The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-23
CAPTURED BY 4 FAIR ARMY
The Woman's Relief Corps Takes Pos
session of the Capitol for Day.
The Warning Factions Meet tremendously.
but Three Sets of officers Preside Over
the Conyention-Last Years Work.

ing in at au early hour, and kept coming and go
ing all day. They swarmed through the corridors
and made themselves perfectly At homo in the
haunts OF the statesmen. A majority OF the State
omcers had closed the doors o. their Offices and
remained in safe quarters. and few of the others
retreated gracefully and in good order after a
oriet siege from the fair army. Gov. Gray was at
MS once early in the forenoon, and in short
tlme small detachment from the Woman's Re-
ner Corps were down upon him and m ade him cap
tive He was conveyed to the Assembly hall, in
which the ladies were in session and there he
succeeded in purchasing his liberty with q
speech complimentary to ladies in general and
to the members of the Woman's Relief Corps
Department of Indiana, in particular. Then he
gathered himself together and reiterated to the
gcoernatcrial mansion. leaving the ladies I'M
disputed masters of the field. And it would
nave required a handsome army Of regulars to
have dislodged them. About six or seven hun
dred OF them, members of the various womans
relief corps throughout the State and city, were
assembled in the hall of Representatives, Quite
large number Of ladies were in attendance at
the florists convention In the agricultural de-
partment. and in addition to all these there as
multitude OF them making tours
OF inspeetion about the building.
Ing against the depredations of children. and
the elevator boy looked prematureiy old when s
o'clock came and he was permitted to take his
hand of the lever.
The supreme Court rooms had been assigned
to the Woman's Relief Corps as q convenient
place or meeting, but it required only few
minutes to show that the room was entirely in
adequate for tho purpose. Had the meeting
been open to delegates alone the courtroom
%b ns hav. proved large enough;
were entitled TO admission. and so
many presented themselves that more COM
mooious room became necessary A committee.
accordingly, waited on the Governor. who was in
tho Office below. and explained the situation
Governor Gray then ordered tho Hall of Repre-
sentatives to be opened MP for the meering.
This room proved none too large as the gallery
and lower floor were soon comfortably filed.
The fact that the differences between the two
factions OF the w. r. c. were practically ad-
lustea at the national meeting at ST. Louis Last
September. is generally known. In accordance
with an agreement made at that time the pres
ent meeting is being presided over by Mrs. Kate
of the W. r. c. Mrs. Flora Wulschner, pres
ident of the indianapolis division, and Mrs. Lo-
retta j. Gorsuch, president of the South Bead
division, were seated by the presiding officer
surrounded by their respective stats.
AS soon rs the convention called to order
Governor Gray was conducted toward the plat
form. He was introduced to the society by Mrs.
Sherwood, who explained to him in brief man
ner what the society and Its objects were. She
called attention TO the significance of the fact of
one of the legislative halls OF the State being
nlied by q body of women. Ths Governor made
brief response. welcoming the ladies to Indian
apolis and to the capital of tho State, and said
he hoped the present meeting would be the most
enjoyable they had held. He was
warded by rounds of applause, and was
tended vote of thanks. After he left the room
lime In. 001Ts Ter. snGs against al things mase Gu
only man who has been privileged to attend
any part of the session.
Mrs. Sherwood in the opening address. made
a stirring and impressive appeal to the women
of the Indiana corps unite their forces uni
fly the work. She referred to the work done by
tho Woman's Relief Association during the war.
especially to the careeer of Anna Ella Carroll,
OF Maryland, who owned slaves when the war
broke out, but freed them all, and gave her
money. almost TO the last cent, to the of
the Union soldiers. Not only that, but it was
she who planned tho Ten nessee campaign, as
could be seen by records Wash ngton.
The work OF Clara Barton. president of the
American branch OF the Red Cross Association.
was also alluded to. The Womans RELIEF
Corps, said Mrs. Sherwood, gained it's first in
SEPARATION from the acts of these noble women Of
Mrs. Emma Stark Hampton. OF Detroit presi-
dent of the National w. R. c., was then intro
dueed. and made brief address concerning the
extent of the work. in which she aud they were
all interested. There were, she said, 65, 900
members of w. r. c. societies in the United
States.
Reports were then heard from the president
OF the divisions. Mrs. Wulschner, for the Indi.
annapolis division, said that the year b adj begun
with only twenty one corps, but to that number
or more than had been accomplished in any
other State in the Union. OF that number
teen were established under the supervision
OF Mrs. L. May Wheeler, the able
senior deputy aid of the department. The divis.
Ion had expended during the year $1.O17 68 for
charitable purposes. and 1892 SO had been given
to the various posts for relief purposes. The
division now numbered over g 600 members.
The report of Mrs. Gorsuch, president of the
South Bend division. showed that the year had
been begun with twenty three corps and that
bAan Ha1 he
division now numbered ,022 mem hers. During
the year 81. 096.2 6 had been expended for chart
table purposes. and 1888. IS had been turned over
to posts.
The following message then presented
for adoption, previous to being forwarded to the
encampmsnt of the Grand Army, in session at
Tomlinson Hall
We, tho legal representatives of the Woman's Re.
lief Corps auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Re-
public again renew our promises to do all in cour
charity and loyalty. to which Union heroes stand
pledged; We express anew our determination to
the National womans Relief Corps. and
to this end extend to. the Department. Of
and in whatever work shall be called upon to per-
form, especially pledging to the work Of upbuding
our knightstown Soldiers and Sailors Orp hans Home
and caring for TIE frsndess and orphaned children
coming under Its fostering care The united depart
expended in the relief of veterans their widows and
orphans during the year, s2 o4o:oe and has turned
their children.
We have visited the sick buried the dead comfort
ed the sorrowfng distributed of stores of supply
to personal necessities founded houses for the de
tute and employment for those in need of work. Be-
lieving that the dark clouds lowering DEPART
ment at last and forever dspelled and that the
sunshine Of glowing peace will quicken best en-
srRies ask for ourselves and the order we repre-
sent your continued confidence and support
Yours in F., G. 81 l..
EMMA STARK HAMPTON,
National President
KATE B. SHERWOOD,
National Counselor.
FLORA WULsCHNER,
President Indiapolis Division.
LORETTA j. GoRsUcH,
President South Bend Division.
ARMILLA H. CHENEY.
National Secretary.
The communication was approved. and mes
senger dispatched with il to To mlinson Hall.
The president then appointed a committee on
resolutions, with instructions to report TO NOR
row. The committee consists % Mrs. Sara e.
OF Bloomington; Mrs Kate Stormont.