Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-05-07
KANSAS a. A. R.

KANSAS a. A. r.
The Annual Encampmeut ut Hutchinson-
Points From the Address Of the DEPART
ment Commander New Commander
Eected-The Sons of Veterans and
W0man's Relief Corps.
HUTCHINSON, Kan, April S0.-The
city is brilliantly and lavishly deco
rated with bunting in honor of the
tenth annual encampment of the Kan
sas G. A. R.. which met yesterday.
All the incoming morning trains were
heavily crowded with delegates and
visitors. and it is estimated that last
night there were fully 1000 strangers
in the city. Gov. Humphrey and other
state officials arrived yesterday morn
ing, as did most of the old war horses
who make point of attending every
gathering of the kind in the state
At o'clock Mayor Campbell made
the address of welcome.
In his annual address Department
Commander Ira T. Collins entered into
an extended discussion of the condition
of the order He deplored the fact that
so many discouragements should have
met the work of the previous year, but
despite it all the order had gained
ground The failure of Topeka and
Ellsworth to comply with promises rel
alive to permanent headquarters for re-
unions was dwelt upon at length and
hope expressed that better things were
in store He admitted the failure OF
permanent reunion grounds and advo-
Gated changing places yearly, the ex-
penses to be paid by adding 81 to each
railway ticket. Under the head, 1.-The
G. A. R in Politics, Commander Collins
said:
"This has given me considerable
| trouble and annoyance during my ad-
ministration. Several posts wholly for
getting or willfully disregarding the
| rules and regulations in this regard
have passed resolutions indorsing candi-
| dates for political Offices 1 have no
doubt but the comrades gener-
ally acted thoughtlessly in the
| matter, but the effect on
| the order is the same. By allowing
themselves to be led on by designing
men who seek to use the order for per
sonal and political gain, they place
themselves in a false position and at
the same time bring discredit upon the
Grand Army. This is matter vital to
our future existence and well being as
an order. Like the germ of some fatal
disease if not kept down it will very
| soon cause the destruction of our insti-
tuition.
cat a meeting of the council of ad-
ministration held at Topeka on Septem-
Der last, this subject being under con-
sideration, the following resolution was
offered by Comrade May and adopted:
"That the department commander repri-
mand in a general order posts which have
| unwisely attempted to prostitute the G. A r
for political purposes, and further, that any
post in this department in the future violat-
| ing the principles of the G. A. r. by attempt
| ing to use this order for political purposes,
| the department commander shall take i'm
mediate steps to annul its charter"
The report of the Acknowledgement
showed At posts in good standing, with
membership of IS, SIS.
In the evening a campfire was held
and speeches were made by Col.
Buchner, Capt Johnson, Chaplain
Lozier and others
The w. R. C. association held a meet
ing and had the largest attendance ever
known.
The Ladies' Aid society of the Sons
of Veterans was organized here yester-
day with Miss Jennie S. Taffe, of Kan
sas City, Kan, as president
SECOND DAY.
The forenoon of the second day of the
state G. A. r encampment was devoted
to the consideration of the raports and
address of Commander Collins. The
part of the address relating to politics
and criticising the part that Endorsed
candidates for political office was dis
agreed with and that part eliminated
from the records. The criticism o. con.
gress for not passing the service pen
sion bill shared like fate.
For department commander the can.
didates were Gen. Mccarthy, of Topeka;
r. A. Campbell, of Hutchinson; o. 81.
Coulter, of Topeka, and John T.
Showalter, of Wellington. The contest
gradually narrowed down to Campbell
and Mccarthy, and on the fifth ballot
Mccarthy was elected, receiving
twenty-four more votes than Campbell.
The Women's Relief corps reelected
Mrs. Junkerman president over Mrs.
Moore, of Abilene. The convention is
the largest ever held in the state.
The Sons of Veterans reelected C. D.
Jones, of Norton, colonel; Clay E.
Lumbocler, of Baldwin, lieutenan,
colonel; C. W. Bishop, of Great Bend
major. Oberlin camp received the
premium of a large silk flag for the
largest increase in membership and the
Lyons camp a flag for the largest mum.
Der of members present In the even
ing reception was rendered Leland J.
Webb, commander-in-chiefo of the Sons
of Veterans.
A Tragedy in Hungary.
PEsTH, April SO-A terrible tragedy
in which whole family lost their lives