Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-07-03
yETEls ANS Ar PORTLAND

n
and Other Proceedings. 5# gs# $z.sl 4
Portland, Me-, had its largest crowd afews
days ago. The Grand Army came in l1nex-
3 E,ectedi.y large numbers. On the first day all
day long the measured tramp OF feet 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
co Uhe inauguration OF the nineteenth en-
campnent. Delegations from various parts
O: the Union formed a steady and almost
uninterrupted procession from morning till
night -'-' = - i
On second day the grand procession was
the main feature. 1t had been calculated
that 1t would require two hours for the pro-
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
ln-Chlef kountz was greeted with generous
applause from all sides, and Gen. Logan,
who rode in a carriage with Congressman
Reid, received continuous ovation.
In the evening a reception was tend
cred to Commander-in-Chie Kountz, as
representative OF the body at the
delivered by Gen. Hail. 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 md comrades. Adj
dresses were also made by Gov. Alger OF
Michigan, ex-Gov. Fairchild OF Wisconsin,
Gen. Henry w. Slocum OF New York and
Gen. Logan. Senator Logan prefaced his
remarks with afervent eulogy ofGen. Grant.
Hesaid "Inmy Judgment time has not given
to any people a grander commander ofmen,
greater organizer offorces, O. more magnifi-
cent campaigner [applause], a man
with more ability to execute than U.
5. 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 four years ago there was a mem
bership OF 10000. On March 81, 1885,
thirty eight departments reported 5,026
posts and 26o, 6S4 members, while the re-
port Of the adiutant general shows the
membership to be 2S7, 637. The large
| number OF 54,292 reported by the adu-
! tant general as suspended during the year
is due in a great measure to negligence and
inetticiency OF post officers. Our finances
are in excellent condition. We have
on hand cash balance OF $15, 224.
The question having been raised as to
| whether the late Cornrade Dr.. B. +. Ste
| NCA1ooAI VI Al., "ttS IcclliS OAS
! first mover in the organization Of the 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 thousand
| badges, at a profit OF $500. I heartily
endorse the organization known as the Vet
! eran's Rights Union, the object Of wl,ichis to
secure to our comrades theirrights and priv
! ileges under the revised sta tutes ofthe United
! States. The union urges, as it rightfu}ly may
! and ought, that when the other pualifca-
tions are equal, the soldier should be pre-
| ferred because he was q soldier. / am OPP
| posed to the perpetuation Of the Grand
| Army, believing the mission Of great
comradeship will have been fulfilled when
| the last comrade has joined the last muster
| out. Knowing that there is nothing in the
| Grand Army OF the Republic inconsistent
with more exacting duty OF strictest relig on,
| Ideemeditfor the interest OF the order to APP
point q special committee today its 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 its 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 g. member. The COM
ton in politics as an organization, and
urgently advocated the Mexican 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 t1esecrat-
ed by recrea ton and pleasure. The Wom-
| 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 q unanimous rising vote,
amid great cheering.
The members OF the G. A. r. spent the day
in sight seeing. attending clam balzes, etc,
some in the city and some going out by
rail.
at the afternoon session the question Of
q place for holding the next annual encamp-
ment came up. San Francisco received 269
votes to 178 for Louisville representa-
tive OF the former city guaranteed that
500, 900 would be subscribed for the ell
tertainment OF the veterans.
On the fourth day, at the morning eSec11-
tive session OF the national encampment 4
resolution was offered providing for the
suitable recognition Of of DR.. Ben iamln
Stephenson, as founder OF the RepU bic, and
recommending that q, subscription from the
national encanpment 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 Gonna de Loring 'sresolu.
ton in favor OF the IS per month pension
bill reported adversely and the report was
adopted after a protracted debate. The
commandments 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 all
petitions to congress from posts Or pen.
sion claimants besent through the national
headquar ters OF the G. A. r. was adopted.
Resolutions of thanks to congress for hav.
ing placed Gen. Grant ON the retired list ol
the army were also adopted.
A roll ofstates was called for nomina tions
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.
Comrade Fairchild withdrew his name,
and the balloting proceeded. On the sec.
ond ballot Burdette received 239, Reynolds
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. 10 the
position Of junior vice conmander-ln-chlef
Comrade Lewis of Atlanta was chosen on the
second ballot. The usual resolutions o.
thanks to the various parties, organiza-
tions and corporations were adopted, at
ter which the executive session OF the ma
tional encamp1nent closed
i The foregoing contains, in substance, the
1 official proceedings. 1t would take pages
social side Of the aIa;r pa and how the veter