The National tribune., 1884-05-08

Administration OF this Department constitute a
committee 10 whom the whole matter shall be
referred with the simple recommendation that
immediate steps be taken to enroll said militia
under the auspices of the Posts of the Grand Army
OF the Republic, the securing of arms therefor and
providing, while III peace, for the security of our
homes and families In case of riot, invasion, or
instruction.
Adopted.
General John B. Dennis interested and
thrilled the Encampment with recital of his
experience in prison and his escape therefrom.
The election of officers, being the special or
der was taken up resulting as follows:
Department Commander, Major Thomas S.
Free, of Sioux Falls
Senior Vice Commander, Captain w. V. Lu-
cas-, of Chamberlain.
Junior ce-Commander, Major r. e. Flem-
ing of Fargo.
Medical Director, Dr. d. F. Etter, of Yank
ton.
Chaplain, Rev. George A. Cressey, of Huron.
The of1icers-elect suggested the following
Council of Administration, who were elected ::
Walter l. Hines OF Elk Point; N. C. Nash,
of Canton; G. r. Lanning, of Egan; o. c. Pot
ter, of Salem; C. s. Deering, of Plankinton.
The following were chosen as delegates to
the National Encampment to be held at Min
neapolis in June:
Captain B. F. Payne, of Miller; /. E. West,
of Fargo; Il. NJ. Hawley, of Parker. Alter
Brennan, of Egan o. n. Russell, of Canton.
AT the afternoon session the following reso-
luton was unanimously adopted:
Whereas there now exists IN the Department of
Pensions at Washington such an amount of red
tape and frivolous technicaities that gross injus-
pending there; and
Whereas this Encampment, believing that it is
the duty of Congress TO purge the Pension Depart
ment OF such disability; therefore,
ReSoited, That this Encanpment of the Grand
Army Of the Republic do hereby petition the Con-
gress of the United States that there be caused to
be made in the Department of Pensions an investi-
CATION to the business OF said office. and thereby
II possible remove the present causes OF delay and
afford to our comrades the relief desired.
Resolutions were also adopted petitioning the
Legislature to make the Both of May legal
holiday, extending the thanks of the Encamp-
mentto Commander Free and Past Commander
in-Chief Van Dervoort, and declaring it to be
the sense of the Encampment that hereafter a
new Department Commander should be elected
every year.
At the evening session Comrade Van Dervoort
Installed the new Department officers, and a
rousing Campfire concluded the exercises.
Among the speakers were Judge c. S. Palmer,
Rev. j. S: Bailey, General John B. Dennis,
Comrade L. B. Buchanan, Colonel John L. Jol-
ley, Captain William Duncan, Mrs. Dr. Alma
). Bennett-a hospital nurse during the war;
Captain W. V. Lucas and Comrades Paul Van
Dervoort, A. Humphrey and j. w. Taylor
The exercises were enlivened by vocal and
instrumental music furnished by Comrade E..
O. Kimberley, Walter |. Hines, Mrs. w. w.
Johnson Mrs. William Mason and others The
Sioux Fails Daily Press says: There has never
been an occasion in this Territory in which
the enthusiasm was more intense or more sus-
tanned than has been the case during the first
annual Encampment of the Department of
Dakota"