The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-08-29
The Annual Gathering Of the Old
Soldiers at Milwaukee a Pro-
nounced Success.
Statistics Showing How the Order
Has Grown in the Past Year
Its Charities.
Gen. sherman Talks to the Veterans About
Pensions and Soldiers Homes
The women-' Relief Corpse.

third National Encampment was called to
order by Commander-in-Chief Warner this
morning. After prayer by Chaplain Whar-
ton, of the Wisconsin department, and a
brief inteImission, Commander Warner
began to read his address. After eulogiz
ing the G.. A. r. the speaker went into
statistics They show net gain in MEM
bership during the past year of 2, l43. He
commended 10 each department the pstri
otic practice OF the posts in the department
of New York, of presenting on the birth
day of the Father of His Country the
American flag To such public schools as
are not yet in possession of one.
Warner closed his address with a review
of the pension legislation, and said that the
day was not far distant when an honorable
discharge from the union army or navy
shall be all the evidence required to secure
a pension to the holder.
The following points are taken from the
annual report of Adjutant General
Weigles: There are forty-two permanent
departments. with 8 Ill posts and good
standing membership of 4S2,5S9, being a
net gain of two departments, S51 posts and
u, 49l comrades during the past year. The
new departments are those of Alabama
and Georgia For charity and relief the
order has spent during the year S2Se 6SI,
making the total from July j, 1871. Sl,sS5,-
s35.
1t is estimated that 100, 900 strangers are
on the streets, and notwithstanding that
many are leaving for their homes, Milwau-
KEGS guests will number $50, 900 or 200. 900
by the time the naval battle begins to-mor'
row night
Two hundred regimental reunions were
held this afternoon. About 1000 people
gathered at the NatiuDal Soldiers Home
for Disabled Veterans, where the men
passed in review before Gen. Sherman and
party. Gen. Sherman was received with
immense applause and made brief speech,
which he said IL was the lasr he would ever
make. Gen. Sherman said: Boys, my
speaking days are over. L am not going 10
make any more speeches. L am always
glad to see so many soldiers lOokipg hearty
and healthy. i think we can stand on our
legs yet Ike to see that our ell Uncle
Sam takes pretty good care % these old
soldiers. Uncle Sam cannot make old men
/ see Milwaukee is full of
OF them and they are coming out of the
bushes everywhere We h@ye passed
through one crisis Of our couDtfy's history.
| don't see any chance OF aDe her, but no
body knows the future. BRING up your
children 10 love and venerata the old sol
diers who fought in 81 and '65, make them
uncover their heads when they see that
banner that you followed in the days
which tried us to the utmost; let us vener-
ate that flag. and love our country and
love each other and stand by each other as
long as we have heads ON our shoulders
ana legs on our bodies. Those old soldiers
who marched against the enemy In those
trying days a grateful country tries Its
best 10 assist, and will, / think, in fact
am sure, be good to you when you get too
old. But keep young as long as you can
and do not go into a soldiers home If you
can help it."
Extension Commissioner Black and
Secretary of Agriculture Rusk also made
brief remarks.
The annual reunion of the veterans of
the signal corps was held here to-day, and
it elected J. b. Foraker, of Ohio, president.
Boston was chosen as the next place of
meeting of the q. A. X
The report of the pension committee re-
views in detail the work OF the past eight
years. Following the expression OF opIu-
ion by the last national encampment, the
committee prepared two pension bills, q
disability bill and q bill granting pensions
to each hOnorably discharged veteran at
a monthly rate of one cent for each days
service, with minimum Limitation of
eight dollars per month. Bills containing
all of the provisions OF these measures
were then in various forms before commit
tees of congress, but II was found on con-
sultation with the members of last session
that it WIS entirely impossible in
the then state OF public af-
fairs to secure any favorable action
thereon Should the encampment resff1rm
its opinion of year ago these bills are
ready Tor preSeDtatl u 10 OOLn Dfancnes OF
congress at the opening of the session.
From interviews with leading members
of both houses and the cOrdislity and
friendly attitude OF the administration and
the liberal views of the secretary of the in
terror aud commissioner of pensions. the
latter being appointed after eight years OF
faithful service on this committee, legisla.
ton may be had next session which shall
90 far toward the completion of the full
measure of the nations Indebtedness 10
the man who defended her flag.
Very UNEXPECTEDLY the delegates pro
eeeded to the election Of officers tonight.
Gen. Russell A Alger. of Michigan, had
IL all his own way and was elected by ac-
clamatiOn sCol. A. G. Wesser, of Milwau-
kee, was elected senior vice commander.
j. +. Loyett, OF New Jersey. junior vice
commander. The election Of others was
postponed until tomorrow.
The WOmAn's Relief Corps of the Ma
tiOnsl Department held its annual conven-
tiOn to-day. On the rostrum with the pres
ident, Mrs Charity Rusk Craig, were Miss
Clara Barton. of there Cross Association;
Mrs Anna Mittenmeyer, Mrs. Russell A.
AIger and Mrs Gen. Logan. After Mrs.
Logan had spoken briefly Generals Con-
signy, Erwin aud LOngstad presented the
association with a gavel made from the
table on which Gen. Grant worked in the
tannery. The work OF the afternoon was
routine in character.