The Bad Lands cow boy. [volume] (Little Missouri, Dakota [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-1886, 1885-07-02
VETERANS AT PORTLAND,

Ae-An sImmenso BsCrowd- Proc ession
$and othsr ProoeedinEs.n
gPortland, Me-, had its largest crowd q few
days ago. The Grand Army came in pnex.
pectedly large numbers. On the first day all
day long the measured tramp OBJECT through
the streetR 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 en-.
campment. Delegations from various parts
OF the Union formed a steady and almost
unlnterruped procession from morning till
,onseconds day the andrprocsssion was
me main feature It had been calculated
cesslon toISpass, but it took more that
three hours. The most careful est
mates Of the number OF men in
line place the figures at $4,000,
OF which number 10000 wore the
uniform OF the Grand Army. Commander
ln-Chlef kountz was greeted with generous
applause from all sides, and Gen. Logan,
who rode int carriage with Congressman
Reid, received a continuous ovation.
IN the evening a reception was tend
cred to Commander-in-Chief Kountz as
representative OF the body at the
city hall. Addresses OF welcome were
delivered by Gen. Hail, department.
commander Of Maine; by Gov. Robe, who
also paid q tribute to Gen: Grant, and by
May 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. Henry w. Slocums of7New York and
Gen. Logan. Senator Logan prefaced his
remarks with a iervent eulogy ofGen. Grant.
ne said: "Inmy Judgment time has notgiven
70 any peoraessS gran der commander ofmen,
agreater organizer offorces, a more magnifi:
zee @ aa@pa aBsv app,asss
8. Grant. For this country he has
doneas much as any man that ever lived
mas ever done for any country"
Onlthe third day The Commander deliver
ed his annual address. He said: lEI..
nation years ago there was b. mem
bership Of 10000. On March 81, 1885,
thirty-eight departments reported s, O26
posts and 1853, 6S4 members, while the re-
port OF the adjntant general shows the
membership tos&bes " 2S7, 637. The large
number Of %, 292 reported by the adju-
tant general AZ suspended duriug the year
is due in great measure to negligence and
lnefticiency OF post officers. Our finances
are in excellent condition. We !! have
on hand O.; cashs balance OF $15,224.
The question having been raised Us to
whether the late Comrade DR.. B. F. Ste
yenson OF Springfield, ILL.,, was really the
first mover in the organization ofthe Grand
Army OF the Republic, it is deemed but sim
pie Justice to his memory as well 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 fifty one til oIsand
badges, at d profit Of So, $50. i heartily
endorse the organization known as the Vet
Grams Rights Union, the object OF whichis to
secure to ourcomrades their rights and priv
ilegesunder the revised statutes OF the United
States. The union urges, MS it rightiully may
and ought that when the other qualifica-
lions are equal, the soldier should be pre-
terred because he was soldier. I am op-
posed to the perpetuation. of the Grand
Army, believing the mission OF great
comradeship will have been fulfilled, when
the last eomrade has Joined the last muster!
out: Knowing that there is nothing in the
Grand Army Of the Republic Inconsistent
withmore exacting duty orstrictest religion,
ldeemed it forthe interest of the order to ap-
point q special committee to lay it's nature
and workings before the proper Catholic au.
thorities OF the United States, that they
may know our Organization has nothing to
conceal, and that our purposes are COM
mended by all who understand them, The
committee reported having fulfilled It's mia.
sion report, that assurances had been given
by Afohbishop Ryan and Gibbons that
nothing could be found in the aims Of the
,Grand Army to prevent any good Catholic
rom becoming member. The COM
manderi n-ehiei deprecated .participa-
tion IN politics as an organization, and
urgently advocated the Mexican pension hin
and a bill to grant disabled soldiers a pen
sion from the date OF disability. He also
urged that Decoration day be not desecrat-
eddy recreation and pleasure. The Wom-
ans Relief corps now has twenty-five per-
manent and three provisional departments,
with subordinate corps i'll nearly all the
States where the Grand army exists.
RESOLUTIONS OF sympathy with Gen, Grant
were adopted by unanimous rising vote.
amid great cheering. '-S''
The members OF the G. A. R. spent the day
IN sight seeing, attending clam bakes, etc,
rail- -
At the afternoon session the question OF
q place Tor holding the next annual encamp-
ment came up. San Francisco received 269
votes to .!7S for Louisville. A representa-
tive Of the former city guaranteed that
$lo0, 600 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 j
resolution, was offered providing Tor the
suitable recognition Of Of Dr. BENJAMIN
stephenson, as founder OF the Republic, and
recommending that subscription from the
encampment be requested for the
purpose. "A Resolution adverse to the
consolidation OF the Sons OF Veterans with
The Grand Army was adopted. t<s
It was voted that the next annual en-
campmentA be held some time between
October and May, and recommendation
that memorial day be observed on the
was adopted. The committee to-
which was referred Comrade Loring' resolu-s
ton in favor OF the So per month pension
bill reported adversely and the report was
adopted after protracted debate. The
commando was fauthorized to
appoint q committee to present reso-5
1utions to the heads OF departments
att Washington in behalf OF pension
claimants, "A recommendation that all;
petitions TO congress from posts or pens
sion claimants be sent through the national
OF the GAR, was adopted I;
RESOLUTIONS soi thanks to congress for hav5S
ing placed Glen. Grant on the retired list Of
the army were also adopted.
AroN ofstates was called for ominations
for commander-in-chief and the following
were presented: Il, ii III
q John w Burst of Illinois, Gen. John A.:
Reynolds Of New York, Hon. Samuel s. Bur.
dett Of Wasliinston and Gen. Lucius Fair
child Of Wisconsin. "
Comrade Fairchild withdrew his name,
and the ballofing proceeded. On the sec
ond ballot Burdette received 239, Reynolds
1876, Burst 79, land Mr.. Burdette's election
wasmade unanimous For senior vice COM
mander-in-chief, e1- GOV. Selden Conner OF
Maine was choosenb by acclamation. 70 the
position OF iifrjof vice commandar.in.c
Comrade Lewis Of Atlanta was chosen on the
second ballot. The usual resolutions of
thanks to the various parties, organize
tions and corporations were adopted, al.
ter which the executive session OF the ma
tionA encanpment closed. s$73s FL
The foregoing contains, in substance, the
official proceedings. II would take pages
to give all the details appertaining to the
social side OF the affair, and how the yeter.