The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-19

Generals Grant, Hancock and Mcclellan and that we
tender tenderest sympathies to their respective
hereby detected TO convey to them an appropriate
preston f the sympathy and coincidence OF the
comrades in this department.
The election of officers then coming up Medi-
cal Director Tucker moved that Ave tellers be
appointed TO take their place in front OF the
commander and receive the vote of each district
delegation as it passed in turn by them. To this
comrade Weight objected. and said it would ia
ciltate the matter of voting IL the votes of each
district were collected by the chairman of its
delegation and returned by him to the tellers. In
keeping with this he moved to amend DR.. Tuck
er's motion to that effect After brisk debate
the amendment was adopted. Nomina-
tons for department commander being
called for several districts responded in
turn, evidehcing warm interest in the contest
Each district either had candidate or spiritedly
indorssd one or the other of the nominations
made. Medical Director Tucker, of Cicero,
Ind, led off in behalf of the First district, by
the name of Gil r. Stormont, of Princeton.
This was earnestly seconded by Comrades j. E.
Voorhees, of Post No. /; w. FL. Hart, of Post
No. IS, and j. D. Alexander Before the pro-
ceedings went further, somebody had mo-
ton carried limiting the speeches in the
interest of each candidate to one, and
prohibiting any speech from a. delegate from
the candidates district. Then Comrade J: Il.
Mulkey of Bloomington nominated Gen. Thos.
W. Bennett of Richmond. He said his candi-
times. and in all his long years of dealing with
criminals he has never sent soldier to jail"
Hearty laughter and vigorous applause followed
this sally, which led Comrade j. W. Senior to
second the nomination with a speech equally as
complimentary: A comrade of the Seventh dis
trict nominated John A. M. Cox, of Chapman
Post. OF this city, while comrades of
the Eighth, Ninth, Tenth and Twelfth
districts seconded the candidacy of General
Bennett. The Eleventh district named w. F.
Daily, Of Peru, while the Twelfth and Thirteenth
presented respectively, Col. J. B. Mcdonald. of
Whitley county, and John M. Runyon, of War
saw.
A motion came in at this point to prevent
speeches by candidates, but Comrade Runyon
said he wished to be heard before that was
adopted. He said he had been here several days
but had never asked any one to vote for him. yet
he did not propose to have his mouth closed until
he had chance to withdraw his name. In
doing so, he had the kindliest feeling
for every comrade, and was ready to
extend the right hand of fellowship for he loved
the Grand Army of the Republic beyond any
selfish desire. He was ready to do all he could
to extend its power and influence. and wanted it
to succeed, beyond all things. in the State Of
Indiana; but ne would not consent to be can
didate for commander. Colonel Mcdonald also
insisted on the withdrawal of his name, after
which the ballots were taken up.
han asked permission of the encampment to
have adopted at this time an amendment to the
articles of incorporation. If this was not done
the resolution would have to lay over until next
year, and he could explain why the necessity ex-
listed for immediate action. He then read:
Resolved That the articles of incorporation of the
G.. A. r. monumental committee be amended that
the monument committee be increased from Ave to
ten members
He said the committee ought to have an Of
fon< SC Inw
but ten will be better. During the past two
years all that could be done has been done, but
the time has come when men who made money
during the war, and promised the soldiers every
support should be called upon to contribute. and
| that literally, to the monumental fund. Again.
| it is necessary that the Legislature should be
persistently urged to vote an appropriation, and
in this work it is evident an increased committee
| can do more than the present number.
| Comrade Welsh favored increase of the
| committees membership, but thought it ought
| to be enlarged so as to have one member from
| each Congressional district. He offered this as
an amendment which Comrade McDonal pro-
| posed to amend by having in addition to the Con
| gressional committeeman, FIVE appointed from
| the Seventh district. Comrade Canadian had
no objections to this means of increasing
| the number provided men are APP
| pointed who will do the work. But
! Comrade Davis wanted In any change that
| might be made the present committeeman re-
| tanned. He would not favor any disturbance or
dsarrangement of the present committee. The
| additional committeeman might act in an ad-
| vsory or executive capacity, but the old mem
bers ought to be kept in service Comrade
| Hanna suggested that the increased member
| ship might act in an advisory capacity AS ex-
| ecutives it would entail considerable expense.
| A Comrade-Do you think any one of them
| would want pay3
| not increased" But he favored the original
| amendment as 1t appeared IN the Carnahan mo-
| ton. 1t WAS sought TO have the Davis sugges-
| ton put in as an amendment but this was ruled
out of order It's friends also failed to get it in
| as a substitute. After this the other amend
ments were voted down, and the Carnahan mo-
| ton adopted, with the request that the present
| five on the committee be retained.
| The special committee on the Sons Of Veterans
reported in favor of having division established
in this State in place Of the present provisional
| division, and also recommended that the National
/ Encampment be urged to make the order auxil-
| larry to the G. A. r. The report was adopted
| The tellers then submitted the result of the
| vote for department commander announcing
| that 476 ballots were cast Cf this number Gen
| Thomas W. Bennett received 300 j. A. N. Cox
49, W. F. Daily g. G.. r. Stormont 105 Amidst
vociferous applause General Bennett was de-
clared elected. Comrade Stormont, with an
earnest second from Comrade Daily, moved to
make the election unanimous. which was done
with renewed applause. General Bennett re-.
fused to make a speech, beyond expressing his
heartiest thanks for the honor conferred on him.
He said it was not the time to talk, but he would
| prepare a good speech and peddle it out as he
went around to see the boys He pledged his
energy and loyalty to the order to do his best in
| the performance of his duties
For senior vice commander Comrades Andrew
| Fite. of New Albany, U. D. Cole, of Rushville,
and Frank Swigart. of Logansport, were nomi-
mated. Pending the balloting. the minutes of
| the council of administration were read and ap
| proved. The public interest in the minutes be-
| longs solely to the decision that no posts shall
| be organized where one already exists. except in
| extreme cases. in towns of less than 5000 nhab.
tants, and also to the fact that the bonds of the
treasurers Of the monumental committee aud A.
| O. NJ have been fixed at 10000 each. The sal
| airy Of the latter officer was placed at $3.50 per
| year. and that of the A. A. G. at 5000.
The first ballot for senior vice commander re-
sultng in TO election as follows, Cole S5 Swigart