The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-08-07
TIE NEW COMMANDER
General John Palmer, of New
York, Gets the Prize,
THE FIGHT ON THE COLOR LINE

The-Encampment Loudly Declares
Against Separation, and the Col
ored Delegates Are Jubilant.
DETROIT, Aug. 7,-Immediately aftei
the meeting of the encampment yester.
day the election Of commander-in-
chief was declared the first business.
There were four candidates = John
Palmer, of Albany, N. Y; A. q, Weig-
sart, of Milwaukee, Wis. w. P. Smed-
berg, Of California; s. II. Hurst, Of
Ohio.
Benjamin f. Bryant, of Wisconsin,
placed Weissart in nomination in an elo-
quent speech.
Corporal Tanner of New York, placed
Palmer in nomination, and Massachu-
setts, New Jersey and Pennsylvania Sec
onded Palmer's nomination.
!. J. Hollingsworth, of Ohio, nomi-
neted Hurst and w. H. L. Barnes, OF
Valifofnia, nominated Smedberg. The
Natter's nomination was seconded by
Nebraska, Kansas, Oregon, Washington
and Alaska, New Mexico and Idaho.
just before the ballot opened s. H.
Hurst, Ohio's candidate, withdrew in
favor of Palmer.
The first ballot gave Palmer 822,
/ O..
The announcement of the first ballot,
with Palmer SO far in the lead, indi-
iicated the certainty Of his ultimate cleo
ition.
Great enthusiasm was manifested by
the New York delegates during the sec
ond ballot, when Palmer led from the
start. Each gain was greeted with ap-
plause, but most of Palmer's acquisition
was at the expense of Smedberg.
At the conclusion, when the result
was still somewhat in doubt, the Cali
nornia delegation changed its entire vote
ITO Palmer.
Palmer Unanimously Chosen.
Prolonged cheering greeted this an
tnouncement, which meant Smedberg's
Withdrawal and Palmer's election An
enthusiastic delegate at this juncture
moved that Palmer's election be de-
,clared unanimous, and it prevailed
amid widest enthusiasm.
Captain John Palmer, the new COM
mander-in-chief, was born on Staten
aHlsnd March 90, 1912, and has splen-
did war record. He enlisted in the
Ninety first New York volunteers Sept.
10, 1861, and was constantly with that
regiment until it was mustered out
T July Q, 1866, taking part in all its en-
gagements.
1C Nup nCfiOhohY Wpullubl hb UIlb DtlL-
!. : ffsas ~ Forks In tho combined charge
l0f cavalry and infantry. Since the war
4 hae has been engaged in the fresco paint
hng and decorating business at Albany,
IN. Y, and had the contract for all the
decorating on the new state capitol.
AS a member of the G. A. r. he was
FOR several terms commander of Lew
BENEDICT Post, No. 8, was elected COM
rnander of the New York department,
and in 1870 was elected senior vice com
mauder-in- chief, all of which important
positions he filled with credit.
After dinner other officers were chosen
rs follows: Junior vice commander,
Gommander Clarkson, of Nebraska sur
Reon general, b. Il. Stevenson, Ken
tucky; chaplain in chief, Comrade Payne,
of Florida.
The Color Line Fight.
When the committee appointed to re-
port upon the address of the commander
dn-chief made its appearance there was a
buzz of excitement, and the encampment
settled down for the fight on the colored
issue. 1t turned out that there was q
majority and minority report. The
former presented by ex-Congressman
Conger, of Ohio, antagonized the prom
oSition to create provisional departments
for the coiored men. Thus going
counter to the recommendations of the
lcemmander-in-chief. The minority re-
port supported the latter and ended with
. resolution recommending the erection
lot separate departments for the colored
Jomrades in Louisiana and other south
ern states, and empowering the COM
mander-in-chiof to take action accord
hngly. This was greeted with groans
and misses from the colored contigents.
Past Commander-in-C Chief Warner, of
R lt+u tbat
question of social intercourse in the tax
ing up of amnsket to defend the nation.
He pictured the situation when in the
midst of the enemy, even black face
bmay be tho face of a friend. 'Don't de-
Bert your principles at this. hour" ho
Shouted, and the convention yelled for q
full minute johnson, of Washington,
colored delegate, wanted to know why
they We're to be showed off at this late
day and strongly attacked the minority.
Another colored delegate from Kentucky
made a hot speech, and when inter
Fupted, he retorted, you are one of tho
ducks that hides their badges down our
Democrats" This brought down the
house and the uproar was terrific.
General Lucius Fairehild made the
speech of the day. He took the position
that If the colored men wanted to with
4raW, as mas been claimed, they ought
20 be at liberty to do so. It was evi-
dent, however, that they did not want to.
Must Conform TO Social Usage.
Past Commander Graham, of Louis
Lana, presented the case of the south in
an impassioned address. He said that
the disposition to drive ont colored men
was erroneous. Eighteen years ago the
FIRST Louisiana post was organized, ami
by white men. 1t was at time when
10 wear a Grand Army button was a
disgrace In that region, but persistence
had brought the order up. They did
not want to drive men who lived in the
north, and did not understand the situa-
tion down south. There are few whites
and large number of negroes, and the
line was distinctly drawn. The whites
had made their home in the south, ar d
Ut was their right to conform to the So
cial rules around them. When the first
application wns made for n cnIorad most