The Indianapolis journal., 1883-07-26
General Vandervoort's Address.
In the course of his address the Con
mander-iu- chief said:


When assumed the duties of my office de-
termined that would show that appreciated
the high honor by devoting all my time and all
the energy and ability in me toward building up
our order. Ihave visited tine following
permanent departments: Maine, New Hamp-
shire, Vermont. Connecticut, Massachusetts'
tomse. Virginia, West virginia o9io,
Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Lii
nois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri. Kentucky, Ne
braska, Dakots Kansas, Colorado, California,
ments of Utah and Washington. have also Wis
tied, in the course Of my journey. New Mexico.
Arizona Wyoming. Nevada. Idaho and Montana.
In ALL thirty-seven States and Territories, leaV-
ing only twelve, including Alaska, unvisited.
have visited the departments named below,
more than once: Connecticut, Potomac, Illinois,
Iowa, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Col
OradO, Missouri. l have attended nine depart
menJ encampments and two semi-annual en-
campments. And the organization of ohe proyis-
iOnal department.
have delivered at reunions, camp fires. ban
quets, receptions, annual and semiannual en-
campments, las addresses have visited 156
posts; have Travelled 40, ,403 miles; have been
absent from home over 200 days. When at home
daily devoted many hours to the duties OF the
office l have written over 1000 letters. and
can truly say that cheerfuliy and gladly have
given one year of my life to the work.
Kansas has come nobly to the front again this
year. and ia sgaln the banner department. The
| gain up to March 81 is 424a per cent, 6, 79S
members and 1877 posts. Missouri comes next,
with gain of 354 per cent, 81 posts and 2 103
members. This, In a former slave State, and one
aud is due TO the energy, zeal and devotion of "a
large number of enterpFising workers. Iowa, 229
gan iso per cent, 81 posts ana s,46O mem bers;
Wisconsin, 1854 per cent, 46 posts and 1851
members; Indiana, 1870 per cent, 4.l7l members
and lO0 posts; Colorado, 273 per cent, LBS
members with New Mexico and Dakota separ-
ated from them: Illinois. 81 per cent, 1887
member and 60 posts; Vermont, ooh per cent,
SAT members and 1S posts; Ohio, 79aa per cent,
6.S49 members and 81 posts; New York, 54 per
cent, 1890 members and SS posts; Pennsyl-
L. A nd
posts: Nebraska, 6512 per cent, 1850
members and SO posts: Minnesota, 82lo per cent
gain: Maine, Asa per cent, 1,434 members and
IL posts; Massachusetts. l7i4 per cent, 1871
members and posts. These gains are up to and
| including March 21r 1888. All departments
| show a gain, and in the supplemental report
| showing the increase during June quarter you
will note the grandest increase in the history OF
the order, Illinois alone gaming in June quarter
| 1O3 posts ard 3,703 members This work must
not oease; 1t must and will go on with undated
vigor and increasing enthusiasm until all who
wore the blue who are worthy TO become mem
bers enrolled. Up to and including March
81 we gained 971 posts and 55,T66 members
Per cent OF gain, 6O4,
Concerning the Mormon question the COM
mander-in-chief said;
Let us demand through q strong committee
that a band of earnest, true men who know and
have faced the evil and sin day and night, shall
be designated to codtfy the laws heretofore
passed through the dictates of the leaders of
this unhOly church. That it shall De written and
declared that no Mormon shall vote or hold any
Office whatever. That all holding governments
offices shall be removed, that this commission
shall ask Congress TO approve the GodlhcatlOn OF
the laws, and that all officers of every grade
snail be appointed by the governor and con-
firmed by the council. and that the emigratlou
of recruits TO build up this damuing crime shall
be stopped at once and forever.
PENSIONS
After speaking of the progress made in es-
tablishing soldiers homes, discussing the
question of the best method for preserving
Grand Army records and referring to the
Womens Relief Corps, Ladies' Loyal League
and other auxiliary societies, General Van
dervoort continued:
The subject of pensions and tho work of the
pension committee will be stated at length in the
report OF the Surgeon general The efforts of
CnmTa AIDES Merrill aud AInes secured the passage
of the $40 bill in an amendment form. Tney are
entitled TO the thanks of the encampnens for
their earnest and efficient work. 1 am in favor
OF abolishng the rank system in the pension
laws; believe that al survivors OIL, OF me war.
the same amount for the same disability or
wound.
Congress has been liberal in the amount ap-
proprls ted and the laws passed for our benefit
Great clamor has been raised In regard TO !rands
| in the pension system. The charges made are
very unjust, Only twenty-six per cent of the
number enlisted have applied The fraudulent
| claims allowed amount to only One-tenth of one
per cent. Many thousands who are entitled
have failed to secure the allowance of their
claims because they have been unable to secure
| the evidence. The changes IN twenty Years
have caused witnesses to disappear, memory TO
become imperfect, SO that there are to-day
thousands who should be on the roll where there
| Is one fraudulent name
The money disbursei to pensioners is an actual
| blessing TO the country. 1t goes into the chan
| nels OF trade. 1t makes money easy, and in my
, Judgment the amount scattered throughout the
country by the action of the arrears of pensions
| b II was an actual benefit and prevented fl
| nancal crash The men who lost limbs or were
| torn with bullet or shell or suffer from disease,
can never he repaid. and the cowardly skulkers
who are making the assault upon the pension roll
| merit the condemnation of all true citizens. L
am in favor of pensioning every deserving
soldier and striking from the roll every fraudu-
| lent name, and appeal to the grauu army TO aid
|. all Who should be on the rolls and 10 report
| through the proper channels all those on the
/ roll who they know not entitled to be there
| The question in regard to pensioning prisoners
| of war should be carefully Investigated by the
| pension committees, and of the many bills pend
| ing some Just measure should be selected and
| endorsed at the next session of Congress.
| The two branches OF Sons of Veterans have
made progress. In accordance with the resOlu-
tion of the last national eneampment, | have
encouraged these societies. nave not encour-
aged the officers aid members OF either branch
| in their warfare with each other L have
endeavored to restore harmony, and
have earnestly desired that they should act
| like the sons of veterans. | believe that the
difficulty between these organizations has been
\ fomented and famed largely by members of the
Grand Army of the Republic Many OF our no
| blest members have given time and money and
worked hard 10 establish one or the other branch
| of this organization. They should harmonize at
once. III tnelr proper o1icerS 40 nOU appear mere
and coalesce, this encampment should recog
nize one branch or the other, The reckless way
that one portion OF this organization have scat
tered commissions throughout the country caus
es me TO fear that the ranks of those who served
as enlisted men will be horribly decimated Gen
erals and lieutenant- generals by brevet have
been created by the score. The sons of veterans
must take up our work where Wa lay IL down
Lt will be their duty to perpetuate Memorial
Day and keep our memory alive. | appeal to
them to bring to all their counsels spirit Of
charity, and do trust and hope that they wifs
consolidate and unite under ono head and they
Will then most certainly have the aid, help and
sympathy Of the entire Grand Army.
The General then eloquentIy eulogized the
rules of the order concerning politics and