The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1885-07-02
VETERANS AT PORTLAND.
Meeting Of the Grand Army Of the Rspub-
lio-An Immense CrOwd-PEOcosSiOn
and Other PrOcee dlngs.

li.-An Immense Crowd-Processiol,
and Other Proceedings.
Portland, Me-, had it's largest crowd few
days ago. The Grand Army came in unex-
pectedly large numbers. On the first day all
day long the measured tramp OBJECT through,
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 en-
campment. Delegations from various parts
OF the Union formed q steady and almost
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
line place the figures at $4,000,
OF which number 10000 wore the
uniform OF the Grand Army. Commander
applause from all sides, and Gen. Logan,
who rode in a carriage with Congressman
keld, received continuous ovation.
In the evening a reception was tend
cred to Chief Kountz, as
representative OF the body at the
city hall. Addresses of welcome were
delivered by Gen. Hall, department
commander OF Maine; by Gov. Robe, who
also paid Il tribute to Gen. Grant, and by
Mayor Deering. Commander Kountz replied
on behalf of himself and comrades. Ad-
Michigan, cXGov. Fairchild of Wisconsin,
Gen. Henry W. Slocum OF New York and
Gen. Logan. Senator Logan prefaced his
remarks: with Il fervent eulogy ofGen. Grant.
Hesaid: 'Inmy judgment time has not given
toAny people Il srander commander OF men,
aLSfeatcr organizer offorces, a more magnifi-
cent campuigncr [applause] man
With more ability to execute than U.
S. Grant. For this country he has
done as much us any man that ever lived
has ever done for any country"
Ell his annual address. He said:
That four years ago there was a men,
bci~hip OF 10000. On March 81, 1885,
'hirty-eight departments reported 5,O26
posts and 2G9, 6S4 members, while the re-
port OF the adjutant general shows the
membership to be 2S7,6 The large
number OF 81, 292 reported by the adiu-
tant general as suspended duriug the year
is due in a great measure to negligence and
ineiiiciency Of post officers. Our finances
are in excellent condition. We have
on hand II cash balance of $15,224.
The question having been raised as to
whether the late Comrade DR.. B. +. Ste
rcnson OF Springfield ILL.,, was really the
first mover in the organization Of the Grand
Army OF the Republic, it is deemed but sim
pie Justice to his memory as 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 fifty one thousand
badges, at a profit Of $1,000. 1 heartily
endorse the organization known rs the Vet
eran's Rights Union, the object Of which is to
secure to ourcomraGcs their rights and priv
;legcs under the revised sta tutes OF the United
States. The union urges, as it rig htfully may
and ought, that when the other qualifca-
tions are equal, the soldier should be pre-
terrcd because he was a soldier. l am op-
posed to the perprtuation of the Grand
Army, believing the mission OF great
comradeship will have been fulfilled when
the last comradc has joined the last muster
out. knowing that there is nothing in the
Grand Army OF the Republic inconsistent
with moro exacting duty orstrictest religion,
ldecmcd Tor the interest Ui the order to APP
point Il special committee to lay it's nature
and workings before the proper Catholic au-
thoritics OF the United States, that they
may know our Orga nization has nothing to
conceal, and that our purposes are COM
mended by all who understand them The
committee reported having fulfilled it's mis-
oAoAA
by Archbishop Ryan and Gibbons that
nothing could be found in the aims OF the
Grand Army to prevent any good Catholic
from becoming Il member. The COM
mander-in-chef deprecated participa-
ton in politics as an organization, and
urgently advocated the Mexica n pension bill
and a bill to grant disabled soldiers a pen
sion from the date OF disability He also
urged that Decoration day be not ,iesecrat-
nfl roe fIs,p, ,,,1,
ans Relief corps now has twenty two 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
place for holding the next encamp-
ment came up. San Francisco received 269
votes to ITS for Louisville. A representa-
tive OF the former city guaranteed that
500, 900 would be subscribed for the en-
tertainment of the veterans
On the fourth day, at the morning execll-
tive session OF the national encampment a
resolution was offered providing for the
Stephenson, as founder OF the Republic, and
recommending that a subscription from the
national encampment be requested for the
purpose. a Resolution adverse to the
consolidation OF the Sons OF Veterans with
| the Grand Army was adopted.
It was voted that the next annual en-
campment be held some time between
| October and May, and a recommendation
that memorial day be observed on the
| Sabbath was adopted. The committee to
which Was referred Comrade Loring' s resol,,-
ton in favor OF the IS per month pension
bill reported adversely and the report was
adopted after protracted debate. The
commander-in-chief was authorized to
appoint a committee to present reso.
lutions to the heads OF departments
ut Washington in behalf OF pension
claimants. A recommendation that all
petitions to congress from posts or pen!
sion claimants be sent through the national
headquarters OF the G. A. r. was adopted
ing placed Gen. Grant On the retired list oI
the army were also adopted.
A roll ofstates was called for r OminatiOns
/ for commander-in-chief and the following
candidates were presented:
John w. Burst of Illinois, Gen. John A
Reynolds OF New York, Hon. Samuel s. Bur
dett of Washington and Gen. Lucius Fair
child OF Wisconsin,. q:
| Comrade Fairchild Withdrew his name
and the balloting proceeded. On the SEQ
ond ballot Burdette received 239, Reynolds
1876, Burst 70, and Mr.. Burdette's election
was made unanimous. For senior vice com
marGer-in-, chief, ex-Gov. Seldcn Connor o.
Maine wag choosen by acclamation: TO the
position OF junior vice commandur-in-chie
Comrade Lewis OF Atlanta. was chosen on the
second ballot. The usual resolutions d
thanks to the various parties, organiza
tons and corporations were adopted, AT
ter which the executive session Of the ma
tional encampmcnt closed.
The foregoing contains in substance, thu
official proceedings. u would take pages
to give all the details appertaanina &c tn.
social side OF the affair, and how the vetcr
zlls amused themselves. Those who have
attended iheee en'campments may easily
imagine tho Wllol.,
Daring Exploit of Cowboys.
( traveller on the Northern Pacific reports
the following thrilling incident: When thu
train stopped at MeGOrn, Montana, tn,