Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 53, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 September 1889 — THE GRAND ARMY. [ARTICLE]

THE GRAND ARMY.

their friends. Gen. Sherman 5 and Mr* Gen. Logan are the popular figures. ) The Twenty-third National of the Grand Army of the Republic waa called to order at 10:15 o'clock Wednesday at Milwaukee by the commander in Soon aftey the Commander read his address he said: I am here to give an account of my stewardship. The growth of oar organization has been steady mid healthy. Strong as it is, it has never been, | and 1 trust never will be, used for partisan * purpose*, or to gratify the personal ambitions of any man or set of men. The great* est gain during the year has been in the Department of Missouri. Eight Depart? ments show a gain of membership in good standing of 15,824, distributed as follows: Illinoi*, 1,2®; lowa, 1,513; Nebraska, 1,709; Pennsylvania, 1,746; New York, 1,995} Ohio 2,003; Wisconsin 2,023; Missouri, 8,662. The net gain in membership during the year (in good standing), was 21,431. The Committee on pensions have been unable to make any progress in securing consideration by Congress of the pension | Mils recommended by the Columbus Bit. campment. The reason for this failure will be given by the committee, mid I know that its members are in no way to blame/ The question of pension legislation will come before you again for discussion and recommendation. He strongly advocated a service pension bill, and said “the service pension bill win some. The day is not far distant when an honorable discharge frpm the Union Army or Navy shall be all the evidence required {to secure a pension to its holder. The measures recommended by the National Encampment should not be antagonized by •onflicting measures urged by departments or posts. Unity of action will secure satisfactory results; a divided council will contribute to defeat. Our demands should be reasonable and consistent. Let the bondholders of the country remember that the men who rendered their securities valubale ‘—the men who have ever insisted that they be paid to the uttermost farthing, prinei--1 and interest, of tbe money advanced by them to the State—let them remember that Ithese men have claims upon the State at least equal to those of the bondholders.” Very unexpectedly the delegates proceeded to the election of officers, Wednesday evening. The sentiment seemed as ' overwhelmingly in favor of Gen. Alger j that the names of all of the candidates were withdrawn and Gen. Russell A. Alger of Michigan was elected Commander-in-Chlef by acclamation. Col. A. G. Weissert, of Milwaukee, was elected Senior Vice Commander, and John F. Lovett, of New Jer- | sey, Junior Vice Commander. A resolution endorsing the admtufotra. tion of Commissioner of Pensions Tanner was adopted unanimously. At night m sham fight between land and sea forces | was witnessed by 250,066 people, and was* sublime spectacle. | Boston was deaided upon as the next place of meeting. The encampment re*, fused at its session of Thursday, to Size the Sons of Veterans as an auxiliary tor the G. A R., because of a disturbing faction in the former organization. Tha Women’s Relief Corps and similar orgeat : cations wero not given formal endorsement but were bidden God-speed in their work. The Provident Principla J During the last eighteen months the Metropolitan hospital, in the east of! London, has adopted the provident principle, says a London corresponds ent. “This means that persons Living within a mile of the hospital who am really too poor to pay the ordinary fees of medical men can by paying a( small monthly charge all the year 1 round in health as well ae in sickness a general hospital affords. The new principle has been found to work ex* tremely well. During the short time (hat it has been In operation 5,654 membership books have been issued, representing more than 11,000 livea’ 1