Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-08-07
NO LINE ON COLOR:
Black or White, G. a. r. Men
Are Comrades All.
A HOT DEBATE ON THE QUESTION.

Two Reports, One of Which Is Roundly
Posts Overwhelmingly East Gets the
Commander-in-Chief as Well as the
Encampment-Palmer. of New York,
the Winning Candidate-DuffieId, of
Detroit, Given the Place of Senior Vice
-Encampment Notes.
DETROIT, Aug. when the q. A. Il
encampment adjourned Wednesday the
election of Weissert for commander-in-
chief, although not entirely certain, was
in the world. The east had obtained the
next encampment, and it seemed simply
appropriate that the west should have
the chief officer. But the east seemed 10
want the earth, and it got it, The first
business yesterday was the election of
officers. Wisconsin, through B. L. Bry-
ant, put in nomination a. g. Weissert,
and it was eloquently seconded by eXGov-
ernor Alger, and by the states of Illinois
Iowa, Indiana and Kentucky Corporal
Tanner put up John Palmer, of Albany,
and Massachusetts, New Jersey and Penn
sylvania seconded the nomination. Ohio
hoAhAhSitSNA - IL iiti'br anu NtNAAAti ana
stood by w p Smedburg of those states,
respectively.
Hurst Withdraws His Name.
But Hurst was not "in it" He spoke
for himself and said that New York had
sent more men tothe defense of the Union
than any other state, and when she want
ed anything of the Grand Army she ought
to have it. He therefore withdrew in IA
vor of Palmer. The first ballot. was then
taken, giving Palmer, 322; Weissert, go,
and Smedburg, 171-no choice. The sec
ond ballot showed continual stampede
to Palmer, mostly at Smedburg'S eX-
pense, and when the close was reached
and the result seemed in don bt California
settled the matter by going over en- masse
to Palmer. Smedburg withdrawing
Somebody just here moved that the vote
for Palmer be made unanimous, and
amid great cheering the thing was done
and Palmer declared to be elected to the
position of cou.mander-in-c chief
The Other Officers Elected.
Henry NJ. Duffield. of Detroit, was elect
ed senior vice commander. and Commander
Clarkson. of Nebraska, Junior vice over
Ayres, Of Delaware Ben F. Stevenson,
of kentucky, was reelected surgeon gen
was made chdplain-in-chief The commit
tee on commander in-chiefs address re-
ported approving the recommendation
that the McGregOr cottage should be kept
IN repair by the government, that the
decoration of soldiers graves should also
be provided for by the government, and
that the pledges to the soldiers and sailors
should be carried out as long as one sur
wives. This brought the encampment
to the color issue.
No Color Line in the &. 4. X.
There were two reports on this matter,
the majority, signed by Conger. Merrill.
and Henderson (of Pa }, and the minority
by Atkins, Lineham, and Decker The
majority report was against the separation
of white and colored posts, and the minor
ity in favor thereof. There was a hot de-
bate on the subject, but finally the major
ity report was adopted by an overwhelm-
ingly majority. General FairchiId made
the speech of the day, against separation.
while Past Commander Graham, of Loui
siana, pleaded passionately that the social
preJudices of the south be recognized. The
convention then adjourned until to-day.
Last night the delegates We're entertained
at banquet at the rink by the citizens
committee.
The Woman's Relief Corps.
in the session of the Woman's Relief
Corps the committee on W. K G. home
recommended that more land be pur-
chased for the home, but plea was made
by Mrs. Sherwood that the money he de
voted TO the relief OF army nurses outside
the home and the recommendation was
lost. The money for the land was pledged
Immediately, however, by the departments
of Illinois, the Potomac and others amid
great enthusiasm. a new ritual was
adopted during the afternoon.