New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-07
COMRADE PALMER CHOSEN.
NETWORKS CANDIDATE FOR COMMANDER
INCHIEF ELECTED.

IMPORTANT BUSINESS OF THE LAST DAY OF
THE G. A. r. ENoAMPMENT AT DETROIT
NO COLOR LINE TO BE DRAWN
IN THE SOUTH.
Detroit. Aug 6.-Immediately after the meeting OF
the Grand Army Of the Republic Encampment TINS
morning the election Of . Commandcr-n-Chief was DC
clared the first business There were FOUR canoioates
John Palmer, of Albany, n. Y; A. G. Weissart' OF
Milwaukee WIS.,; w. p smedbery, of California; S. H.
Hurst of Ohio. Benjamin e. Bryant, Of Wisconsin,
placed weissart in nomination in an eloquent speech
"WeIssart went In at seventeen with the gray eagle
Old ABE said he, and out In '65. He was
high private and private has never yet been selected
MS CommanderinC Chief Of the Grand Army Of the Re
public Weissart's nomination was seconded by thc
States OF Illinois. Iowa, Indiana and Kentucky.
Corporal Tanner. of New-Yorh placed Palmer IN
nomination and Massachusetts, New-Jersey and Penn
sylvana seconded Palmer's nomination
J. j. Holingsworth, Of Ohio, nominated Hurst ana
W. H. l.. Barnes, Of California, nominated SmedbeTy'
The Iatters nomination was seconded by Nebraska,
Kansas, Oregon, Washington and Alaska, New-Me2ico
and Idaho.
Just before the ballot opened 6. H. Hurst Oho's
candidate asked for recognition. "The State OF ONO
said he "beleves in Justice and fair play and recos
milton to all the departments of the Grand Army OF
the Republic (Applause) 1t has been conceded TOT
years that whenever the great State OF New-forK Dc
came united candidate this State, which gave
moro men TO the great Army Of the Union than any
other State should be entitled TO the Commanderin-
Chief New York is now united on candidate ana
desire TO withdraw my name and second the nomination
of Palmer Of New-York. Cheers and applausc)
The election was by secret ba1lot-a very slow ana
tedious method The first ballot gave Palmer 322'
Weissart 27O, Smedbcry 1T. The announcement OF
the first ballot with Palmer far in the lead indcaed
the certainty Of his ultimate election. Great ell
thuaasm manifested by the New-York delegates
during the second ballot when Palmer led from the
start. Each gain greeted with applause but most
of Palmers acquisition at the expense Of smed'
berry. At the conclusion. when the result was sui
somewhat in donbt, the California delegation caneea
It's entire vote 10 Palmer Prolonged cheering greeted
this announcement, which meant Smedbery's WIN
drawal and Palmer's election. An enthusiastic ocie
gate at this uncture moved that Pamers election be
declared unanimous and II prevailed amid widest en-
thusiasm.
John Palmer Of Albany, the newly elected Com
mander-in-C Chief of the Grand Army Of the Republic
is one of the best known and most popular members
OF the order in his State Soon after the organza|
ton was first formed he Joined 1t as an original or
charter" member Of Lew Benedict Post, No ., De
paltment Of New-York. This post whose headquarters
are at Albany is of the largest and most influential
posts not only in the State, but in the country, and
Comrade Palmer for long time its commander
Since then he has served term as Commander OF the
Department of New-York and another Senior Vice
Commanderin- Chief. Being thus placed In the direct
and shortest line of promotion to the highest office In
the c. A. R., his recent candidacy has been strongly
supported from the first and his election was placed
beyond a doubt the moment the delegates from New
York determined to unite upon one man.
The new CommanderIn- Chief has q long and honor
able record. beginning with his enlistment in Sep
tember 1861. q private in the DIST Regiment, New
York Volunteers and ending with the mnster-out of
that regiment In 1865. In the meanwhile, by merit
and hard service he attained successfully the grades
Of corporal sergeant, sergeantmator second lieuten
ant first lieussnant. adutant and captain. Since the
war he has been engaged in the fesco painting and
decorating business at Albany. n. Y, and had the
contract for all the decorating the new State Capt.
tOl. As member of the G. A. r. he was for several
terms commander of Lew Benedict Post, No. g. was
elected commander Of the New York Department. and
in 1879 elected Senior Vice COMMANDMENT Chief
all of which important places he filled with credit He
is said to be forcble speaker. model presiding
officer at Department and National conventions, and
has frequently been placed at the head Of important
committees by both State and National encampments
For senior Vice Commanderfn-Chef there was only
one candidate, Henry NJ. Duffeld of Michigan, being
chosen by acclamaton.
II. S. ClarksOn, of Nebraska Peter D. Ayers, OF
Delaware, and Albert r. Shoes, Of Georgia,
won on the first ballot.
For Chaplain there were three candidates. b.
Payne of Florida; D. c. Miner, of Kansas and A. B.
Kendrich, of Iowa. Mr. Payne elected.
Surgeon General Benjamin T. Stevenson, OF Con-
necticut, reelected by reclamation.
Past Commander william w. Warner, chairman OF
tho committee the address OF the Commanderin-
Chief reported resolutions which were adopted, pc
titoning Congress for legislation providing for the
custody and Of Mount McGregor cottage and for
amendments TO the Revised Statutes providing more
explicitly that preference be given old soldiers in
Government appointments and employment.
The vexed race problem came up in the Encamp-
ment this afternoon and effectively settled for
all time. The special champion of the negro
ex-Congressman William Warner of Missouri Past
Commandern-C Chief, and he is tonight receiving the
tribute of the colored veterans whose lie so
eloquently espoused. The matter came before the
Convention when Mr.. Warner, as chairman of the
committee the Commander-in- Chiefs recommends
tons. presented the following report:
Your committee has carefully considered clear and
frank of your regarding the
difficulties existing between posts in the Departments OF
Louisiana and Mississippi The committee ha. nlso
sdercd all the documents submitted to and arguments made
before the leading to the existing trouble in
those department. The old posts, from TO S. inclusive
In the Departments OF Louisiana and Mississippi are COM
posed OF white comrades The posts from o 7, in
elusive composed Of cCored comrades. The
ton Is that the latter pots tainted with fraud in their
organization.
Here the report quotes freely from the Commander
inChiefs statement Of the contentious of the two
Sides and SAYS
The remedy suggested Of q department. OF concurrent
jurisdiction for ccord involves an amendment
rules and regulations committee informed that
the requisite notice OF the presentation OF this
given and therefore properly before the Encamp-
for its action This orranaUon the Grand Army Of
The Republic from its birth at Decatur, H. in 1866
this, it, silver EnconImen has turned from It's post
doors deserving comrade, however humble
of his nationality creed color. The only qualification
for membership Is an honorable discharge from United
States Army, Navy or Marine Corps OF 6l TO 49, as the
evidence that he aided in maintaining honor integrity
and supremacy Of the National during the late
Rebellion providing. always. the African has done
nothing civil life on his honorable record
In libcrty's cause. During that fierce struggle
for the life OF the Nation we stood