The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-08-19


| the Grand Army be requested to procure orders
from the Secretary for the Department Of War and
rom the secretary OF the Navy, permitting the
and navy Of the United States, and also belong to
this organization. TO wear the badge Of the Grand
Army of the Republic while serving in the army
and navy of the United States.
The committee reported Evorably on an APP
| plieatiOn for the reinstatement of Past Depart
ment Commander III. A. Castle, of Minnesota,
and the report was adopted.
The committee reported back the following
resolution, with a recommendation that no ac-
tion be taken:
Whereas II has come TO the knowledge of this
National Encampment that the flag OF our country
has been lowered at half-mast over the Govern
ment Departments at Washington in honor of one
Jacob Thompson of SIississippi; and
Whereas 1t Is well demonstrated by history that
Jacob Thompson was the man who organized and
purchased infected clothing to spread contagious
disc uses through the North and to burn Northern
ciles, thereby involving our soldiers families in
the horrors of uneivilized warfare that appalled, the
Christian world, therefore. be il
ReSotred, By this National Encampment, that to
carry out one OF the trusts of the Grand Army of
the Republic to protect the flag unsullied we can
Thompson or anyone who nided abetted him TO
! inaugurate such unhOy and savage warfare.
COmrade Anderson, of Indiana, moved to
amend the report of the committee by putting
that resolution on its passage, or to substitute
for the report Of the committee the resolution
as read.
CoRP'L TANNER:
i wish sir, that the comrade had not offered this
resolution, and that Jake Thompson had been left
to the powers that are in possession of his spirit
wherever 1t may be but the resolution is here, and
venture to say as long we are to act upon the
question there Is but one thing for to say, and
that is that was an insult to lower the flag Zap
piauseJ nope as IT Is made an issue IN this En-
campment that the Encampment will speak with
no uncertain sound and adopt the resolution.
CoMRADE GOBLIN, OF PENNSYLVANIA:
Commander-in-Chief and comrades: There was
not a member of the committee before whom this
was presented who did not agree in toto with every
word and every sentence expressed, but deprecate
the idea of giving any notice or any consideration
to a man dead in history, dead in infamy as
Jake Thompson is. This Convention has enough
to do to deal with living issues and living
men. IL you want to make question of every
dead man and every dead issue that can be pre-
sented that shocks our sentiments and our souls,
you can consume all our time in that way. agree
with my cOmrade from New York, that II il was
here we should meet il and express sentiments
with no uncertain sound; but yoCr committee de-
sired 10 dispose of it without bringing before the
Convention feeling that IL was dead issue, that
1t stank in the nostrs OF the people the act of
the Secretary of the Interior did, and this Conven-
ton doing itself dishonor by taking any notice
of either the man in whose honor the flag was low
cred or the man who directed il TO be done.
coMRADE KoUNTz, OF OHIO:
The comrade has said what desired to say. A
year ago it was proper. 1t has taken the Grand
Army n long while to take up this subject hope
the recommendation will be sustained
COMRADE VAN DERvooRT, OF NEBRASKA:
If the Grand Army has fault more than
another il Is that IL Is too squeamish in regard
these matters: l believe IN loyalty. Treason is
not dead yet, but lived in that act of lowering the
flag at half-mast for damned and dannable traitor.
i believe that when the old soldiers who wore the
blue and now dignity the badge of the Grand Army
of the Republic that given for faithful service
act like that il Is their duty in order to teach
the children, who know nothing of the matter
themselves. TO stand up and stamp such conduct as
RCpTlhiiC. matter whether upr-
formed by an humble citizen an official high in
the ranks of the officers OF this Republic. believe,
sir IN keeping alive the spirit of loyalty in every
comrade. Treason has not died out, but stalks
abroad in the land. and when the old traitor VINO
was the areh-conspirator OF the Southern Conied-
eTacy repeats his reasonable sentiments with his
pathway strewn with flowers, i believe in the
Grand Army Of the Republic having the manhood
and manliLess to say that the flag shall ever be
raised on high only as an expression OF loyalty I
say we should not only express our protest in
gard to the act, bnt also lowering the flag at half
mast in the city Of Salt Lake while these loyal peo
pie who represent the soldiers OF the Republic,
were passing through there. lAppiause. Let US
speak as we did Ia lSCl not with arms in our hands
not with sabers flashing in the air but with
souls burning with the spirit o. loyalty. Ap-
plause
TIE resolution was adopted by an overwhelm-
ing vote.
Van Dervoort-At this stage of the proceed
ings, let us sing Old John Brown"
Comrade Van Deryoort and the Kansas dele
CATION struck up the song. and the Commander
in-Chief made frantic but intellectual attempt
10 preserve order, keeping time with his gavel
for several minutes, and finally, acknowledging
himself vanquished, surrendered the Conyen-
ton 10 the musicians.
The Committee on the Report of the Quarter
maSter-General, through its Chairman, Jones.
of Nebraska, presented its report that they had
examined the Report of the Quartermaster-
General, and concurTed therein, and commend
ed the officer for the faithful performance of his
duty.
PENSIONS
The Committee on Pensions presented its re-
port as follows:
The Committee Pensions, appointed under
resolution of the National Encampment. respect
fully submit the following report:
During the year your committee has appeared
three times before the Pension Committees of Con-
eralization of the pension laws. One of the most
important measures demanded in the name Of the
Grand Army has become law. IN the increase of
the pensions to widows from 80 to sI2 per month.
In accordance with the nearly unanimous ex-
preston of three successive National Encamp-
ments your committee has urged, with such ear
nestness could command that Congress pro-
vide for placing upon the pension rolls of the Ma
ton every honorahly discharged soldier and sailor
who served during the war against rebellion, who
Is or becomes 65 years of age, and every who is
or may become disabled or in need, without requir-
ing proof that such disability Is in consequence of
or the dependence arising from such service. This
-
poor and the drsabled-for everybody but the absO-
tely well or riclI-and forever close the doors of
the almshouses Of the land against the entrance of
any veteran who gave to the eS>ntry his services
In the hour of her need.
Your committee urged, further, liberal increase
of pensions to the severely disabled; that depend
Cnce of parents should be made present and not
past that pensions to minor children shall be in
creased, and the time during which aid be extend
ed, and that there shall be Just equalization of
bounties. Bill 1856 practically embodying the rec
concentrations of the committee passed the Senate
and Is pending in the House.
The recommendation for an increase OF pensions
TO the severely disabled also passed the Senate and
IS upon the calendar of the House.
During the present session of Congress this Com
mittee addressed to- the Commander-in chief an in
dgnant protest against the proposition to brand the
veterans beggnrs by attaching to pension bills,
and In other species of station, special meas
ure of taxation to provide ~ the payment thereof
Since the organization of this committee other of
its important Recommendations have been engraft-
ed into the pension laws, including the repeal of
that most unjust provision in force for 20 years
quiring the applicant to prove his physical sound
ness at the time of his enlistment.
With but single exception the committee has
received the most courteous treatment from MEM
bers of the two branches of Congress of both the
great political parties. One man alone-Col. Will
liam X. Morrison, Of llinos-cared little for the
plea of the representatives OF soldiers in be-
half of their disabled comrades that he could insult
ingly break OIL n two minutes interview.
After experience in this work of four years
your committee is of the opinion that il Is alike
wise and for the best interests of the veterans
pursue the course marked out by previous National
EncaInpments, and that the Grand Army shall
Of the measures heretofore Endorsed by this En-
campment In favor OF the aged, the poor and the
needy veterans aud that until this IL accomplished
the sick and the well can afford to wait before de-