St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-08-14
COMMANDER VEAzEY.
Grand Army Veterans Elect a
Vermont Man as Alger's
Successor.
Eastern Men Get the Principal
Offices and Detroit the
Eneampment.
1t May Be Held in the West
Three Successive
Years.
Gen. Alger Gives His Old Com
rades a Talk on Monu-
mentS.

Boston, Mass, Aug. 13.-Col. Whee-
lock G. Veazey, of Vermont, was this
afternoon elected commander-in-chief
of the G. A. R., and it was decided to
hold the next national encampment in
Detroit, Mich. The session of the ma
tional encampment of the &. A. r. was
opened at Music hall to-day, and the
delegates from the different depart
ments of the Onion comprised as fine a
body of men as ever met in delibera-
tive assembly. The hall was beautifully
decorated, and the floor was entirely
occupied by delegates, while the bal
comics were set apart for members of the
Grand Army, were filled with veterans.
Gen. Sherman was one of the first to
arrive and he took a seat with the Mis-
souri, department, although urged to go
upon the platform. He was warmly
greeted by the comrades, and was the
center OF attraction. Gen. Charles
Devens, past mmander-in-chief, was
with the Massachusetts delegation, and
other departments were represented by
prominent soldiers. A meeting of the
national council of administration de-
layed the opening proceedings. and 1t
was II o'clock when
Gen. Alger Appeared
upon the platform, and was applauded
by the delegates. After prayer by Past
Chaplan-in-Chief Rev. I. n. Foster,
Gen. Alger said that it was the wish of
the commander and of all comrades that
Gen. Sherman should come to the plat
form. Gen. Sherman, who was in the
center of the hall, arose amid great ap-
plause and said he preferred to
remain with the Missouri delega-
ton. Gen. Alger then said: "Y0ur
wish is my order, but l prefer
that you come upon the platform"
Gen. Sherman declined to leave bis seat,
and Gen. Alger made brief apology
for lack of time to prepare his address
as he desired. During the last few
months, he said, his time had been so
occupied with official duties and his
private business that he had been un-
able to give the time and thought that
he would have liked to. He then in
formed the convention that he knew
nothing about parliamentary law. but
hoped that harmony would prevail
and the business be transacted ex-
peditiously. If an attempt was made to
tie the chair by parliamentary tech
nicalities, he would unite the knot very
speenily. In his address Commander
ln-Chief Alger said: "While we lament
the loss of nearly all of our old COM
manders, it is source of great
Consolation and Pleasure
to know that one of those great leaders
of men is still spared to us, and is in our
midst to-day. Upon him this nation is
pouring its wealth of love and gratitude.
Let us hope and pray that he may be
long permitted to remain here, our
leader, our commander, our idol and
our comrade. God bless you. Gen.
words" Referring to the condition OF
the organization. he said, that
with few exceptions, it was ex-
cellent. There have been," he
continued, ''some disagreements
in the department. Of Louisiana
and Mississippi drawn up on the color
line, the details of which will be found
in the records of the judge advocate
general. 1t is the same question that
to-day is disturbing many localities in
the southern part of this country, and
which will require patience and conces-
sions from all parties to settle. 1t has
been my determination to recognize as
a comrade the equal rights of every
man, no matter what his color or ma
tionality, provided he has the two quail
ificati0nS,
Service and Honorable Discharge.
In this great struggle of life the
strong should aid the weak. 1t enables
the former and helps to elevate the lat
ter. A synopsis of the opinions of the
Judge advocate general, those approved
and those disapproved, will be found in
the report of the adjutant general.
The official reports presented to the
twenty-third national encampment,
dated June 80, 1889, gave the total
membel ship as borne on the rolls, at
total membership was 35S, ,230. With
regard to the disability pension bill he
said: "By a careful reading of this
law and the official explanation
given of it. it will be seen that.
no matter what mans financial
condition may be, if he be especially
disabled from performing manual labor.
he is entitled to a pension. Let us be
just to our lawmakers, even though
they have not given US all we asked.
No country on earth is, or ever has
been, nearly as generous to its soldiers
as ours" Referring to Gen. Logan's
monument, he said: "The funds in the
hands of the trustees. outside of the ap-
preparation made by congress for the
site and pedestal. amount to S12,S41.67.
| sincerely trust that the time is not far
distant when this tribute to
This Beloved Leader
will have been completed. Iowa circle,
in the city of Washington. has been Sc
iected as the permanent site for this
monument" Speaking of the Gen.
Sheridan monument. Gen. Alger stated
that under general orders issued from
Grand Army headquarters to the posts
throughout the country. asking for con-
trlbutions of from 10 to 25 cents per
member, there have been received to
Aug. 2, inclusive, S447.94. Congress,
continued the general, 'has heretofore
passed a law granting $4,000 each
for the purchased of a site and pedestal
for monuments to Gems. Sheridan,
Logan and Hancock. Unless this law
can be so amended that a portion of the
amount not needed as specified can be
converted to the purchase of statues,
when we consider the fact that an
equestrian statue costs about $4,000, it
is evident that the time for their final
completion is far distant. These
works should all be pushed with
the utmost vigor. Touching the Gen.
Grant monument, he said: "An ordin-
ary plain vault on the banks of the
Hudson marks the reSting-place of our
great chieftain. This is not creditable
either to us or to this nation. There
should be erected at the capital of this
government, dedicated to the memory
of this great man, memorial building
such as will be credit to the whole