The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1885-07-02
VETERANS AT PORTLAND.
Meeting of the Grand Army of the Rspub-
lic-An Immense Crowd-PrOc6ssions1
and Other PROCEEDINGS. 81 I

| day long the measured tramp offeetthrough
| the streets and strains OF martial music, as
hosts OF the Grand Army of the Republic
marched from the depot TO the camp, mark
ed the Inauguration of the nineteenth ell
campment. Delegations from various parts
| OF the Union formed steady and almost
uninterrupted procession from morning till
night
On second day the grand procession was
the main feature. It had been calculated
that it would require two hours for the pro-
cession to pass, but it took more that
three hours. The most careful esti-
mates OF the number OF men in
OF which number 10000 wore the
uniform OF the Grand Army. Commander
in-Chief kountz was greeted with generous
applause from all sides, and Gen. Logan,
who rode in carriage with Congressman
Reid, received a continuous. ovation.
In the evening a reception was tend
cred to Commander-in-Chief Kountz as
city hail. Addresses of welcome were
delivered by Gen. Hall, department
commander of Maine by Gov Robbie, who
also paid a tribute to Gen: Grant, and by
Mayor Deering. Commander Kountz replied
on behalf OF himself and comrades. Ad-
dresses were also made by Gov Alger Of
Michigan, ex-Gov. Fairchild OF Wisconsin,
|
Gen. Logan. Senator Logan prefaced his
remarks with a fervente ofGen. Grant.
He said: "In my Judgment time has notgiven
toany people a grander commander ofmen,
a greater organizer offorces, a more magniti-
cent campaigner [applause], a man
with more ability to execute than U.
S. Grant For this country he has
done as much as any, man that ever lived
has ever done for any country"
On the third day the Commander deliver
ed his annual address. He said:
| That Tour years ago there was a men,
bership OF 10000. On March 81, 1885,
thirty EIGHT departments reported 5,O26
posts and 269, 694 members, while the re-
port OF the adjutant general shows the
membership to be 2s7,Gs7. The large
number OF Sd, 1872 reported by the adju-
can't general as suspended during the year
is due in a great measure to negligence and
inefficiency OF post officers Our finances
are in excellent condition. We have
on hand cash balance Of 1892
The question having been raised as to
whether the late Comratle Dr. B. +. Ste
first mover in the organization Of the Grand
Army of the Republic, it is deemed but SIM
pie justice to his memory rs we'll as to his
family and comrades to state that all au-
thentic records confer upon him that very
just honor. During the past eleven months
there have been issued tifty-one thousand
badges, at a profit Of G,63O. I heartily
endorse the organization known as the Vet
GRAMS Rights Union, the object Ofwhichi is to
secure to our conlradcs theirrights and priv
lleges under the revised statutes of the United
States. The union urgcs,as It'll ghtfully may
and ought, that when the other qualifica-
! tiOns arc equal, the soldier should be pre-
I ferred because he was a soldier. I am OPP
posed to the pcrpetuation of the Grand
Army, believing the mission OF great
comradeship will have been fulfilled when
the last comrade has joined helast muster
out. Knowing that there is nothing in the
Grand Army OF the Republic inconsistent
| with more exacting duty or strictest religion,
ldeemed it for heinterest OF the order to APP
point special committee to lay it's nature
and orkings before the proper Catholic au-
thorities OF the United States, that they
may know our organization has nothing to
conceals and that our purposes are COM
mended by all who understand them. The
committee reported having fulfilled it's mis-
sion report, that assurances had been given
by Archbishop Ryan and Gibbons that
nothing could be found in the aims of the
Grand Army to prevent any good Catholic
from becoming q member. The COM
mander-in-chef deprecated participa-
ton in politics as an organization and
urgently advocated the Mexican pension bill
and a bill to grant disabled soldiers pen
sion from the date OF disability. lie also
urged that Decoration day be not desecrat-
ed by recreation and pleasure. The Wom-
ans Relief corps now has twenty-five per-
manent and three provisional departments,
with subordinate corps in nearly all the
states where the Grand army exists.
Resolutions OF sympathy with Gen. Grant
were adopted by unanimous rising vote,
amid great cheering.
The members OF the G. A. R. spent the day
in sight seeing, attending clam bakes, ETC.,
some in the city and some going out by
rail.
At the afternoon session the question of
a place for holding the next annual encamp-
ment came up. San Francisco received 269
votes to 17S for Louisville. A representa-
tive OF the former city guaranteed that
! 100000 would be subscribed for the en-
tertainment OF the veterans.
On the fourth day, at the morning execu-
tive session OF the national encampment a
resolution was offered providing for the
suitable recognition OF of DR.. BENJAMIN
Stephenson, as founder Of the Republic, and
recommending that a subscript from the
; national encampmcnt be REQ uested for the
purpose. A Resolution adverse to the
consolidation OF the Sons OF Veterans with
the Grand Army was adopted.
1t was voted that the next annual en-
campment be held some time between
|
that memorial day be observed on the
Sabbath was adopted. The committee to
which was referred Comrade Loring' resolu-
F., ton in favor Of the IS per month pension
bill reported adversely and the report was
adopted after a protracted debate. The
commander-in-chief was authorized to
appoint q committee to present reso-
lutions to the heads OF departments
at Washington in behalf OF pension
claimants. A recommendation that ali
petitionst to congress from posts or pen
sion claimants besent through the national
headquarters Of the G. A. r. was adopted.
Resolutions OF thanks to congress for hav-
ing placed Gen. Grant on the retired list OF
the army were also adopted.
for commander-in-chief and the following
candidates were presented:
John w. Burst of Illinois, Gen. ohm A.
Reynolds OF New York, Hon. Samuel S. Bur-
dett OF Washington and Gen. Lucius Fair
child OF Wisconsin,
Comrade Fairchild withdreW his name,
and the halloting proceeded. On the Sec
1876, Burst 70, and Mr. Burdette's election
was made unanimous. For senior vice COM
mander-in-chief, ex-Gov. Selden Conner OF
Maine was chosen by reclamation. To the
position of junior vice commander-in-chief,
Comrade Lewis OF Atlanta was chosen on the
second ballot. The usual resolutions OF
thanks to the various parties, organiZa-
lions and corporations were adopted, at
ter which the executive session OF the ma
tionaI 'encampment closed.
The foregoing contains, in substance, the
official proceedings 1t would take pages
to give all the details appertaining to the
social side OF the affair, and how the veter-
ans amused themselves. Those who have
attended these encampments may easily
imagine the whole.
Daring Exploit Of Cowboys,
A traveller on the Northern Pacific reports
the following thrilling incident: When the
train stopped at Medora, Montana, the
t1!s!EAsa!}9uarters OF the Marquis de Mlores and