The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-09-07


about $50 short OF tho number entitled to seats
| in the Encampment.
Very unexpectedly the Grand Army delegates
proceeded to an election of officers tonight.
General Russell A. Aigcr of Detroit had 1t all
his own way. Twenty men nominated him,
Colonel Jas. Sexton, of Chicago, first presenting
his name. All the other candidates were then
Withdrawn and General Alger was elected by
reclamation. Colonel A. G. Weisscrt, OF Mil
waukee, was elected Senior Vice Commander,
and John +. Lovett, OF New Jersey, Junior
Vice. 1t was then after II o'clock, and the
election Of officers was postponed till tonor-
row. -
Retiring Commander Chief Warner, nd
dressed the veterans, and said: 81 am hero to
give an account OF my stewardship Tho great
est honor ever conferred upon me was my Cleo
tion as Commander In Chief of the Grand Army
OF the Republic. In taking the obligation OF
the of1icc fully realized the Importance OF the
trust you had conflded to me, and then highly
resolved neither by word nor act to do any
thing that should drive q deserving comrade
from our ranks, and do all that in me lay to
strengthen the silver chords CT comradeshlp
that trust shall ever bind the surviving SOL
diers and sailors OF the Union nrmy and navy
one to another as brothers tried.
1.-The position OF Commanderin-chicfsh should
be in the future as IL has been in the past po-
sition than which none is more honorable, q
position to aspire to which is laudable amb.
ton; a position that will lend additional lustcr
TO any name, however great, II the duties are
well performed"
After eulogizing tho @. A. r. ut length the
Commander continued: 1.-THE growth Of our
organization has been steady and healthy.
Strong as II is, 1t 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 u gam In membership In good
standing OF 15sai, distributed as follows:
Illinois 1,aS2, Iowa 1 41s. Nebraska T09, Penn
sylvania I,746. New York 1895 Ohio s,0o3,
Wisconsin 2023, Missouri 3,Gje. The net gain
in membership during the year lin good stand
ing) was 21,43i
II commend to each department the patriotic
practice of the Posts in the Department OF New
York. of presenting, on the 2!d OF February, the
birthday of the Father OF his country, the
American flag to such public schools rs are not
yet in possession OF one. Lot the chileren re-
ceivc the stars and stripes from the men who
placed Their bodies as living wall between it
and those who would tear IL down. The future
citizens OF the Republic are being educated in
the public schools-thc flag OF their country
should ever be before them rs an object lesson.
From its stars and stripes let them learn the
story OF liberty US cxcmplifled In the lives OF
Washington, Lincoln, Grant and the patriotic
sons OF the Republic who. by their valor, suffer.
ing and death, rendered the imperishaplc fame
OF this iustrious trio possible. Let them
learn to look upon the American flag, by an.
gels hands to valor given with as much rev.
erence as did the Israelitcs look upon the ark
of the covenant. Let the eight millions of boys
and girls In our elementary schools be thus Inn
bued with o reverence for the flag and all II
represents. Then the future OF the Republic is
assured, and that nag shall forever wave DER
the land OF tho free and the home OF the
braye.''
The conclusion OF the address was as follows:
1.-The Committee on Pensions have been un.
able to mako any progress in securing favorable
consideration by Congress OF the pension bills
recommended by the Columbus Encampmcnt.
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.
1.-THE number OF comrades entitled to seats in
this encampment reaches one thousand, the
largest representation over accredited to en-.
campment-a deliberative body SO large, its
members coming from all parts of the Union,
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 en-
campment has acted, its action should receive
the earnest support OF every comrade. with
out mutual cohoussions there would be no lcgis.
!auon The voice OF the encampment re pre-.
sents the best thought and judgment OF the
majority, and should become law unto the
minority.
'"The last Encampment after much discus
sion, by practically unanimous vote, recon-
mended to Congress u service pension bill, and
what is known as tho disability pension bill,
tho latter having received the repeated APP
proval OF previous Encampments. This ac-
ton was the result of compromise, and in my
Judgment was US wise as II was just and con-
servative. Ny experience in Congress leads
49, ..,tl a..
on the hands of our friends in that body
by demanding NJ Milwaukee, the pen
sion legislation asked for at Columbus. Let the
Committee on Pensions take your recommenda'
tions, to Congress. backed by united Grand
Army Of the Republic, and there will be no fail
ure. II we are true to ourselves, before tho
next Encampment every comrace 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 10 done
our comradeS."