Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-09-05
THE NATIONAL ENcAMPMENT.

General Russell A. AIger Elected Com
mander-in-Chief.
MILWAUKEE Wis, Aug. 29-The twenty
third National Encampment of the Grand
Army of the Republic was called to order
by Chief Warner at 1915
O'Clock yesterday morning in the West
Side Turner Hall. The interior of the hall
was handsomely decorated.
General Sherman was in attendance and
occupied seat among the Missouri dele
CATION. The hall was filed, the delegates
aggregating about $50 persons, or about
$50 short of the number entitled to seats in
the eucampment.
After prayer by Chaplain Wharton of
the Wisconsin department aud brief in
termssiou to allow delegates TO seat them
selves, Commander Warner read his ad-
dress as follows:
Comrades and Shipmates: I am here to give
an account of my stewardship. The greatest
honor ever conferred upon me was my election
as COmmanGer-in-Chief OF the Grand Army OF
the Republic. In taking the obligation of the
office I fully realized the importance OF the
trust you had cOnfided to me, and then highly
resolved neither by word or act to dc any thing
that would drive q deserving cOmraGe from our
ranks. and TO 90 all that in me lay TO strengthen
the silver cords of comradeship that trust
shall ever bind the surviving soldiers and
sailors of the Union army and navy one to
another as brothers tried.
After eulogizing the G. A. R at length,
the Chief continued:
The growth of our organization has been
steady and healthy. Strong as it is, it has
never been, and trust never will be, used for
partisan purposes or to crafty the personal
ambitions Of any man or set OF men.
The greatest gain during the wear has been in
the Department of Missouri. Eight depart
ments show gain in membership in good
standing of 15.S2i, distributed as follows: Illi-
nols, 1.2S3; Iowa, 1,4lS; Nebraska, LOO; Penn
sylvania, 746; New York, 1895; Ohio, zoos;
Wisconsin, 2O23; Missouri. 3,652. The net gain
in the membership during the year Tin good
standing) was 81, ,43i.
Commander Warner referred briefly to
various unimportant matters and then
said:
1 commend to each department the patriotic
practice of the posts in the department of New
York on presenting on the 22d of February, the
birthday of the father OF his country, the Amer
lean flag 10 such public schools are not yet
in possession Of one. Let the children receive
the stars and stripes from the men who placed
their bodies as a living wall between it and
those who would tear it down. The future cit
izens of the Republic are being educated in the
PuOLlC SOAlOOlS-tllC lldR Vi luclE Country SLOulO
ever be before them as an object lesson. Let
the S,OO0OO0 OF boys and girls in the elementary
schools be thus imbued with reverence for
the flag and all it represents.
The matter of pensions was reserved by
the Commander for the conclusion of his
address, when he said:
The committee on pensions have been unable
to make any progress in securing favorable con-
siderations by Congress of the pension bills
recommended by the Columbus encampmert
The committee is in no way to blame, and the
question of pension legislation will come be-
fore you again for discussion and recommend
alton.
The number OF comrades in this encampment
is so large that it is but natural that all will
not agree in the discussions; but when the dis
cussioR has closed and the encampment has
acted, its action should receive the earnest sup
port Of every comrade. Without mutual con-
cession there would be no legislation. The
Grand Army of the Republic has never exer-
cised its full influence in pension legislation be
cause OF the division in its ranks. The meas
sures recommended by the National encamp-
ment should not be antagonized by conflicting
measures urged by departments or posts.
Our demands should be reasonable and con-
sistent. The last encampment recommended
TO Congress a service pension bill, and what is
known as the Disability Pension Bill My ex-
perience in Congress leads me to believe that
you will greatly strengthen the hands OF our
friends IN that body by demanding at Mil
waukee the pension asked for at Columbus.
Let the Commissioner of Pensions take your
recommendations to Congress backed by
a united Grand Army OF the Republic
and there will be no failure. If we are true
to ourselves before the next encampment every
comrade disabled by age, sickness or accident,
and the widows and orphans of veterans, will be
borne on the pension roll. We should not rest
until justice is done our comrades.
The service pension will come. The day is
not far distant when an honorable discharge
from the Union army or navy shall be all the
evidence required to secure a pension to its
holder.
Let the bondholders OF the country remem-
ber that the men who made their securities
valuable-sO that they were paid, to the utter
most farthing, principal and interest, Of the
money advanced by them to the State-let them
remember that these men have claims upon the
State at least equal TO those of the bondhold-
ers. Let those who inveigh against pen
sions remember that it was the boys
in blue who by trials, su1erings
and death, bequeathed to them the
legacy of liberty and union, insuring to them
and their children the blessings of free institu-
tions under which they enjoy a greater pros
perity, a larger liberty, q higher civilization
anu puTtT CHTlSIldnlly tudu ever DclOTe 6u-
jOyed by people. Let the people remembe.
that to preserve to them these blessings
-Four hundred thousand Of the brave,
Made this, our ransomed SOIL their grave"
We, the survivors Of these men, we who gave
the best years of our lives to our country, will
present our claims to Congress and in doing so
will not approach those in authority. with
bated breath and whispering humbleness," but
as free men we will demand, asking only that
which is just We would rather have the
Nation help our comrades living than erect
monuments to them dead
My countrymen," said an illustrious COM
rade, this is no time TO use the apOthecary's
scale 10 measure the rewards Of the men who
saved the country" The spirit OF these noble
words should govern the legislative and execu-
tive branches OF the Government, that the per-
formance OF the Nation may be equal to her
promise.
Commander Warner finished his address
at 12:30 O'Clock. The encampment then
took a recess until two p. m.
GENERAL ALGER CHOSEN.
MILWAUKEE,, Aug. 29.-Very unexpect-
edly the Grand Army delegates proceeded
TO an election last night General Russell
A. Alger, of Detroit, had it all his own
way. Twenty men nominated him, COL
onel James Sexton, of Chicago, first pre-
senting his name. All the other candi-
dates were then withdrawn and General
Alger was elected by acclamation. Colonel
A. G. Weissert, of Milwaukee, was elected
Senior Vice-Commander and John F.
Lovett, of New Jersey, Junior Vice-Com-
mander. 1t was then after eleven O'Clock
and the election of other officers was post
poned until to-day.
Poisoned by the Elixir.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29.-Last Wednes
day week DR.. Hamilton A. Leach, Of this