Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-28
He States the Position of the G.
A. R. on Pensions.
THE GREAT LONDON STRIKE.
Dock Companies Forced to Yield to
the Laborers' Demands.
THE OHIO DEMOCRACY.
Enthusiastic Convention in the
City Of Dayton.

SAoy VI Lay UOA.
THE G. A. r.. ENCAMPMENT.
Beginning Of the Regular Proceedings
in Milwaukee.
coMMANDER-rN-CBIEF WARNER DELIVERS A
LENGTHY AND INTERESTING ADDRESS. SPEAKING
OF THE GROWTH OF THE ORGANIZATION AND IT'S
POSITION ON THE PENSION QUESTION.
MILWAUKEE, WIS, Aug. 2s.-The twenty
third national encampment was called to order
by Commander-in-Chief Warner at l0:15. AZ
ter prayer by Chaplain Wharton of the Wiscon-
sin department and brief intermission to al
low late delegates to seat themselves Com
mander Warner, at 10:45, began to read his ad-
dress:
Commander Warmers Address.
Comrades and Shipmates: am here to give
an account Of my stewardship. The greatest
honor ever conferred upon me was my election
as commander-in-chie of the Grand Army of
the Republic. In taking the obligation OF the
off1ce l fully realized the importance
OF the trust you had confded to
me, and then highly resolved reither 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 trust shall ever bind the
surviving soldiers and sailors Of the Union
army and navy, one to another as brothers
tried.
If at the end Of my term am enabled to
place in the hands of my successor the banner
OF our order Illuminated with the three great
virtues: Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty, my
highest ambition will have been gratifed
The position of commander-in-chief should
fntnra has tho
POSITION to aspire to- which is laudable ambi-
ton; position that will lend additional luster
to any name. however great, if its duties are
we'll performed.
After eulogizing the GAR at length the
commander continued:
''THE GROWTH OF OUR ORGANIZATION
has been steady and healthy. Strong as it 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 depart
ments show gain in membership in good
standing Of i5,S24, distributed as follows:
illinois; 1888; Iowa, 1,41S; Nebraska, 1,7O9;'
Pennsylvania, 1,746; New York, 1895; Ohio,
2,0O3; Wisconsin, 2,023 Missouri, S,652
The net gain in membership during the
year TN good standing) was q, ,43l."
Commander Warner referred briefly to the
reports OF his staff officers, the decisions of
a history Of the GAR. the census of soldiers
and sailors, and then took up the subject Of the
nag and the public schools. He said
Il commend to each department. the patri-
otto practice OF the posts in the department of
New York of presenting on the 22d OF February,
the birthday Of the Father Of His Country, the
American flag to such public schools as are not
yet In possession Of one. Let the children
receive the stars and stripes from the
men who placed their bodies as living wall
between it and those who would tear it down.
The future citizens Of the republic are being
educated in the public schools; the flag of their
country should ever be before them as an
obtect-lesson. From its stars and stripes
LET THEM LEARN THE STORY OF LIBERTY.
as exemplifed in the lives Of Washington, Lin
coin, Grant and the patriotic sons of the repub-
lie, who, by their valor, suffering and death,
rendered the imperishable fame of this
illustrious trio possible. Let them learn
to look upon the American flag, by
angels hands to vaior given with as
look upon the ark of the covenant Let the
5000, 900 Of boys and girls in our elementary
schools be thus imbued with q reverence for
the flag and all it represents Then the future
Of the republic is assured and that flag shall
forever wave o'er the land of the free and the
home Of the brave"
The matter of pensions was reserved by the
commander for the conclusion of his address
Preceding this he alluded gracefully in turn to
topics connected with the Grant college at Mt
McGregor, memorial day observances deaths in
the organization, charity, woman's relief corps,
sons of veterans and military telegraphers.
The conclusion Of the address was as follows:
PENSIONS AND THE GRAND ARMY
"The committee on pensions have been un-
able to make any progress in securing favor
able consideration by Congress of the pension
act recommended by the Columbus encamp-
ment. The reason for this failure will be given
by the committee, and know that it's members
are in no way to blame. The question of PEN
sion legislation will come before you again for
discussion and recommendation.
''Ihe number OF comrades entitled to seats
in this encampment reaches one thousand, the
largest representation ever accredited to an
encampment. A deliberative body 30 large. its
representing all shades Of opinion, it is but
natural that all will not agree in the
discussion, but when the discussion
has closed and the encampment has
acted its action should receive the earnest
support OF every comrade. Without mutual
concessions there would be no legislation. The
voice OF the encampment represents the best
thought and judgment Of the majority and
should become law unto the minority. The
Grand Army Of the Republic has never exer-
cised its full influence in pension lepis-
lation because of division in its ranks
The measures recommended by the national
encampment should not be antagonized by con-
Aicting measures urged by departments or
posts Unity OF action will secure satisfactory
results; divided council win contribute 70 de-
feat.
oUR DEMANDs SHOULD BE RKAsoNABLH AND CON-
sIsTENT.
The last encampment, after much discussion.
by practically unanimous vote, recommended
to Congress a 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
result Of compromise, and, in my judg-
ment, was a. wise it was lust and
conservative. My experience in Congress
leads me to believe that you will greatly
strengthen the hands OF our friends Ia that
body by demanding at Milwaukee the pension
iegisiation asked for at Columbus. Let the
committee on pensions know that your recon-
mendations to Congress are backed by
united Grand Army Of the Republic
and there will be no failure. II
We are true to ourselves before the next en-
campment every comrade disabled by age,
sickness or accident, and the widows and
orphans Of veterans, will be borne on the PEN
sion roll We should neither give sleep TO our
eyes nor slumber to our eyelids until Justice IL
done our comrades.
The service pension win come. The day il
not far distant when an honorable discharge
from the Union army or navy shall be ali the