Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-08-22
B~H the Grand Army OF the Hepu Bile
Was Organized.


fhe early spring of 1866, and must owl
: as its founder DIR. Benjamin Franklin
: Stephenson, surgeon of the Fourteenth
. Illinois infantry.
| Even before the war OF the rebellion
closed the warmth OF association
therein led the veterans to consider
.he question OF continuing the com
radeship and at least two organiZa
tions which have continued since the,
we're formed, the Third Corps unior
and the society or the Army of the
Tennessee.
When the great army came home
and the veterans babe good bye to
army associations TO resume peaceful
avocations there came into their ear
Hest hour of well won peace the pres
ence of disabled comrades, suffering
families and distressed homes. At first
aid was rendered without organization
but the frequency Of the call begot the
idea OF systematized effort, ard all
over the north with varying plans
though united in common purpose of
rendering aid to those in neeo,
Among those who gave much thought
to the idea of perpetuating TIE asso-
Citations OF the war period was Dir.
Stephenson. He found cordial sym
pathizer in Chaplain w. j. Euttledge
OF his own regiment, and tne two met
ut Springfield in the early spring of
1866, to consult as to the plan OF carry
ing out their cherished idea. DR..
Stephenson had already formulated a
ritual for use in the proposed order.
This was taken to Decatur to be
printed, because the Office of the
Tribune there was in the hands of vet
Grams, and it was thought that the de-
sired secrecy might on THAT account be
made more secure. The printing at
tracted the attention of twelve old SOL
diers, who, under date of April 6, 1866,
secured charter and constituted them
selves Post l of Decatur, district of
Macon, department OF Illinois, Grand
Army of the Republic.
DIR. Stephenson was native of Ill
inois, born in 1922. He served as sur
geon Of the Fourteenth Illinois infant
ny from April z, 1862. to June "a,
1864. He died at Rock Creek, August
80, 1871.
The work of organizing posts was
rapidly pushed from the start and be-
fore the end of 1866 the order had ex-
tended intB Indiana, Kansas, Iowa.
Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio. Pennsylva-
MIA, Massachusetts, New York, Mary
land and Wisconsin.
The commanders-in-chi of the
Grand Army of the Republic have been
in their order as follows: S. A. Hurl-
but John A Logan, Ambrose f. Burn
side, Charles Devens, John F. Hart
ranft, John c. Robinson, William Ern-
shaw, Louis Wagner, George S. Mer-
rill, Paul Van Der WORT, Robert B.
Heath, John S. Kountz Samuel S. Bur-
dette, Lucius Fairchild, John P. Will
liam Warner and Russell A. Alger.
Representative ConncH Endorsed.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 15.-Congress.
man Connell has received great many
endorsements for his labor bills from
all sections of the country. The latest
came yesterday and he will try to get
1t inserted in the Record as an evidence
of the feeling which exists all over the
country in support of the proposed leg
islation. II is from Topeka, and reads
as follows:
Whereas, on April 90 1890, bill
was introduced by Representative Con-
nell of Nebraska known as House Roll
979l, and which was referred to the
committee on labor and ordered to be
printed, and on July s, 1890, was re-
ported with amendments and commit
ted TO the committee of the whole house
on the state of the union and ordered
printed, the title of said bill being as
follows: "A bill constituting eight
hours days work for all laborers,
workmen and mechanics employed by
or on behalf of the government of the
United States or by contractors doing
work or furnishing material for the
and providing penalties
for the violation of the provisions there
Of
Whereas, We, the delegates and Off
GERS of the trades and labor assembly
Of Topeka, Kan, an organization rep
resenting the organized trades and oc-
equations OF the city of Topeka, Kan,
fully believe that the industrial pro-
rress of the age demands the introduce
lion of shorter work day for the me-
chanics and laborers of the nation in
order that they may share in the be,so-
its OF the general advancement which |
have accrued by reason of improve
ments in industrial methods; and
Whereas, We believe it is proper
md fitting that the general govern
ment should take the initiative in the
general movement sought by the said
bill; therefore, be it
Resolved, That the trades and labor
assembly of Topeka, Kan, heartily en-
lorse the bill and the action of the
Hon. w. j. Connell in his efforts to
nave the eight hour system enforced
On labor performed for and on behalf
If the government OF the United States;
md be it further
Resolved. That a copy of these reso-
utions be placed on the records of our
and also copy thereof |
sent to the Hon. w. j. Cornell, the |
luthor of the bill.
The New Commander of the G. A. IL.
BosToN, Mass, August 15.-Colonel !
Nheelock G. Veasey, one of the inter-
state commissioners, who has been
elected COMMUNICATIVE chief of the |
Grand Army of the Republic, is a ma
i've of New HamDshire and has inst