Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-29

The Women's Relief Corps held its annua
meeting. General Sherman made the las
speech he will ever deliver.
rsPrcrAL TILEGRAN TO THE DIsPArcH.
MILWAUKEE, WIS, August 2S.-Ther'
are at least 100, 600 strangers on the streets
of Milwaukee to-day, but there will be mor'
tomorrow, when the great naval battle
begins. 1t is expected that 10000 will CONT
from Chicago alone, while other points will
swell the total number to 100. 600 to 200, 900
There is no more difficulty about accommo
dstions than could be expected in an event
of such magnitude. The magnificent
weather makes those who are in the various
camps as comfortable as though they were
in hotels.
The formal opening Of the twenty-third
annual encampment took place at 10:lS
o'clock this morning in Westside Turn Hall,
the interior OF which is lavishly decorated.
The delegates number about 75O. At 1O:45
Commander-in-Chief Warner commenced
reading his address. Following is a syn
opsis:
GENERAL WARMERS ADDRESS.
The greatest honor ever conferred upon me
was nv election as Commander-in-Chief of the
Grand Army Of the Republic. In taking the
obligation of the Office fully realized the i'm
porIance of the trust confided to me and then
highly resolved neither by word nor act to do
anything that should drive 4 deserving eomrade
from our ranks, and to do all that in me lay to
strengthen the silver cord of comradeship,
that trust shall ever bind the surviving sold
ier and sailor of the Union Army and Navy one
TO another as brothers tried
The growth of the organization has been
steady and healthy Strong as it is, 1t has
never been, and trust never will be, used for
partisan purposes or to crafty the personal
ambitions of any man OF set of men.
The greatest gain during the year has been in
the Department of Missouri. Eight depart
ments Show a gain in membership in good
Standing SSa q stoSeS as 40 dSSss; %
York L g95; Ohio. zoos; Wisconsin. 2023; Mis-
souri,, 3652: Pennsylvania LAG The net gain
in membership during the year Tin good stand
commend to each department the patriotic
practice of the posts in the Department of New
York of presenting the I'D of February. the
American flag to such schools as are not yet in
possession of one
NO QUESTION OF PENSIONS.
The matter of pensions was reserved by
the Commander for the conclusion of his ad-
dress. He said:
The Committee on Pensions have been una
BILE to make any progress in securing favorable
consideration by Congress of the pension bills
recommended by the Columbus Encampment.
The reason for this failure will be given by the
committee and know that its members are in
no way TO blame The question of pension leg
islation will come before you again for discus
sion and recommendation.
The last encampment, after much discussion.
by practically unanimous vote. recommended
TO Congress service pension bill, and what is
known as the disability pension bill, the latter
having received the repeated approval of pre-
vious encampments. This action was the re-
sulL of compromise, and in my judgment was
as wise as it was just and conservative. 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
Msaukss lRsG ser see C1I1TSS%s I1enSlSOn sgsatSo iSo
Committee on Pensions take your
recommendations to Congress. backed by
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 neither give
sleep to our eyes nor slumber TO our eyelids
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 10 secure pension to its
holder.
'Let the bandholders of the country remem-
Der that the men who rendered their securi-
ties valuable-the men who have ever insisted
that they be paid to the uttermost farthing,
principal and interest, of the money advanced
by them to the State-let them remember that
these men have claims upon the State equal at
least to that of the bondholder.
1--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 do
ing so will not approach those in authority
with bated breath and whispering humble
ness 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.
After General Warmers address, recess
was taken until 2 o'clock.
THE ADJUTANT GENERALS REPORT.
AT the afternoon session the report of Ad-
jutant General Eugene F. Weigel was read.
The following points are taken from it:
At the time Commander Warner assumed
Comprising $3.50 posts, with a total member.
ship in good standing of 36l, ,l49, and now, after
the lapse of year, AZ permanent departments,
san5f SS aPs nes gsaP II COED %
partments, S5l posts and q 4Sl comrades in
good standing. The two new departments are
those of Alabama aud Georgia, whose posts
were formerly included in the Department of
Tennessee.
The total gains during the year by muster.
transfer. reinstatement and from delinquent
reports was SO, $50; the losses by death were
1895 and from other causes s., $50; total of
72O46
Adding the number lost by delinquent re-
ports and the number suspended (who are still
members of the order) to the membership in
good standing. gives total membership as
borne on the rolls June 80. 1889, of 4l0,6S6 to
which should also be added nearly 1000 COM
rades out on transfer cards.
For charity and relief the order spent during
the year s237, ,637, making the total from July /.
1871, 81. .935, ,935.
This afternoon Boston was chosen as the
neyt place of meeting. Saratoga, Indian
apolis and Washington were also nominated,
but Boston received an overwhelming vote.
Speeches in favor of Topeka, Kan, and Los
Angeles, Cal, were made with a view to
future results.