The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-05-02
BANNER DEPARTMENT.
Annual Encampment of the Department Of 0hit
GAR, at DAYTON.

Annual Encampment of the Department Of Ohio,
GAR, at Dayton.
The annual Eucampment of the Department
of Ohio, GAR, was held at Dayton, o., April
"a and %. large crowd was in attendance,
and notwithstanding the pouring rain the
parade, which was held on the morning of the
oath, was large one.
The Encampment was presided over by De-
partment Commander 0'Neall, whose annual
address was received with applause. He rec
commended that the Posts and their members
throughout the State, with their friends, bring
all the influence to bear that they can on the
various Congressman from this State to have a
law passed which will provide for appropria-
tons from the National Treasury to maintain
and support the various soldier institutions in
the State, such as the Soldiers and Sailors
Orphans Home at Xenia and the Soldiers
Home at Sandusky. The recommendation was
received with hearty concurrence of the del
egates present Its object is to relieve the State
of that expense and put it where the soldiers
believe it properly belongs on the Nation. An
other was recommendation to reduce the Pen
sion Examiners of whom there are now three
in every District or County, to one and that
that one be selected from the old soldiers COM
rades who can understand and appreciate the
feelings and needs of their soldier companions.
He recommended the abolition of the $2-a-
month pension, evidently considering it moth
ing substantial, but merely a little pap or
tatfy for some Interior motive, and not ex-
tended as an assistance that is needed and de-
served, and also to abolish the Office of Depart
ment Historian. There was another important
feature of his address-the suggestion or recon-
mendation that law be passed to provide that
in all the asylums for INDECENT soldiers that
the wives of the soldiers be kept and supported
at the Governments expense as we'll as the sol
der. The object in this is obvious, it being to
he fbao Nd hfc fou " tnr
This was also well received.
The report of Asst Adj't-Gen. Holbrook
showed a net increase in the Order during the
year of $500 comrades. There were SO new
Posts organized, which makes total of $50
Posts now in the Department. There is 5000
III the treasury, double the amount reported at
the last Encampment. Ohio is now the Ban
ner Department" having the largest member
ship of any Department in the Order. 1t has,
in round numbers, $4,000 comrades on its rolls.
The contest for the position of Department
Commander was lively one, as all the candi-
dates had strong following Gen. Samuel II.
Hurst, of Chillicothe, was elected on the second
ballot. The other officers chosen are as fol-
lows: S. V. c., w. Stable, of Crestline; ]. V. c.,
c. o. Eddy, of Youngstown; Medical Director,
DR.. ]. NJ. Ayers, of Cincinnati; Chap. Rev.
Frank Mitchell. of Springfield. Council of Adj
ministration, Mcconnell, of Urbana; ]. NJ. Me-
Mullen, of Lebanon; P A. Bowling, of To-
ledo; n. S. Smith, of Columbus, and w, s. Jones,
of Wayerly. Forty-fve delegates and As al
ternates were selected TO attend the National
Encampment to be held at Milwaukee during
the last week in August.
One of the pleasantest features of the En-
campment was the Campfire held on the even
ing Of the 25th. The Opera House, where the
exercises were held. was crowded to the doors
by the veterans and their friends Ex-Pres-
dent Hayes and Gov. Alger, of Michigan, were
the principal speakers. Both comrades received
a perfect ovation. and their addresses were
frequently interrupted by applause.