Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1888-02-16
THE G. A. R.
E. Burd Grubb Elected De-
partment Commander.

General E. Burd Grubb was elected
Department Commander of the Grand
Army of the Republic, over Captain
Charles Merritt, by vote of 337 to 1873,
on Feb. 9th. Owing to the system
by which the department officers are
elected the result of a portion of the
balloting was not know until 8 o'clock
in the evening, notwithstanding the
fact that the machinery of election was
put in motion at 2 o'clock in the after
noon. Fully one-third of the delegates
found it impossible to await the re-
suit. Their ballots did not count for
over half the comrades they voted for
in consequence of no choice resulting
from the first poll. A number of i'm
patient delegates attempted to remedy
this defect, but as the method of elec.
ton is prescribed by the National En-
campment, they could but instruct the
prospective representatives to that
body to use every effort to cure the
evil.
Notwithstanding the urgent des
patch sent to Commander Wheeler
last night in supporto Captain Merritt
the former was unable to reach Tren-
ton yesterday. In his absence Senior
Vice Commander Budd s. Bodine Or
ganized the encampinent. He was
surrounded on the stage by General
Officers James e. Hicks, Samuel n
Rockhill, Charles f. Kirker, Henry c.
Terhue, A. M. Matthews, r. B. Sey-
mour j.. w. Oakley and Rev. William
A. Bronson. In the rear were grouped
the following Past Department Com
manders: r. I'll. Lee, Charles Burrows,
E. w. Davis, John Mueller, Frank D.
Cole, Senator Henry NJ. Nevins, Geo.
w. Gile, Camden's controller Samuel
Hufty, George B. Fielder and Charles
Houghton.
Past Department Commander Davis,
of Newark, seized the first opportunity
and made a ringing speech in nominal
orator and Past Commander Burrows,
who sounded the praises of Captain
Merritt. After fifteen or more eulogis
tic speeches of the respective aspirants.
the other nominations were proceeded
with. 1t was decides not to ballot un
til afternoon, and routine business was
taken up. The effort to limit the
representation of the encampment to
a delegate for every twenty-five of a
Post, supplemented by the acting com
mander and junior commander, failed
A resolution favoring a stipulated daily
compensation by the Government for
everyday of actual service in the army
was referred to the National Encamp-
ment.
There was vigorous work and elec-
pioneering during the noon recess, and
upon the reassembling balloting was
at once begun. The tedium of the
hours which followed until O'Clock
was varied by speechmaking, recita
tions and songs. At this time it was
discovered that the vote resulted in the
election only of commander and chap
lain, DR.. A. Mills, the first colored man
to occupy that position. The fact that
another ballot had to be taken for the
other officers and national delegates
caused dismay, and and there was
general stampede for the street While
the tellers We're preparing for their
new labors General Grubb delivered a
speech of appreciation. 1t was also
decided that in the future the delegates
should attend the encampment pre-
pared for two days session.
1t was late when the second vote
was completed, and resulted as follows:
Senior vice. commander, Joseph NJ
Smith, Post SS; junior, ]. A, Wildrick,
of Warren county; medical director,
Henry Luck; council of administration,
H. R. Havens w. H. Sherman, George
Barrett, Henry Farrier, and r. B. Sey-
mour. The eight annual delegates are:
w. B. E. Miller, J. F. Lovett, E. d.
Parkhurst, H. Nichols, Joseph f. Bray,
J. M Terrill, J. Franklin, w. c. In
graham. Before the Commander left
the encampment hall he appointed H.
L. Hartshorn assistant adjutant gener
al, and Captain G. s. Magrath, of the
Camden Democrat, assistant quarter
master general
Mt. Holly, has twenty of it's little
children burning with scarlet fever.
Four deaths have occurred since the
outbreak. The schools, which were
to have been opened yesterday, will
remain closed for another week by
order of the Board of Health. There
was no Sunday School in Mt. Holly
on Sunday; the Baptist Church, the
Methodist the Catholic, the Presbyter-
ian and St. Andrews all having obeyed
quickly a request of the Board of
Health that the children of the town
should not be called together. For