Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1890-03-26
The q. A. r. Encampment.

The q. A. r. Encampment.
Last Wednesday morning might have
been seen hundreds of middle aged men,
veterans Of the late war, marching
through the streets of Minneapolis. At
10 o'clock Harmonic hall was we'll filled
with delegates, and few minutes later
the Twenty-third Annual Encampment of
the Minnesota q. A. r. began. The boys
were in the best of spirits, and evidently
anticipated good time.
Past National Chaplain Rev. J. H.
Lozier, gifted with powers Of song and
strong lungs, stirred up the patriotic SEN
timent by leading the convention in sing
ing Rally Round the Flag"
Commander Barto's genial smile, hav-
ing breadth as well as quality, infused q
spirit OF good humor among the dele
gates during the WEAKNESS of the reading
of officers reports.
| At 2p. m. the encampment marched to
the Milwaukee depot, and escorted the
national commander, General R. A. Alger
to the West Hotel, where Mr.. and Mrs.
Alger held a reception.
| In the evening Harmonic hall was filled
with an immense crowd of veterans to
enjoy the camp fire. The scene upon the
platform exhibited the fraternal spirit
which characterizes the organization. es-
pecially in the little group at the right,
where Archbishop Ireland, Chaplains
Lozier and Stanley, and Rev. Sample
represented the various shades of relig-
ious sentiment.
| The addresses were of high order,
both in ability and patriotic sentiment.
Rev. 5. Sample wore together the flag
and the cross. Archbishop Ireland
abounded in reminiscense of army life.
General Alger enlightened the veterans
on the pension question He claimed,
from thorough investigation of the stu
alton at Washington that service pen
sion was out of the range of human pos
sibilities at the present time, and that the
most we could hope to receive was relief
for those in actual need. Mrs. Whitten-
myer gave an interesting account OF her
experience on the battlefields of the war
The most conspicuous feature of the
evening and the one that put even the
deeds of the distinguished guests present
into the shade was the singing of The
Old Army Bean" by Comrade Francis
Neller of Austin. He never did it better,
and had as his chorus some of the best
soldier talent in the country. Arch
bishop Ireland seemed to enjoy it i'm
mensely. The boys onght to take Fran
els down to Boston next summer to the
National Encampment.
| The next morning the boys got down
to business and important matters were
discussed and settled. The chief ques-
| ton was. of course pensions. Two bills
are before Congress, Co. ~~..~.. .hc ~
vice pension bill and the other the disa.
bility bill. Lieutenant Governor Chase
of L j.:ona fcr:-ed both bills and was
warmly cheered by d part of his audi
ence.
Judge J. P. Rea, commander-in-
chief, took the plat, N IN opposition to
Comrade Chases vi,ws. He claimed that
the dependent pension bill should pass
first. He said: while I believe that
every soldier who fought for his country
is entitled te a pension, the men who
were wounded should first receive atten-
tien."
In the afternoon there was a hot dis
cussion over the matter of the trustees
taking away the pensions of the veterans
at the Soldiers Home. 1t was claimed
that men ought not to receive pensions and
all the benefits of the home, while others
equally deserving had not even pension.
The encampment sustained the action of
the trustees of the Soldiers Home by q
large majority.
At 4 o'clock came the election of off,
GERS. Quite spirited contest was ex-
pected, but it went through with q rush.
each one being elected by acclamatlon-
the first instance of the kind IN the his
tory of the department.. The list is as
follows: James Compton, Fergus Falls
commander; CD. Parker, st. Paul, senior
vice-commander; L. M. Lange, Worth
ington. junior vice-commander; r. s.
Miles, Glencoe, medical director; w. E.
Stanley, Austin, chaplain.
After the installation of the officers by
J. P. Rea, past national commander, the
encampment adjourned.
Austin was represented at the encamp:
ment by Past Post Commanders A. E.
Christie and D. A. McFadden; delegates,
: W.T.. Sutherland and Francis Ne1ler and
? Chaplain Stanley. The W. R. G.. by
; the president, Mrs. n I. johnson, Mrs.
George Baird and Mrs. W. F. Sutherland.