Omaha daily bee., 1889-08-30
THE NATIONAL ENCAMP MENT
Resolutions to Indorse Tanner Cause
q Red Hot Debate.
CONFIDENCE IN HIS INTEGRITY.
A Substitute Passed Thanking Har.
rison for His Appointment and
Expressing Belief in the f.t
Corporars Honesty.
Sons of Veterans Not Recognized.

Sons of Veterans Not Recognized.
MMwUuKEE, August 29-At this mornings
session of the national encampment OF the
Grand Army the election of officers for the
ensuing year was completed.
DIR. Horace p. Porter, of Kansas, was
chosen surgeon general; w. II. Childers, of
Kentucky, chaplain, and T. j. Lovett, of
New Jersey, vice commander.
The encampment refused to recognize the
Sons Of Veterans as an auxiliary TO the G. A.
Il. because of the disturbing faction in the
former. Instead of giving two womens' or
ganizations the Loyal Ladies of the G. A. Il.
and the Woman's Relief corps, formal in
dorsement which would be contrary to the
rules, it was recommended that the encamp-
ment bid them God speed in their work.
General Ager, president of the Logan
monument fund, reported that the collections
to date aggregated S1l, 100. -
A committee of five was authorized to place
before congress a proposition to set apart a
portion of the $40, 900 appropriated for a site,
to be added to the fund for the monument.
General Warner left the chair and made u
strong appeal for the monument scheme.
The chief event of the day was the red
hot time over resolutions indorsing Pension
Commissioner Tanner. Perkins, Of Kansas,
introduced q resolution heartily thanking the
administration of President Harrison for tn o
honor conferred on the Grand Army in ap-
pointing Corporal Tanner as pension com
missioner and heartily indorsing the latJers
con duct of the bureau and denounciug the
bitter and malignant criticisms of the press
upon his official conduct
General Barnum, of New York, offered a
substitute, to the effect that, notWithstand-
ing the assaults of the unfriendly press, the
encampment declared Its belief in the .in-
tegrity of Tanner and its approval Of his
efforts to do all for the soldiers aud sailors
that the law will allow.
Campbell, of Kansas, agreed with Bar
mum, and said: For fifteen years we have
been declaring and Others have been utter
ing the sentiment that the country can never
pay the debt due to the old soldiers, but Cor
poral Tannerls the first officer that has made
that sentiment practical reality. believe
it the duty of this encampment TO sus-
tain him III working out that sentiment. We
should make our Endorsements strong
enough. If Tanner is dishonest or has done
any criminal act we will find it out when the
investigating committee, now at work,
makes Its report.n
A delegate from Minnesota urged the en-
campment Ito stand up to the rack,n aud
say that the G.. A. r. will stand by Tanner
till something wrong is clearly proven
against him. ls
Another delegate said resolution of con-
fdence like the substitute should provoke no
objection, but w hen it is made matter of
Judgment it becomes a weapon in the hands
of Tanners enemies ut is not his enemies,
but his friends that are Investigating him.
We should not try to force the admnistra-
tion to suspend this investigation. This en-
campment knows nothing of the details of
Tanners work and can not pass judgment
on it, If we pass the original resolution and
the committee of investigation should ex-
onerate him the opposition press would say
II II, .,t., "A l1.,
the G. A. Il. and would have good reason
for it,"
A recess was here taken until p. m.
In the afternoon Barnum's substitute was
redrafted to read as follows:
Resolved, That we thank President
Harrison for the appointment of our COM
rade, James Tanner, as commissioner of pen
sions, and Notwithstanding the assaults
made upon him. wc declare our comulete
confidence in his integrity and our approval
of his endeavors to do all that can be done
under the laws for the veterans of the war.
and in connection with him we ask full
investigation of his admin istration of the
affairs of the pension burea
This was adopted unanimously under
suspension of tue rules.
THE GREAT SHAM BATTLE.
This has been great day for the encamp-
ment as regards crowds. The day trains
brought in about eighty thousand visitors,
mostly from Wisconsin and Illinois, the
great attraction being the night naval battle.
Fully quarter of million people occupied
the beach, and the vast amphitheatre on the
hillside of the lake shore park was packed
with Grand Army men and their wives,
these seats being reserved for them.
The battle was splendid spectacle, being
participated in by about sixty vessels, be-
sides stationary mortar fleet and by about
three thousand infantrymen and artllerymen.
There were fired 10000 rounds of musketry,
and 1000 shells, 1880 rockets and 10000
pounds of fireworks were exploded. The
plan of battle was an attack by the hostile
fieet and the landing OF a marine force, and
a repulse by the shore batteries supported
by infantry. The line of the battle fleet
was led by the United States man-of-war
Michigan and the revenue cutters Andy
johnson and Fessenden.
The signal was given at o'clock, and as if
by magic the whole bay was illuminated and
the spectators could see the animated move
ments of the infGntrymen, artlllerymen and
seamen as they got ready for the conflict.
The darkness succeeded as the line OF battle
fleet gracefully mannuvred, engaging the
short batteries as they passed, and the latter
returning the fire.
1t is splendid spectacle which the specta-
tors now see as tine vessels pour IN their
port fires. Tho land batteries respond.
Guns, mortars and rocket guns discharge
their missiles, and as the feet makes the
circuit the vessels continue To pour in their
raking broadsides and the land batteries
aim their guns at the passing feet until
burning WreCkaBe Is seen HOatlnB ABOUT mere
and there Floating kerosene barrels were
used to bring about this deluson.
After II brisk action, lasting about half an
hour, the brilliant spectacle of Kissing shot
and shell, flaming rockets shooting in every
direction, water witches skipping hither and
thither IN myriad confusion, ceased, and only
the occasional boom of u gun was heard.
Mistaklngly supposing that they had
silenced the shore batteries, the attacking
forces now prepare TO leave in small boats
and complete the victory. But the beeagured
city is not ready to capltulate. The infantry
force that has until now remained in reserve
presses forward on the beach in front of the
batteries ready TO meet the landing force.
AS they pour their steady fire round
after round into the nidsts Of
the approaching boats, the roar
of musketry has superseded the boom of the
canonadlng The arriving party is repulsed
ana retreat in confusion. Two vessels are
so badly disabled that they are blown up
with powder A magnificent pyrotechnic
display followed the battle.
A New Census Officer.