The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-02-07
The ENCBMPNENTS.
a Great Gathering at GAINESVILLE, O.
LLOYD Elected Commander.

IL WAS a c0rolal, spontaneous ana Se4enulu
reception the oomrades of Hazlctt Post, G. 4.
r.. gave the comrades OF the State Encampment
at their eighteenth annual anniversary. as well
as 20 the delegates of the Nomans Relief Corps
The OLD iton town, as solid in worth as in
business projects, did herself proud, arraycd
right royalty i'd decorations Of evergreen and
bunting. 5iazictt Post is one Of the sterling
orpanizat oAs OF tho State whose membership
WAS .linoss qua&ruqied under the leadership OF
ComraGe Kenaedy, and of whose wide-awake
members % read THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE
10 COmrade Kennedy and Comrade Il. b.
Brown j. largely due the patriotic ordering of
aHairs and for the arrangement of the very
entertaining programme Of Wednesday even
ing, upon the occasion OF the reception 10 the
Department OF Ohio IntcEesiing features of
the programme were the singing of the old
songs, such as Tenting Tonight" and
Tramp, the Boys Are Marching" by mixed
chorus, together with that glorious old song,
which is destined 10 become the great rallying
song Of America, Marching Through Georgia,
and which even now leaves John Brown
and good old Yankee Doodle" far in the
shade.
The comrades were bubbling up and boiling
over with enthusiasm and struck up the round
OF Beans for Breakfast " and other old tunes
whenever there was lull in the programme,
st one time starting up star spangled Ban
Her, which they insisted upon singing 10 the
end, even though a full orchestra played an
unfamiliar tune making Up singular medley.
LIVELY CAMP FIRE
Tie programme opened wish an invocation
by Department Chaplain MesterYclt. and was
followed By an appropriate address of welcome
by Judge Bah. Of Evansville, response by De-
parimeut Commander Clark, and the reading
Of letters Of regret by Colonel Brown from Gen
erals Grant. sherman, Sheridan Logan. Rose
cI&ns, Hancock, Siocum and Wood Secretary
Lincoln and ez-Prosidcnt Hayes. Cheers
greeted every name, but Old R0scy" received
The heSTticst applause, no donbt because of his
exceptional interest in Grand Army affairs.
Colonel 5. A. Whitfield, Of Cincinnati, who was
TO speak for Our Country and its Magistrate"
WAS Rnayoiaabiy absent and his place was flied
by the gallant General ERochs of Iroaton:
while General Grosvenor, of Athens supplied
the place OF General Gibson, Of Tiffin, one of
our ringing Buckeye orators Judge Austin
OF Toledo. responded in fitting terms to the
Grand Army Of the Republic" and Comrade
J. & Warner, OF Elyria, a born orator, made
most eloquent address upon the theme, Our
Fallen Comrades" Chaplain A. c. Byers of
IoiuMbus made most quaint application of
the ro1igal Son parable, III answer to the topic
assigned him, The Rebels. We would meet
them agaln-as brothers
The famous Broom Brigade ia striking and
picturesque uniforms, was brilliant feature
81 the evening, put through many fanciful
evolntr5iIs by 11o5ara Aston, a flne drill mas
Ter. Seldom has there been arranged for
like occasion programme so uniformly good
not dull number on il.
COMMANDER cLARK's ADDRESS.
The Encampment convened on Wednesday
morning when Commander Clark delivered
his annual address
de began by sZetching the history Of
the Ohio Department, which was organized
-lfal, n.
$4,000 members in May 1865, and then
steadily dwindled until in 1875 it mustered
but eight Posts and less than 400 members,
when through the exerti0ns OF Commander
Aaris lis decay was arrested and it began 70
gain rapidly in strength once more. Promi-
Dent among the causes of this decline, in the
opinion of Commander Clark we're the defect
i've character OF the organization. want of sys-
TEN In the transaction Of business, lack Of in
formation as 10 the true purposes Of the Order.
and mistaken views Of the legitimate objects
10 be attained
The Introduction, or attempt to introduce.
politics into the Post had very little to do
ei.h driving Posts or comrades out of the ranks,
but the repetition OF the charge has had much
70 dc with keeping out these Bho believed the
SANDER, and until recently has been a serious
obstacle to the organization Of new Posts IN
many places.
