The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-05-24
G. a. r. Controversy Continues
to Gro1U More Interesting

which gives promise OF even extending
further than is has thus far, and.
friends of the sveterans are watching,
the outcome wish no little interest. E.
r. Ward claims, and attempts to show,
that he is the duly elected commander.
while Virgil Dillingham;, who holds
authority from the department COM
mander. says that Mr.. Wards claims
are unsupported by fact and that hisj
right to hold the position is not sound. !
Mr.. Ward issued a command to vet-I
Grams OF this camp to assemble at the
city hall for the exercises on Sunday
afternoon while Mr.. Dillingham;
issued an order that all veterans as-I
sembIe for service at the Christianl
church on Sunday afternoon at fivei
o'clock. The pastor of this church,
Rev. Mr.. Weber has accepted an invi-i
tation, extended through Mr.. Dilling-i
ham, to attend and take part in the mel
mortal services to be held May 30 att
the national cemetery, Fort BarranC as.
Just what arrangements in this direc-l
ton has been arranged by the other
faction" has not been announced.
In story appearing in the city press
day or two ago, Mr.. Ward, signing
as commander, summons the membersi
Of w. It. Sherman Post No. 81 to thel
ihCh1OIl CuLudy dlbcIHOOI, anu III bltE
course of the signed notice Mr. Wardl
undertakes to prove that Mr.. Dilling-
ham has no Authority to arrange cell
ebration or memorial at a church, /
which he did not name
Dir. Dillingham's Statement.
To this notice, Mr.. Dillingham; writes
The Journal: ''E. r.. Ward states that
Virgil Dillingham; misrepresented him
tn fhp is
false, and not true. good soldier
always obeys his superior officer. The
department commander ordered E. r.
Ward to turn over all books and rec
ords TO w. t. Sherman Post No. 81, to-
the acting adjutant of the post. He re-
fused to de so. He refused to obey
his superior officer Ia poor soldier
lie also states that I have interfered
with the program arranged by w. T..
Sherman Post No. 81 for next Sunday.
say it is also false. E. r. Ward has
no right to make arrangements for w.
t. Sherman Post by order of the de-
partment commander He says that
am interfering with the memorial day
program, which / say is also false The
fact is, committee OF w. T. Sherman
Post had made arrangements for the
memorial exercises before. He used the
G. A. r.. without authority, and he
knew at the time he had no such au-
thority. He also states that he was
elected commander Of w. T. Sherman
Post by vote Of its members That is
false also. At his call a special meet
ing was held for the election Of officers
E. r. Ward received only one vote for
I, commander, and I suppose that was
his own ballot II the comrades had
wanted him they would have voteo FOR
him at a subsequent meeting. With
three or four members OF the Post that
| had never seen in the room since 1
have been member OF the Post lex
cepting onel, he had himself elected as
commander, and now he claims he has
the authority and made ARRANGEMENTS
for the programs and will carry them
out. The department commander says
he has not the authority and has or
dered me to take charge OF W. T.
Sherman Post No. 81 and I shall do so.
and will also have charge OF the Memo
rial day exercises. I request that all
@. A. r.. men ignore any orders which
may be issued by e. r. Ward
Mr.. Ward, the other man In the con-
troversy. brought to The Journal Of
flee last night the following summar-
lied statement, which he requested to
make public:
Mr.. Wards Statement.
To the G. A. n. and the public:
Mr.. V. p. Dillingham; has seen fit to
criticise my former statement to the
public in the evening paper. There
was special meeting of the w. T..
Sherman Post called for January IS, for
the election of officers, five members
being present. Mr.. Dillingham; was
faH
serve. as junior vice commander. / in
formed the comrades I would accent no
office as l had served the previous
years. Mr.. Dillingham; was quite in
dignant by my not accepting the office
named, and said he would not have
anything more to do with the post and
demanded his withdrawal card. Those
present were Comrades Robert GRAY
b. Landseller, VIM. Brown and myself
As soon as could get the regulation
blanks from the department, l made
one out and gave It to him, It lacked
the signature OF Adjutant Brown. I in
formed him he saw Brown oftener than
did and he could get him to sign 1t
The next regular meeting was held at
the court house Tuesday, February 4,
and the following officers were eIecIed .
Z. n. Ward, commander; p B. Eldriee.
senior vice commander: Robert Gray
junior vice commander; w. N. Harter
adtutant; M. Fitzgibbon, quartermaster
They were all present, and were mus
tered in. Mr.. Brown came in before
election but would not stay. Since
February 4, Dillingham; and Brown have
tried everything to break up the post
and are in fair way to succeed. Dill
lingham says he never saw them in the
post room. The public can form their
own opinion. | say he has secured the
order OF temporary commander by I'M