Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-05
TAYLOR MADE MAJOR
IN WAR WITH SPAIN
Answers Attack of Captain Ware
by Quoting Adjutant Cen
erals Records

Former Director Of Transit \. Mer-
ritt Taylor today answered the attack
made upon his military record last
Saturday night by Congressman WIZ
liam $. Ware by issuing public state-
ment. in which he quoted the records OF the
Adjutant Generals Department at Harris
burg, to show that instead OF coward
during the Spanish-American War US ware
charged he was promoted from hrst llcu-
tenant to major.
The former Director also answered the
statement issued on Saturday by the pros
cnt transit director. william S Twining'
in which Twinlng said that IL Mr.. Taylors
amendments to the Smth-Nittcn lease have
been submitted to the 7. II, t. as MT
TAYLOR announced last week they must
have been submitted by Mr.. Taylor him
self"
TwtNGNG KEPT 1N DARK
"It appears that Director TwininE has
not been told by Mayor Smith what Is go
ing on" said Mr. Taylor His statement
follows
Captain" william $. Wares criticism of
my military record during the Spanish war
incomplete and ridiculous.
II will he remembered that captain
Ware obtained his military training ana
title Of "CaptHin" as commander OF the
Thomas Clements New Years Association'
which was for years the champion Mum.
mers Association.
In those DAYS II was an interesting sight
to see him dancing up Broad street dressed
as a clown. carrying paTasOl 10 project
him from the sun in January.
As this military hero, who ior years
has been identified with the "Ashcart
Brigade" and defender Of the piggeries
would lead the people to believe that | am
coward. these facts should be remembered:
The Philadelphia national guardsmen as
sembled at Mount Gretna on April 2S' 1873
and military operations against spain were
brought to a standstll on August 10. 1898,
by news received on that day that peace
protocol had been signed by the United
states and Spain.
TAYLOR'S RECORD
BY reference to page 357 of the Adjutant
Generals report for 1s9S-lS99, my record
during the period of the Spanish war and
prior thereto appears as follows
Appointed first lieutenant and quarter
master Third Infantry January 4, 1898.
Appointed major and commissary for
First Brigade June II. 1898.
Appointed assistant adjutant general
First Brigade August 10. 1898.
When the Philadelphia troops assembled
at Mount Gretna circumstances beyond my
control, i'm the opinion Of my superior Of
ficers. required that ! should not swear in
as n United States volunteer at that time.
but upon the advice of the adjutant general
the Governor promoted me 20 the rank OF
major. and I was assigned to recruiting
duty in Philadelphia.
While engaged in recruiting the new
lVif II tI,a in tod
the Office of Assistant Adjutant General OF
the First Brigade.
VOTERS WILL KNOW
In reply to Director Twinng's mislead-
ing attack on me. which everybody familiar
with the transit situation knows is abso.
lutely unwarranted by facts, which was
sent to all the newspapers. and which only
one newspaper printed, all I have to say
is: 1t appears that Director Twining has
not been told by Mayor Smith what has
been going on. Mayor Smith knows per-
fectly well. and cant truthfully deny the
fact. that the Philadelphia Rapid Transit
Company will not accept the Smith lease
when 1t is 80 amended as to carry out what
Doctor Lewis has stated was the intent be.
tween the parties. The voters will know ii
after election.
Director Twinipgs statement contained
this misleading paragraph:
''The features of the contract that need
Qualification (for the discovery of which
Mr.. Taylor claims crediO were pointed out
in the opinion rendered by Ford Bacon G.
Davis, which was submitted to the commit
tee by me at the second meeting
The Smith-Mitten lease was published
and presented to Councils on August II.
My analysis Of its infamous provisions was
published on August 20. although the re-
port of Ford. Bacon & Davis which Drcc-
tor Twining refers to, was dated September
4 and was not published and presented to
the committee of Councils until Septem-
Der G.
These facts and dates are all matters OF
record in the newspaper files Mn Twning
has gotten them mixed, but am neverthe-
less glad, that he has at last come out and
admitted that the opinion of Ford, Bacon
e. Davis shows the NECESSITY for what he
calls Qualification" of certain features OF
the Smith-Mitten lease--the true meaning
of which I had previously exposed to the
public"
Mr., Taylor was caller on District Attor-
ney Rotan this afternoon, After he left.
Mr.. Rotan said that the visit was without
political significance and that Mr.. Taylor
had called merely to make arrangements
for the two TO dine together tomorrow
night as it has been their custom for sew
eral years to take dinner together OF els"-
dion nights,