The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-18
The Veterans Organization ShoWnTo Be Much
Stronger in Every Respect than at
Any Time in Its History.
Soldiers Condemn Paying Tribute to the
Memory ola Traitor to His Country.
Reports Of Officers and Committees-Action
of the Woman's Relief Corps-Enthusi-
astic Campfire Entertainments.
THE STATE

cOuraging Reports of the Orders Condition.
1t was soldiers day yesterday, and with the
memories of the great conflict which closed
nearly twenty-one years ago came many of the
bravest Of Indiana's veterans to renew the senti-
ment and spirit of that time. The Indiana
Grand Army of the Republic seemed to
have taken on a new life. for it's seventh
annual encampment will be remembered
as one wherein the Indifferent were
aroused to interest, and the interest to enthusi-
asm. What particular spirit moved every part
of the State to increase its delegation with un-
accustomed attendants is not known, but the
fact was apparent that no previous encampment
has brought ont such numbers of the boys
who wore the blue in the long ago.
They responded. too, to every demand to
make the time one of prominence
in the history of the order. and nothing
proved more effective in this way than the
procession from the Grand Hotel to Ma
sonic Hall yesterday morning. In this the local
posts turned out with strong representation to
do the honor of escort to the comrades from a
distance. The march was pursued throughout
the streets heretofore named. and attracted
crowds to the walks to see the men who fought
such fights that were without record until the
years between 81 and '65.
At IL o'clock Masonic Hall was densely packed.
and at that hour the call to order was made,
after which came the ceremony of opening &C
cording to the ritual, Department Chaplain
Blackburn then leading in prayer. Comrade
Closer. Chairman, presented the report
of the committee on credentials. The
call of the roll of officers showed
Chief mastering Officer Wilson and
Past commanders Dudley and Nicar to be 1.-THE
only absentees. The announcement that
Corporal Tanner was in the city was received
with cheers, and Comrades Carnahan. Runyan
and Closer were appointed a committee to es-
cort him to the hall. 1t was recommended by
the council of administration that a committee
be named to whom all resolutions
should be referred without debate, which
recommendation was adopted after some
little opposition. The committee appointed is
composed of comrades r. A. Black, j. L. Fergu-
son, D.. G. Anderson, M. G. Rankin, j. J. Todd
and William Warren. During the reading of the
address of Department Commander Foster,
which followed, Senior vice-commander Miller
WRS CoiiCA ~ tu0 Shdik. OUSb 10 LAX
arose to begin the delivery of his address the ar
rival of Corporal Tanner was annou4ssd, and his
reception was warm indeed. He was accom-
panied by Comrade Pond, of Kansas. Both gen
tlemen gracefully declined making any remarks
at that time, but promised to respond later.
Commander Foster then read his address.
COMMANDER FOSTERS ADDRESS.
The annual address of Comrade David n.
Foster, department commander, was an elaborate
and carefully prepared effort, giving the details
of the duty intrusted to him one year ago. and
showing that he had redeemed the pledge made
one year ago. that he would give to the trust
committed to him all the enthusiasm, ability and
work that was in him. That pledge he mac evil
IDENTIFY endeavord to keep in letter and in spirit.
AT the outset, as he states, he recognized the inn
possibility of equaling the magnificent growth
in numbers which the departments had made un-
der his immediate predecessors, Carnahan and
Nicar, as under their leadership it had reached
the remotest corner of the State, and the mum.
Der of posts had risen to so high a figure that any
further increase seemed hardly within the prob
abilities. A close inspection impressed him with
the belief that his duty lay in the unheroic, hut
necessary. work Of pruning, ripening and solid
flying the growth already made. and to this he
bent his energy. Of this he says:
~ TdplQ ud0 . tu0 luCr6dS0 III mum DcrS
under previous administrations, the thorough
discipline Of the department has been we'll nigh
impossible. In the hope that leniency might
at length induce to soldiery discipline, de-
partment officers had carried, as in good stand
ing, a very large number of posts which had long
since practically ceased to exist. The member
ship of these posts was estimated from quarter
to quarter, usually basing the estimate on the
report last received, which in many instances
dated back a year or more, and was, conse-
nvxA~ Elr n M A. - e
the department reported as in good standing to
national headquarters for the fourth quarter of
the year. 1884, 152 were actually delinquent.
Out of LIZ, 9O9 members reported as in good stand
ing, but IL. 528 were really so. OF the member
ship then reported, 4, 381 was based on estimates
made as have stated, and was, therefore,, to a
very considerable extent fictitious. More than
l30 of the posts of this department. were, by
reason of delinquency, not entitled to represen
taticn in the last encampment. How to get rid
Of this estimated membership Of nearly five
thousand, and how to bring into good and regu-
lar standing this vast number of delinquent
posts without seriously cutting down the re-
ported membership Of the department., was the
problem your department officers at once set to
work to solve"
linquents. and it was decided to appoint an aid
de-camp from each county, lay before him a de-
tailed statement. quarterly, of the standing of
each post. and request him to hold himself re-
sponslDle Tor their future condition at depart
ment headquarters. These aids-de-camp cheer
fully assumed the tasks, and with a thorough
ness that speedily made itself felt. Every posi-
BILE method was made to resuscitate and
reorganize every post that had ever had an
existence or a name; letters by thousands were
written by the commander and his efficient staff,
and 80 effective was this course that by the end
Of the first quarter of 1885 liz of the delinouents
had forwarded their reports and dues and had
been restored to their rights and privileges in
the department.. These reports showed heavy
losses as compared with estimated membership
for the fourth quarter of 1884, aggregating APP
~parently 1000 members by suspension. and but
for a large increase OF new members, by muster,
would have greatly lessened the reported mem
bership. AS it was, the department rid itself
of 3,24l Of its 1881 estimated men,
bers with a loss Of only 4S2. as re-
ported to national headquarters. There
were still forty delinquent posts, with LAO esti-
mated membership. and In the second oparter