The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-08-30
They Do Not Succeed in Giving
Him the Boom He Had
Expected.
What He Has Done for the Soldiers
Appreciated, but They Want an
Investigation.
Thousands OF People Visit Milwaukee te
Witness the Magnificent shan
Naval Battle AT Night

MILWAUKEE, Aug. 29.-Atthe morning
session of the national encampment the
election Of officers was completed. DT.
Horace p. Porter, of Kansas, was chosen
surgeOn-generAl; 1. J. LOvett, of New Jer-
sey, junior vice-commancer. The eneAmp-
ment refused to recognize the Sons Of Vet
erans as an auxiliary to the G. A. R be-
cause Of disturbing faction In the former.
Instead of giving the two women's organ
izatiOn, the Loyal Ladies of the G. A. R
and the Woman's Relief Corps, a forma !
endorsement, which would be contrary to
the rules, it was recommended that the en-
campment bid them God speed in n cir
work.
The chief event of the day was the red
hot time over the resolutions tndOrsing Pen
sion Commissioner Tanner. Perkins,
Kansas, introduced q resolution thanking
the administration Of President Harrison
for the honor it has conferred on the Grand
Army in appointing Corporal Tanner as
lily indorsing the lstter's cOndu ct
of the bureau. aud denOuncing
the bitter and malignant criticisms of the
press upOn his official conduct Gen Bar
mum, of New York, offered q substitute %
the effect that notwithstanding the assaults
of an unfriendly press, the encampment
declared its belief In the integrity Of Tan
ner and its approval Of his efforts 70 do all
will allow. Campbell, Of Kansas, agreed
with Barnum and said: "FOr fftren years
we have been declaring and others have
been utteTing the sentiment that
debt due to the old soldiers
but Corporal Tanner is the first officer tha
has made that sentiment practical real
ity. | believe it the duty of this encamp-
ment to sustain him in working out that
sentiment We should make our endorse
ment strong enough; II Tanner is dishon-
est or has done any criminal act
we will find IL out when the
makes its report" A delegate from Min
nesota urged the encampment TO stand up
TO tie rack and say THAI the G.. A K. VII
stand by Tanner till something Is clearly
proved against him. Another delegate
said Tanner was worthy II confidence,
and the substitute should pr woke no oppO-
sitlOn, but when IL is made a matter OF
Judgment it becomes club in the hands o.
Tanners enemies. It 10 not his enerne ees,
but his friends. that are Investigating him
We should not try and force the admins
tratiOn 10 suspend this investigation This
encampment knows nothing Of the details
OF OF. lam Tanners work, and cannot pass
the original resolution and ths eou-
mIttee of Investigation should exonerate
him, the opposition press would say the
administration did not dare oppose the G.
A. X, and would have good reason Tor IL.
A recess was here taken until 3 p. III
In the afternoon BarDums substitute
was redratted TO read as follows. THAT
we thank President Harrison for the au-
pointment of our cOmrade, James Tanner
as commissioner Of pensions, and nOtwith-
standing the assaults made upon him We
declare our complete confidence in his. in
tegTify and our approval of hts e1deavOT
10 DO all that be can under the laws for
veterans OF the war, and IN connection
with him we ask full investigation Of the
administration of affairs of the pension bu-
reau- This was adopted unanimously un-
q = suspension of the rules,
This has been a great dsy for the en-
campment, as regards crowds The day
trains brought in about 80. 900 visitors
mostly from Wisconsin and Illinois. the
great attraction being the night naval hat
Tie. fully a quarter of q million of peopIe
occupied the beach and vast amphitheafre
on the hillside shore. The park VTas
packed with g. A. X. men and their v,iveE
these seats being reserved for them. 'rhe
battle was splendid spectacle, being par-
uclDated IN by sixty sessels, besides a sta
uonary mortar fleet, and by about
three thousand infantry and Artiilerymen-
There were fred 10 600 rounds of mus
Ketry, 5000 shells T. 800 rockets and %. OOC
pounds of fireworks. The plan of battle
was an attack by hostile feet and the
landing OF marine force and a reDulse by
the shore batteries, supported by infentrY.
The line of battle feet was led by the
United States man-of-war Michigan and
the revenue cutters Andy johnson and
Fessenden.