Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-03-12
.COHAANDANT At old
/ SOLDIERS HONE ASKS
RELEASE From OFFICE
Resignation Was Accepted
And Captain James ?. Shaw
Will Take His Place.

Following closely upon the hearing
before Governor Oleott yesterday of
charges brought against Commandant
Robert c Markee, of the Soldiers Home
az Roseburg, Secretary Goodin, of the
Board of Control this morning receiv-
ed letter from the commandant in
which he tenders his resignation, to
take effect Immediately. The commun-
ication reads:
q hereby tender my resignation as
eommandant of the Oregon State Sol
diers Home at Roseburg. If in your
judgement my service as commandant
have not at all times and under all cir
eumstances been eminently satisfactory,
| trust you will accept this proffer and
release me at your earliest conven.
fence. In retiring from the management
| do so with the full knowledge that at
all times my very best efforts have been
oxerted in desire to make for the
old boys' home in fact as well as
in name. That they have succeeded is
evidenced by the fact that l am held
in the highest esteem by majority of
tue reSiuenU members.
Resignation Accepted
The resignation of Mr.. Markee was
promptly accepted by the board, and
on their recommendation Governor Oh
colt has appointed as his successor
Captain James l. Shaw, of MILWAUKEE,
Oregon. former department command
er of the G. A. r. in Oregon. He was
not a candidate for the position. but
was selected because Of his eminent fit
ness for it, being pioneer business
man and for IS years a member of the
G. A. R organization which gives him
a wide acquaintance throughout the
state and the Northwest.
In War Four Years
Mr.. Shaw served through the war Of
the Rebellion from April 20, 1861 to
April SS, 1865, sustained three wounds
during his service, and was voted a
medal of honor by the state from which
he enlisted. He was ono of the commits
sioners from Oregon to the half centen.
nial celebration of the Battle Of Get
tysburg held in Pennsylvania, and also
has received other marks of recognition
by this state and by the organization
with which he has so long been con:
lnected.
Mrs. Shaw, who will probably become
matron Of the home with the advent Of
the new commandant, has been at the
head of many schools of the state, and
also has acted as supervisor of the
schools for Clackamas county.
Reccives Warm Approval
The name of Mr.. Shaw has received
warm approval from men Of highest
Istanding in connection with the Grand
Army of the Republic and from others.
Aside from having had practical bust
ness experience and experience as an
executive head, he also has a working
knowledge of agriculture, which is con
| sidered one of the qualifications for
successful administration Of an insti-
tuition of the nature Of the Soldiers
Home.
AS to Mr.. Markee's record in the
Home since he succeeded w. w. Elder in
1914, those who have followed it will
recall that at "sundry times and in
divers manner" he managed to bring
himself into discord with the inmates
and with his subordinates, one element
of irritation being his propensity to
undue interference with the manage
ment Of the institution, and on at least
one occasion was threatened with re-
tirement. As an appointee of Governor
Withycombe he is said to have been re-
tanned in his position by the late exec
utive in the face Of strong demand
for his removal
Three thousand dollars worth of con