Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-12
lrRoM A STAFF coRREsPoEDExT. l

three times during the day. To-day the
meetings were full of solid business. When
Department Commander Stewards gavel
iell at $50 A. M. the Opera House stage was
occupied by veteran dignitaries from various
parts of the State.
Major E. A Montooth was there, fanked
by Chill Hazard, who is still in the field
for Lieutenant Governor. General Alger,
Of Michigan, the National Commander, did
not arrive until after noon.
The strength of this department Of the
Grand Army has increased II posts and
2,7S3 comrades during the year just closed,
making the grand total 569 posts with a, ,6l3
comrades. Two posts had disbanded during
the year,
COMRADES GONE BEFORE.
The mortuary list for the year contains
625 names, including Past Commander
Samuel Harper, Past Senior Vice Com
mander W. R. Jones, Past Junior Vice
Commander George r. Hart and Past Com
mander-in-Chief John f. Hartranft, each of
which was briefly eulogized in Commander
Stewards report. The calsmities at Johns
town and other points in the State are
treated at considerable length. A relief
fund of go, 900 was collected, of which the
Department Of Pennsylvania contributed
$9,527.
The women's Relief Corps and the la
dies Of the Grand Army of the Republic are
complimented for the work accomplished
and the status of the Soldiers and Sailors
Home at Erie, the Memorial Home
and the Soldiers Orphan school
given, showing a satisfactory condition Of
their affairs. Upon the subject of legisls-
tion the act making it unlawful for anyone
not q member using the G. A. r. badge and
the appropriation of $4,000 for q free war
library was referred to and it was stated
that the G. A. r. would be expected to
raise s., 1000.
DEEEIsToN IS CHOSEN.
Major Joseph f. Denniston, of Pittsburg,
was elected Department Commander. He
was nominated by W. J. Patterson, of ]. c.
Hull Post 157, of Pittsburg. Mr.. Patterson
spoke for ten minutes, giving brief account
of Major Denniston's civil and military
career. The nomination was seconded by
G. Harry Davis, of Philadelphia, who paid
the Major a fisttering compliment on behalf
OF the Quaker City, speaking of the sterling
qualities OF past commanders who came
from the Natural Gas city. Major Dennis
ton came forward and in q few words &C
cepted the high Office, promising to FL its
duties to the best of his ability.
An enormous crowd filed the Opera
House tonight to participate in the camp
fire. General Alger. OF Michigan, got con-
siderable applause when he entered upon |
the stage, but, when the brass band came
out. it got more, and finally Chill Hazard,
of MonongahelA City, appearing, won de-
cidedly greater reception than either the
brass band or Alger.
HAzzARD AS A HUMoRIsT.
Hazard was master of ceremonies this
evening, and he sustained his reputation as
speaker, be told some story about him which
generally turned out to be false. The result
was that, before the night was over, the
speakers all combined to get even with Chill.
General Alger's speech, as delivered, was
very tame. He said that the claim of Penn
sylvania soldiers that they put down the re-
bellion met him at every turn. 1t reminded
him of the little girl who had heard her
father boast so much of his war record that
finally after hearing him tell the story 80
times, she asked: "Papa, did any one help
you to put down the rebellion?" However,
the General admitted that the PENNSYLVANIA |
department is now the banner division of |
the Grand Army.
A SPECIFIC DENIAL.
He denied that the Grand Army was a
United States Treasury wrecker, but said |
the Government could place the whole |
treasury in che hands of the order and it |
would be guarded as sscredly as was the |
trust given them in the days OF 1861. The |
soldier must have his just dues, and he is |
now asking the Government for them in
tones that cannot be mistaken.
Then a little later, General Goblin, of |
Lebanon county, in q speech full of |
uTv, 81
ablaze when wheeling around and pointing |
first southwark, and then at General Alger, |
he said: "0n the hilltops of Shamokin |
you could almost hear the cannons of |
Gettysburg. Alger was there, and he there |
led charge, riding behind Custer and yell |
ing, Come on, you wolverines, come, and |
it was this same Alger who discovered that |
in Phil Sheridan which raised him from a |
q quartermaster to the leader of men that he |
became. Aye, that was honor enough for
life time"
A GENUINE OVATION.
iThen the ovation for Alger came. 1t was
q little tardY, but it was grand. Continuing
General Goblin referred to the cry so often
heard among young men that the old soldier
is wanting too much. He ABLY defended the |
rights OF the veterans, and demanded pen.
sions unstinted.
Mrs. Annie Whitteumyer, the famous
army nurse, and now head Of the Womau's
Relief Corps of PENNSYLVANIA. as we'll as
late President of the National Relief Corps.
made statement of the founding bv the
women's corps this year of a State Home At
Brookville for old soldiers and their wives.
They bought the house as it stands fur
nished elegantly throughout, with 40 acres
There had been proposition
to take down the costly lace curtains. but
she prevented it, saying that the men who
had looked through the smoke of battle.
now had the right to look through lace cur.
tains. Beside this big enterprise the State
women have spent this year SIS, 900 in gen
srsl charity.
ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND STRONG
The national corps which Mrs. Whitten-
myer represents now numbers nearly 100. 600
members. and before the close of the year
will have al its command s., ,0O0, 900 for
sharity, sand it is only seven years old,'
Mrs. Whittenmyer.
Rev. Colonel Danks, of Pittsburg, was
called out for song. A hundred voices
yelled out for "The Blue" He sang it to
them in his rich tenor, and every stanza
won him an ovation. He had to give in to
an encore.
Major Montooth modestly sat with the
boys during the evening, and Major Den
niston was not present at all remaining at
his hotel on account Of the cold. During
The afternoon State Chaplain Sayers and
Senior Vice Commander oster, OF Shamo-
kin, were elected by reclamation. In all
)ther offices several ballots had 10 be taken,
md the result will not be announced before
tomorrow. It is believed, however, that
James Hunter Of Pittgbur9 made the rifle