People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 September 1893 — CAMP FIRES LIGHTED. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CAMP FIRES LIGHTED.

The Grand Army Encampment at In* dlanapolla Attract* a Great Crowd—Addresses by Gen. Harrison and Co tn man der Weinert. Indianapolis, Ind., Sept s.—The veterans of the union armies have been pouring into Indianapolis for the past twenty-four hours with scarcely a break in the procession. It is estimated that 25,000 uniformed men of the Grand Army of the Republic are in camp. Probably twice as many persons who are not members of the organization have arrived. There is no diminution in the crowds that are pouring through the gates of the union station. It looks like there might be 150,000 or 200,000 strangers in town to witness the great parade. Four-fifths of the posts that poured out of the union station were from Indiana or the close lying counties of Illinois, Ohio and Michigan. The contest for commander in chief has been the absorbing theme about headquarters. It looks as if John B. Adams, of Massachusetts, known as

“Huffy Jack” Adams, would be commander. He has the united support of the east and several states in the west have promised to support him. S. H. Hurst, of Ohio, still feels confident. Charles P. Lincoln, of Michigan, who was deputy commissioner of pensions under Harrison, has a considerable following. There was some surprise when E. Burd Grubb, of New Jersey, announced that he was a candidate for commander. It has been practically decided in advance of the session of the encampment that the next gathering will be held at Pittsburgh. Members of the association were delighted when a delegation of Pittsburgers arrived and announced that the city had pledged SIOO,000 for the entertainment of the veterans next year. It was the first bid that had been made and was eagerly accepted. The Kansas delegation has announced that it will vote to take the encampment east again for the reason that the railroads of the west have not shown a disposition to treat the old soldiers right. The naval veterans held their business meeting Monday, and to-day will act as an escort for the G. A. R. in the grand parade. Admiral B. S. Osborn was re-elected commander of the association, Byrnes Sears, of Baltimore, was elected commodore, and Capt. R. N. Hopkins, of Chicago, captain. The association voted to go to Pittsburgh next year. The encampment was formally welcomed to Indianapolis Monday night by a meeting in Tomlinson’s hall. The principal address of welcome was delivered by ex-President Harrison. The

ex-president dwelt upon the subjiect of pensions. He denounced in strong language a pension policy that reflects upon the integrity of the veterans of the war. His remarks on the subject of pensions brought forth cheers from the veterans. Commander in Chief Weissert, in response to the address, also referred to •the pension question. He indorsed what ex-President Harrison had said and indicated that the Grand Army of the Republic, through the eventful meeting, would speak its feelings in reference to the treatment of pensioners by the democratic administration. Besides speaking at Tomlinson’s hall, ex-President Harrison addressed the veterans in Camp Wilder in the afternoon and the camp fire of the Army of the Cumberland at night. He is the ‘central figure of the encampment. « The thing which will no doubt occupy the greater part of the time of the encampment is the subject of pensions. A claim will be made that a pension claim once allowed and entered on the rolls is a judgment against the government, and that the government has no right to deprive the pensioner of his money without a formal opening of the case. It is said 6,000 pensioners have been suspended or cut off or had their last increase recalled. Commander in Chief Weissert’s annual address will be delivered Wednesday. He will discuss the pension question and other subjects of interest to the members.

COMMANDER IN CHIEF WEISSERT.

TOMLINSON HALL.