Los Angeles herald., 1891-08-07
Captain John Palmer Chosen
COmmander-in-Chief
Last Day of the Business Ses-
sion at Detroit.
The Race Problem Settled for the
Time Being.
No Separate Department for Colored
Comrades to Be Instituted-General
Warmers Championship of
the Negro Soldier.
Associated Press Dispatches.

DETROIT, August O.-lmmeulateiy
after the meeting of the G. A. R. en-
campment this morning, the election OF
commander-in-chief was declared the
first business. There were four candi-
dates, John Palmer OF New York, A. G.
Weissert of Milwaukee, w. P. Smcd-
burg of California and S. HI. Hurst OF
Ohio.
Benjamin +. Bryant of Wisconsin
placed Weissert in nomination in an
eloquent speech. Weissert's nomination
was seconded by Illinois, Iowa, Indiana
and Kentucky.
Corporal Tanner of New York placed
Palmer in nomination, and Massachu-
sets, New Jersey and Pennsylvania
seconded the nomination.
J. j. Hollingsworth of Ohio nominated
Hurst, and w. HI. L. Barnes of Califor-
mia nominated Smedburg. The latter's
nomination was seconded by Nebraska,
Kansas, Oregon, Washington, Alaska.
New Mexico and Idaho.
Just before the ballot opened s. HI.
Hurst asked for recognition. 1.-The state
of Ohio" he said, ''believes in justice
and fair play. 1t has been conceded for
years that whenever New York became
united on a candidate that state, which
gave more men to the great army Of the
union than any state, should be entitled
TO the commander-in-chief. New York
is now united on a candidate and de-
sire to withdraw my name and second
the nomination OF Palmer OF New York. Z"
PALMER ELECTED.
The election was by secret ballot. The
first ballot resulted: Palmer, 322 /;
Weissert, 270; Smedburg, 1T.
The announcement of the first ballot,
with Palmer far in the lead, indicated
the certainty OF his ultimate election.
Great enthusiasm was manifested by
the New York delegates during the sec
ond ballot, when Palmer led from the
start. At its conclusion, when the re-
suit was in doubt, the California dele
CATION changed its entire vote to Pal
mer. Prolonged cheering greeted this
burE's withdrawal and Palmer's cleo
ti0n. An enthusiastic delegate at this
juncture moved that Palmer's election
amid the widest enthusiasm.
THE NEW coMMANDER's RECORD.
Captain John Palmer, the new COM
mander-in-chief, was born on Staten
Island, ON March %, 1912, and has a
splendid war record. He served during
the war in the Ninety-first New York
volunteers, taking part in all its engage
ments. Since the war he has been en-
gagged in fresco painting and decoration
business at Albany, N. Y. As men,
her of the q. A. r. he was several terms
commander of Lew Benedict post No. 5.
He was elected commander of the New
York department and in 1879 was
elected senior vice-commander-in-c
all of which important positions he
filled with credit. He is said to be
forcihle speaker and model presiding
officer.
OTHER OFFICERS ELECTED.
For senior vice-commander-in-c
there was but one candidate, Henry
Al. Duffield, of Michigan, being chosen
by acclamation.
T. S. Clarkson, of Nebraska Peter B.
Ayers, of Delaware, and Albert E.
Sholes, of Georgia, were nominated for
Junior ice-cOmmander-in-chi w
For chaplain there were three candi-
dates: S. B. Payne, Florida; D. G.
Miller, Kansas, and A. B. Kendrick,
Iowa. Payne was elected.
Surgeon-General Stevenson, Connec-
ticut, was reelected by acclamation.
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
Past Commander-in-Ch William
Warner, chairman OF the committee
ON address of the commander-in-chief,
reported resolutions which were adopt
ed, petitioning congress for legislation
providing for the custody and care OF
Mount McGregor cottage, where Cen
eral Grant died, and for amendments to
the revised statutes, providing more ex-
plictly that preference be given to old
soldiers in government appointments
and emoluments.
THE COLOR QUESTION SETTLED.
The race problem came up in the en-
campment this afternoon, and was
effectively settled for the time. The
special champion of the negro race was
ex-Congressman William Warner, of
Missouri, past commander-in-chief,a and
he is tonight receiving the tribute of the
cOlored veterans whose cause he SO
earnestly espoused.
The matter came before the conven-
tion when Warner, as chairman of the
committee on the commander-in-chief's
recommendations, presented the follow
ing report:
Your committee has carefully con-
sidered the clear and frank statements
of the commander-in-chief regarding
the difficulties existing between the
posts in the department of Louisiana
and Mississippi. The committee has al
30 considered all documents submitted
to it and arguments made before it, as
to the causes leading to the existing
trouble in thatdepartment. The old posts,
from one to eight, inclusive, in the de-
partment of Louisiana and Mississippi,
are composed of white comrades. The
new posts, from nine to seventeen, in
elusive, are composed of colored COM
rades. The contention is that the lat
ter posts are tainted with fraud
in their organization. The rem
edy suggested OF a seDarate
department. of concurrent jurisdiction
for colored veterans, involves an amend
ment to our rules and regulations. Dur
ing,tlaat fierce struggle for the life OF the
nation. we stood shoulder to shoulder as
com rades tried. 1t is too late to divide
now on the color line. The man who is
good enough to stand between the flag
and those who would destroy it when
the fate of the nation is trembling in
"A J. l~I.roa 10 orod onoxYuh ta no q porn-