Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 September 1894 — LAWLER THE WINNER [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

LAWLER THE WINNER

CHOSEN COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE G. A. R. Closest Election In tbe History of the Organization —Pittsburs and New Orleans Capture tbe Vice Coxnmandershlpe—Encampment Business—Finances of Order, Majority of Eleven Votes. Col. Thomas G. Lawler, of Rockford, 111., was elected Commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, by a majority of 11 votes o\or CoL I. N. Walker, of Indiarapolis. It was the closest contest for the office in the history of the «rganunticn. Maj. A. P. Burchfield, of Pittsburg, ar.d Charles H. Shute, of New Orleans, were chosen respectively Senior and Junior Vice Commanders. Colonel Thomas G. Law er was born in Liverpool about fifty years ago. He came to this country when he was 10 years old. and was 17 when the war began. His army service began in April, It6l, when he made a three months’ contract to fight for the Stars and Stripes in tho Nineteenth Illinois In antry. Sept. 17 of the same year he re-enlisted for three years as a private in Company E of the Nineteenth, with which brave regiment he participated in all the fire and fuss which the Army of the Cumberland was fated to j ass through. He was honorably discharged Sept. 17,

1864, his rank at that time being Sergeant. On receiving his discharge he returned to Rockford, where he has ever since made his home. Colonel Lawler, previous to election to the Commander hip, served as Commander of Nevius Post, No*. 1, and he now enjoys Q the unique record of not only being the commander of the oldest Grand Army of the Republic post in existence but of Having filled that position uninterruptedly for more than a quarter of a century. VETERANS DYING OFF. Reports Show that Death Is Decreasing? the Ranks of the Grand Army. After the business session of the encampment had been called to order Wednesday the delegates were welcomed on behalf of the c itizen s executive board by Chairman Daniel C. Ripley and also by W. C. quincy, Chairman of the Committee on Invitations and Reception. Got ernor Pattison welcomed them on beha f of the State of Pennsylvania, wni:e Mayor McKenna, of Pittsburg, and Mayor Kennedy, of Allegheny, performed the same pleasant duty on behalf of their respective cities. Major Burchfield then presonted the Commander-in-chief with a gavel of great historic interest, it is made of wood from Fort Sumter, Appomattox, Gettysburg, and Libby Prison, and is bound with metal from the historic cannon. It is thus symbolic of the opening and the closing of the war. Commander-in-chief Adams in his address spoke at length on tho subject of pensions, stating that, w,.ile it was a question of a great interest and he “disliked to consider money matters in connection with our services to the government, the disabled condition of a large number of our comrades forces it upon us. ” He continued: liy a vote of ihelast encampment, a test case was ordered to bo made In the United States courts, aud as that one already begun by Judge Long covered all the points, It was settled that no other should be Instituted. Iu reply to the message of tho President, which stated “that thousands of neighborhoods had their well-known pension frauds,” the pension department of the order has hunted down all reported cases. Very few frauds were discovered, and when found were not cases where soldiers had defrauded the government, but where somo dishonest agent had worked a poor, ignorant widow, and put the money thus obtained In his pocket The membership of tho order, he said", is as follows: Oue year ago there were in good standing 397,223. There have been gained during the year: By muster-in, 16.752: by transfer, 6,354; by reinstatement, 14,036; hy reinstatement from delinquent re; orts, 2.519. Total gain, 39,661. Aggregate, 436.884. There have been lost: By death. 7.283; by honorable discharge, 1,756; by transfer, 7.132; by suspension, 34.805; by dishonorable discharge. 154; by delinquent reports, 16,671. Total loss, 67,801. Number remaining In good standing June 33, 1894, 369.083. ■ 'lhese figures show that the G. A. R. has reached tbe beginning of the end. and each succeeding year will show a gradual decrease in our membership The long-con-tinued depression In business has caused many suspeus ons, and these we hope to regain when prosperity returns, but it will be Impossible for us to rocruit our ranks as fast as our members are mustered out by death. During the year the Grand Army has not forgotten the great work of charity, and has expended 5203.750 for relief. While It has lost in membership, the interest in the order has not abated, but has grown stronger. Tho Utile bronze button was never worn with more pride than it is to-day, and the enthusiasm of comrades In Grand Army work Is everywhere apparent. The following general financial statement is then made; Bala ces on liana »ept. 8,1893 General fund $ 6,660.07 Gr mt monument fund 8,673 62 Flag fend 7U 95 Received from sale of supplies 9.77. S 82 Per capita tax 9,44 G 79 Interest on United States bonds f'jo co Interest ondeposits 101 <:s Intere ton Grunt monument fond.... i r 4 so Con ributions to flag fund 1.012 02 Contributions to Sherman monument fund 264 ro

Total to be accounted for... fao 0:1 25Expenditures— Supplies $7,357 27 Traveling expenses ” i’e73 15 Salaries 3,8*8 70 Postage and Incidentals 6 685 92 gla? laud '. I>, d Grant monument fund 3.0' ii mi Totsl - £23,- 81 74 Ealance on hand, $13,339.51—t0 bo credited as follows: To general fund $7 401 Grant monument fund « I’.agfund 'ja, 77 Sh rman monument fund. ‘ 60 The organization has $16,000 invested in United States bonds, 4 per cents duo in 1907. ’ The next national encampment will 1m httid at Louisvii)ft.

COLONEL THOMAS O. LAWLER.