New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1889-09-04
COMMANDER A.LGER.
comprehensive and Patriotic Ad-
dresses by COMMANDMENTS Chief
Warner.
Ten. Sherman Talks to the Old Vet
Grams in the National Soldiers
Home.

MILWAUKEE, Aug. 28.-Very unexpectedly
the Grand Army delegates proceeded to an
election of officers tonight Gen. Russell A.
Aiger of Detroit had it all his own way
twenty men nominated him, Col. James Sex
ton Oh Chicago first presenting his name All
the other candidates were then withdrawn,
ana Gen. Alger was elected by reclamation.
tGoi. A G. Weissert of Milwaukee was elected
senior vice commander, and John F. Lovett
OF New Jersey junior vice. 1t was then
after IL o'clock, and the election of other
officers was postponed till tomorrow.
1t is estimated that there were 100000
strangers on the streets to-day. and that,
Notwithstanding many are leaving for their
homes, Mllwaukee's guests will mum be- from
100000 to 100000 by the time the naval
cattle begins tomorrow night The session
g being held at the West Side Turner hall,
she interior of which appropriately deco
'ated. Ger. Sherman is in attendance and oc-
supies seat among the Missouri delegation.
The hall is well filled, The delegates aggre-
eating about seven hundred and fifty pei
sons, or about two hundred and fifty short of
the total number entitled to seats in the en-
5anpment The twenty-third national
sncampment was called to order by Com
nander-in Chief Warner. After prayer oy
chaplain Wharton, OF the Wisconsin depart
nent, Commander Warner began to read his
address:
Comrades and Shipmates: am here to give an
account OF my stewardship. The greatest honor
aver conferred upon me was my election as COM
nander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Re-
public. In taking the obligation of the Office
July realized the Importance of the trust YOU
aad oonfded to me- and then highly resolved
neither by word nor act to do anything that
should drive deserving comrade from our
ranks, and to do all that in me lay to
strengthen the silver chords of comradeship
that l trust shall ever bind the surviving SOL
Hers and sailors of the Union ARMY and navy,
one to another, as brothers tried. II at the end
Of my term I am enabled to place in the hands
d my successor the bonner OF our order illum-
mated with the three great virtues fraternity,
charity and loyalty, my highest ambition will
nave been grat1tied.
After euIogiZing the G. A. R. at length the
commander continued:
The growth of our organization has been
steady and healthy. Strong 1t 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 year has been in the department of
Missouri Eight departments show gain in
membership in good standing of 1884. dis
srlbutcd as follows: Illinois, 1888; Iowa,
1,I3; Nebraska. 100: Pennsylvania, 1.746;
2,O23; Missouri. 1852. The net gain in mem
21.43l.
Commander Warner referred briefly to the
reports of his staff officers, the decisions of
the judge advocate general, The completion
of history of the G.. A. R., the census of
soldiers and sailors, and then took up the
subject of the flag and the public schools.
He said:
commend to each department the patriotic
practice Of the posts in the department
OF New York of presenting on the 22d
OF His Country, the American flag to such
pnblic schools as are not in possession
of one. Let the children receive the stars and
stripes from the men who placed their bodies
living wall between it and those Who would
tear it down.
THE MATTER OF PENSIONS
was reserved by the commander for the con-
clusion of his address. Preceding this, he
alluded gracefully in turn to topics con-
nected with the Grant college at Mount Nc
Gregnr, Memorial day observance, deaths in
She organization, charity, Woman's Relief
corps Sons OF Veterans and military teleg-
raphers. The conclusion of the address
was as follows:
The committee on pensions have been unable
TO make any progress in securing favorable con-
sIderatiOn by congress of the pension bill rec
commended by the Columbus encampment. The
reason for this failure will be given by the COM
xnittee, and I know that its members are in no.
way to blame. The question of pension legisla-
ti0n Will come before you again for discussion
and recommendation. The number of comrades
entitled to seats in this encampment reaches
1000, the largest representation ever accredited
to e1lcam pment- a deliberative body SO large,
its members coming from all parts of the Union,
representing all shades OF opinion, it is but nat
ural that all will not agree in the discussion, but
when the discussion has closed and the encamp-
ulent has acted. it's action should receive the
earnest support of every comrade. Without
mutual concessions there would be legisla-
tion. The voice OF the encampment represent
the best thought and Judgment of the majority,
and should become law unto the minority.
The Grand ARMY OF the Republic has never ex-
ercised its full influence in pension legislation,
because o. division in its ranks.
THE MEASURES RECOMMENDED
by the national encampment should not be an
tagonized by conflicting measures urged by de-
partments or posts. Unity of action will secure
satisfactory results; divided council will con-
tribute to defeat. Our demands should be
reasonable and consistent The last encamp-
nent, after much discussion, by prac-
Gically unanimous vote recommended to
congress a service pension bill and
what is known as the disability pension
prevail of previous encampments. This action
was the result OF compromise, and in my judy
ment was as wise as it was just and conserva-
tive. My experience in congress leads me to be-
Iieve that you will greatly strengthen the hands
OF our friends in that body by demanding at
Milwaukee the pension legislation asked for at
columbus Let the committee on pensions
take your recommendations to congress, backed
by 8 united Grand Army OF the Republic and
selves, before the next encampment every COM
rade disabled by age, sickness or accident, and
the widows and orphans of veterans will be
borne on the pension rolls. We should neither
give sleep to our eyes nor slumber to our eyelids
till justice is done comrades. The serv.
ice pension will come. The day is not far dis
1aut when an honorable discharge from
the Union army Or navy shall be all tht
evidence required to secure pension to It's
holder. Let the bondholders OF the country re-
member that the men who rendered their secur.
flies vauable-the men who have insisted tina
: they be paid to the uttermost farthing, princi
& pal and interest of the money advanced by then
TO the state-let them remember that these mer
have claims upon the state equal at least to tina
OF the bondholder. Let those who lnveigl
against pensions remember that it was
THE BOYS IN BLUE
who by their trials, suffering and death be
aueathed to them the legacy OF liberty ant
union, insuring to them and their children th
blessings of free institutions under which the,
enjoy greater prosperity, larger liberty, highe
civilization and purer Christianity than eve
before enjoyed by people Let the peopl