St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-08-29
WARNER SAYS A FEW WORDS.
The COmmander-in.C EuIo-
giZes the Grand Army.

MILWAUKEE, Wis.,, %. - Aug. Be-
tween 700 and 800 delegates were pres
ent on the ground floor of the West Side
Turner hall this morning when the first
session of the twenty-third national en-
eampment was called to order by Com
mander-in-Chief War ner with the usual
formal ceremonies. 1t took but q little
while for the committee on credentials
to report that all present were entitled
to seats. Then the commander-in-
chief presented lengthy report
reviewing the progress of the Or
der during the past year, and con-
pairing it with previous administrations.
The routine reports of the adjutant
general, surgeon general, judge advo-
cate general were next submitted, and
a special committee of five was ap-
pointed to consider the recommends
tions contained in the various reports
and report to the eneampment. A
large number of resolutions, the ma
jority relating to changes in the pension
laws and to ritual representation in the
encampment, etc, were handed in by
delegates from different encampments,
and referred, without debate, to appro-
pirate committees. Commander-in-
Chief Warmers address was as follows:
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-chief of the
Grand Army of the Republic. In taking the
obligation of the Office fully realized the
importance OF the trust you conhded to ME,
and then highly resolved neither by word nor
act to do anything that should drive de-
serving 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
sE0h9Fs fm ant tried enabled # at to the paea sna Of II bs my
hands of my successor the banner Of
our order, illuminated with the
three great virtues, fraternity, charity,
and loyalty, my highest ambition will have
1n-chief should be in the future, as it has
been in the past, position than which none
is more honorable, a position to aspire to
which is laudable ambition, a position that
will lend additional luster to any name, how
ever great, if its duties are well performed.
After eulogizing the G. A. r. at length
the commander continued:
: The growth of our organization has been
Slcduy duo uCdltuy. CbtOLS dS IL lS u udS
never been, and l trust never will, be used
for partisan purposes or to crafty the per-
sonal 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 1924, dittributed as follows:
Illinois, 1888: Iowa. lab; Nebraska,
I.7O9; Pennsylyania, LAG; New York.
1895; Ohio, zoos; Wisconsin, 2,O23; Mis-
souri,, 1862. The net gain in membership
Gr,rin lin pnO6 ciapGinUl
21,4 ,431.
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 patri-
otic 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
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 object lesson. From
its stars and stripes let them learn the
story of liberty as exempliied in the lives of
Washington, Lincoln, Grant and the patriotic
SONS Of the republic, who, by. their valor,
suffering and death, rendered the imperish-
able fame Of this illustrious trio possible
Let them learn to look upon the American
flag "by angelic hands to valor given,' with
as much reverence as did the lsraelites look
upon the Ark of the Covenant. Let the
5000, 900 Of boys and girls in our element
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 Mount Nc
GregOr, Memorial day observance.
WOmen's Relief corps, Sons of Veterans
ciuSiOn of the address was as follows:
The committee on pensions has been un-
able to make any progress in securing favor
able consideration by congress of the pen
sion bills recommended by the Columbus
encampment. The reason for this failure
that its members are in no way to blame.
The question of pension legisla ION will come
before you again for discussion and recon-
mendation. The number of comrades en- IT,
lieu 10 seatS III ILLS HCdupiueHt reaches
/ 900, the largest representation ever accred-
tied to an encampment. 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 discus
sion has closed and the encampment has
acted its action should receive the earnest
support of every comrade. Without mutual
concessions there would be no legisla-
tion. The voice of the eneampment
represents the best thought and judg-
ment of the majority and should
Army of the Republic has never exercised
its full influence in pension legislation be-
cause of division in its ranks The measures
recommended by the national encampment
should not be antagonized by conflicting
measures, urged by departments or posts.