The National tribune., 1884-07-03
1EADQ =, UEPT or hifNNBSoTA, .. a Il,
OFFICE OF ASST ADJUrANT- 81 EsERAL,

At HDteiS during bhc coming NAiiDfl;
Encampment. This is unjust TO minneapolis and
10 the propre;ors of hotels. Col. West, who is
rushing to completion one of the finest hotels in
the world-the " West and who is also the pro-
pTietor OF the Nicoliet,7 assures me over his
own signature that advance over the usual
rates viii be allowed by anyone under his diree-
ton. This is also true OF 81 hotels in the city and
rates will be from to three and a-half dollars
per day. while many Of our private houses viii DO
much better AT the camp shelter has been pro-
vided for 10000 of our old comrades ard viii be
provided for 10000 more, if necessary while supper
and breakfast viii be supplied for IS cents each
and dinner for 80 cents The camp viii be an inter-
eSting feature of the coming Reunion, and pro-
gram of the projected entertainments viii soon be
issued. want TO say 10 our comrades that the
people of Minneapolis will extend TO ell OF YOU
warm and cordial a welcome as you have ever
received.-I. c. BABB, Department Commander.
II is clear from Comrade Babb's letter
that the rumors of overcharges, recently in
circulation, are entirely without foundation,
and that the good people Of Minneapolis are
doing all within their power to provide for
the comfort and pleasure of their soldier
guests. Anticipating an immense attend
ance, they have paid special attention to the
laying out of commodious camp, where
shelter viii be furnished free of charge and
meals served at very reasonable prices, and
during the sessions of the Encampment
it is the intention to hold ma 1moth
Reunion there. This, indeed, with proper
management is likely to be the chief
feature Of the occasion, for the number
of veterans present in their capacity as
delegates viii be small in comparison with
the number who viii attend for the par
pose simply of meeting old comrades, re-
newing old friendships and living over
again their war days together. Considering
the comparative proximity of Minneapolis
to the center of our soldier population, its
accessibility by rail, and the attractions
which it offers to visitors, it seems 10 US that
it ought TO be the scene of the largest gath
ering of our ex-soldiers that has taken place
since the war From the great soldier States
of Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa
and Kansas many Posts viii doubtless attend
in body, and we shall be surprised ii the
representation does not exceed that at for
mer Encampments.
AS for the Encampment itself, it promises
to be one of the most important that has
been held since the founding Of the Order,
and we trust it win take ample time for the
discussion and disposal of the business that
viii be brought before it. The Grand Army
has now become an organization of such
proportions that ii cannot afford to fritter
away its influence, or permit any miscon-
struction to be placed on its intentions and
purposes The greatest danger that now
menaoes its future is the liberty permitted
individual Posts of expressing, in the form
of resolutions and in the name Of the Order,
opinions on questions Of national legislation
that do not really represent the prevailing
sentiment Of the Order, and, as a natural
consequence, the absurd spectacle has some
times been presented Of petitions and me-
MORALS introduced in Congress for and
against the same measure, yet all in the
name of the Grand Army We need not
tell our comrades what the result Of aaher-
ing TO such course is likely to be; if the
Grand Army as an Order cannot agree as to
what legislation is needed TO secure the sat
isfaction of the soldiers just claims upon
the Government, our Senators and Repre-
sentatiyes can scarcely be blamed if they
also beat about the bush. On the other
hand, if it is made clear to the latter that
the Grand Army is unit in demanding
the passage of measures which are admitted
to be just and reasonable, they wiz not be
likely to disregard lis recommendations.
Now, as matter of fact, the last National
Encampment did take such action as was
thought would bring about this result Ii
appointed a committee of its own number
and expressly delegated to it the power to
urge such action by Congress as in the judg-
ment Of that committee would be wise and
expedient That committee discharged It's
duty-iaitbfully. ii met in this city at az
opportune time, and, after mature deIibera-
ton, made certain definite recommendation
to Congress It did not attempt 70 embody
in these recommendation every proposition
for which some support could be found ii
equity, but confined itself to urging the
adoption Of those measures which seemed
most likely to afford immediate relief Il
our disabled and impoverished veterans
and which, by reason Of their inheren
justice and reasonableness, would b,
most apt TO command legislative ap
prevail That it accurately gagged til,
sentiment Of Congress, and would hay,
failed TO make any impression upon tina
body had it gone beyond the bounds it fixed
the issue, we think, clearly proves, sine
even the Cullom amendments 10 the Mexi
can pension bill, while they are identicA
with the G. A. r. committees recommends
| tioas so far as they % fall short of fso,,,l,,