Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 September 1894 — THE G. A. R. ENCAMPMENT. [ARTICLE]

THE G. A. R. ENCAMPMENT.

Extract* From CommamlH Adam*’* Ad. dress. At Wednesday’s session of the G. A. R. encampment at Pittsburg, the principal feature was the annual address of tht Commander. Commander Adams begat by congratulating Pittsburg on its loyalty now as well as during the days Jof th< war, alluding to its liberality in caring for the soldiers from the West on theii way to the front, as Philadelphia hac done for those from the Eastern States He then referred to the fact that fom months’ confinement in a hospital hac prevented him from fully attending to hii duty, but having received the order ii such excellent condition from his predecessor, and being so ably assisted by his comrades, the order had not suffered by reason of his disability. Concerning thi membership of the order he said: One year ago there were in good standing 397,223 members. There have been gained during the year, by muster-in, 16,752; by transfer. 6.354; by reinstatement 14,036; by reinstatement from delinquent reports, 2.519. Total gain, 36,661. Aggregate, 436,884. There have been lost: By death, 7,283; by honorable discharge. 1.756; by transfer, 7.135; by suspension. 34,805; by dishonorable discharge. 15; by delinquent reports, 16,671. Total loss, 67,--801. Number remaining in good standing June 30,1894, 369,083. These figures show that the Grand Army has reached the beginning of the end, and each succeeding year will show a gtadual decrease in oui membership. The long continued depression in business has caused many suspensions, and these we hope to regain when prosperity returns; but It will be impossible for us to recruit our ranks as fast ai our members are mustered out by death. During the vear the Grand Army has nol forgotten the great work of charity, and has expended $203,780.10 for relief. While it has lost in membership the interest in the order has not abated but has grown stronger. The little bronze button wat never worn with more pride than it is today, and the enthusiasm of comrades in Grand Army work is everywhere apparent.”

The feature of Thursday’s session of th< G. A. R. National Encampment at Pittsburg was the contest for commander-in-chief. The contestants were Col. Thomas G. Lawler, of Rockford, HL, and Col. J. N, Walker, of Indianapolis. Electioneering of a most vigorous character had beei going on 2.1 week and the friends of both candidates claimed a victory by a good majority. The closeness of the result was a surprise to both victor and defeated. It took forty-five minutes to cast and count the ballots of 649 delegates. Ther Commander Adams announced that th« vote stood: Lawler, 330; Walker, 429, th< Illinois man winning by the narrow margin of eleven votes. Other officers wen elected as follows: Senicr Vice-Com-mander, A. P. Burchfield, of Pennsylvania; Junior-Vice-Commander, Charles Shute, of Louisiana; Surgeon-General, O. W. W< eks, of Ohio; Chaplain-ln-Chief, T. H. Haggerty, of Missouri. The next National Encampment of tin G. A. R. will be held at Louisville, Ky„ this being the first time a city south of th< Ohio river was selected for the great reunion of i old soldiers. Louisville was unanimously chosen at the meeting of tht Encampment, Wednesday evening, aftet Henry Watterson had made a patriotic and stirring speech in its behalf. At Thursday’s session of the G. A. R. jffleers for the < nsuing year, the following resolutions were adopted: “Resolved, That the Grand Army of the Republic protest to the people of the United States against the conduct of those >f their public servants, more particularly it the National capital, who, without necessity, justification or valid excuse, and contrary to the repeated declarations and issurances of the legislative and executive authorities of the Government, have deprived many hundreds of honorably disiharged soldiers and sailors of the Union irmy and navy, and the widows, sons and laughters of those deceased, of their employment in the public offices and estabishments for the purpose of appointing or retaining other persons, destitute of the oyal and patriotic claims of these victims, or of superior qualifications for the places thus taken from those to whom ;hcv rightfully belong. “Resolved, That we view with great Concern this attack upon those who, in (he hour of the country's need, laid aside .heir political preferences and became de’enders of the union, offering their lives x> the Nation to maintain its institutions md preserve the honor of its flag. •‘Resolved,Th at our comrades and wards vhonre holding their employment under he Government, should have and they iave the right to demand from the execu;ive authorities that protection awarded hein by the National Legislature, and my failure on the part of those authorises to so protect them. Is a violation of aw and of patriotic principle which ex:ites our strongest reprobation.”