
Annie Bllsworth's and Prof Morse's message. What
God hath wrought sent the Batimore-wssh-
ngton wire in 1874; also OF General Dixs celebrated
telegram Of 1851 II any man attempts TO haul down
the American flag shoot him on the spot Edward
Lind Morse Prof. Morses only surviving son, is ex.
pected to be present"
ought to add that taken into this society
merely the OF original member in tho same
manner that the Loyal Legion takes in the sons Of
civil war officers
Reading about General obregon. who has fought
with considerable success on all sides OF the Mexican
instruction. and who has been mentioned a posi-
BILE compromise for president OF Mexico IL only
oeptable to both Carranza and Villa, have
piece Of secret inside information TO the effect that
fortune. and that his name is not "obregon at all.
except corrupted from the good old standard
cognomen OF 20 Brien." All OF which may be true
untrue but recalls a story which William Jennings
Bryan used to take pleasure in telling himself
In my first campaign for president" said Mr..
Bryan, as heard him tell It, 'all of embarrass-
ing tales invented and sprung antagonize DIFF
feren classes Of voters against One of these
that my name not Bryan but oBrIen,' that
Irish. but had changed my name because ashamed
OF It. and this story in circumstantial detail the
rounds far and wide.
"one day 1 received a letter from California
closing two cuttings from a newspaper, the hack
neyed charge about my real being % Brien and
despicabe sailing under false coors and the other
letter which the writer had composed and had
printed in the same paper entering vigorous denial
and branding the story falsehood from beginning
TO end. He assured the readers of the paper that
he used TO live in Salem, ILL., in the town with
the Rryans that he personally acquainted with
the whole family and had gone to school with me.
and that the name had always been Bryan and had
been 'O'Brien' and that any and every state
ment TO the contrary made of the whole cloth.
Then IN his letter enclosure he added of course
Mr. Bryan. you don't know me- and don't know
you; never lived in Illinois. and never met any OF
your family But what's friend that won't lie for
another friend"
Omaha admirers of General Crowder, Judge
advocate general OF the United states who used
10 know him when he still captain stationed
studying hard TO fit himself for his assignment
to Judge advocates duty, have always taken
great interest in his exceptional military career In
the current Worlds Work a critical article the
WAR Chiefs Of the Army pays him this unusual
tribute:
"The Judge advocate general. Enoch H. Crowder
is regarded the best adviser in legal matters Of
military character the army has ever had"
That Is saying whole lot, because General Crow
der has had ilustrous predecessors in his posi-
tion yet, though not qualified to pass such judy
ment myself. quite ready to believe it is fully
deserved.