The commander spoke at some length con-
corning tie work Of the year and said there
had been steady improvement IN the prompt
ness with which returns from Posts had been
Forwarded to headquarters. lie recommended
that large part OF the surplus funds IN the
Department treasury be securely invested as q
guarantee for the future and that in addition
70 the reduction In the c0si Of supplies the per
capda tax be cut down one-half ON the SUBJ
geei Of aomans Relief Corps he said:
woMAN's RELIEF CORPS.
Pursuant to suggestion Of ComElander-in-Eshef
Van lscrvoort large number Of ladies' represent
ing tic l-afles Auxiliary Societies and slelief Corps
fre1 ali paris Of Tie country assembled az Denver
during the session of the National Encatnpras,st
aDr after discussion u the various plans of oras.i-
zalon ;nd methods Of operation Ia use IN different
Departments, finally adopted the plan CT Tie
woman q Relief Corps Of Massachusetts and pro-
cee1ea io form a National organization.
Ia tlse les months tiIst have elapsed since the
.nee-sfs - Denver, sufficient number Of Aux
lis1fy o0elet1es have adopted the work Of The Ma
liDai corps to justify tine formation Of DEPART
melt Organization. ala Sneetiag has been casied
for that purpose 10y tbe officers Of ll,e Relief Corfs
= be held IA this city during lie present session OF
TIC i-Dc@nipgaeist. j have made no special effort
70 urge the adoption Of Relief Corps work by our
AH1i-sfg Societies generally. fOr the reason that
eoaolee ny authority 10 90 20. Mg personal oliB-
1oa - that their forB Of organization which III
eluaes ritual a0a Therefore meetings moi open
- tie pubic. on least when initiating members
has many advantages. Business can be conducted
Bsil more system and more satisfactorily BIZ ANY
society Nltt regular order and programme than
= possible under common parliamentary rules
But u tiiai were not the advantages Of union
and et rslilon be- veen the societies .VOusa out
weigh amy objections 10 the plan.
Al Tie DlAl docs moi prove 10 he entirely satfsfae-
tory Doubtless 81 will be amended from time to
time
recommend flBe adoption q the Relief Corus
work by All our AuxAiagies. and respectfully ask
gcnr immediate sanction for the appointment 81 "A
committee M0fnanie Relief Corps 10 Ss,nfsr
Nltn tie ladies and report 10 the EnearapInent
Haeh action o. our part may deemed advisable
PENSIONS
In regard to pensions, be said
! am "a favor OF giving every man who lost q
;cs. 81 az arm, incurred equal disabilities a
pension 81 forty nifty dollars per month ana
AZ iaNpr 81 removing speedily aud absolutely nm
The abused regulations That make il difficult Tor an
Aoisf>i applicant foT pension prove las claim
ne inau who fell into the hands 81 the enemy
N'iseli Ia the lsne Of duty, and came back from a
rebel prison with shattered health ought 10 he
plsaIisea. without further proof TO have incurred
slit Disabilities Ia tile service The Was
satisfied o. the sOuDdIess Of every man when he
wac enlisted. Not ia ten thousand incurred
NlHAp.iiA5es thereafter under circumstances which
h1ni" preclude the allowance Of pension
lac grading Of pensions according 10 rank in
stead - strictly according to degree Of oisabiffy
A. iioiief rene 81 afisocra,ie European methods
that ought 10 be eliminated
ion. ~ 'SNis
ins National Eneainpneai through lie commit
hc o. pensions, Of which Conraat lrospe,,av N
tis Department, IL a member has already ad lie
pleasure 81 seeing many Of suggestions adoDted
~ tlic Government. and will no doubt couttn,,e
u eNercaee Wholesome influence Ii seems 10 me
tiiAi a. our petitions and complaints II any should
40 20 that committee, instead Of being addressed
directly 10 the Government and published Ia ne
Esffir