The record-union., 1891-08-07
Special to the RrcoRp-uN1oS.

There are organized DepaHtIhSht9'
Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
DETROIT, July 6.-To-day closes the
business of the session of the Grand
Army of the Republic reunion, and even
now the veterans are fast leaving the city.
No less than eight national organlza-
tions are in session or have adjourned,
and the encampment in its many lnnoya-
tions has certainly been a greater success
than any preceding one.
A sensation was created by the address
of the President of the National Assocla-
ton of Union ex-Prisoners of War, e.
II. Williams, of Indiana.
Referring to the treatment accorded to
ex-prisoners, the President said: AS an
organization and in view of the great and
peculiar hardships and suffering endured
as prisoners, we believe that special
compensation is due US. For a number
of years bills have been presented to
Congress looking for such a measure as
we felt due us, but so far all appeals have
availed us nothing. For twenty-five
years our Governmenth has never so much
as piyen us a vote of thanks for the sacrI-
ices made"
This portion of the Presidents ad-
dress was formally approved by the asso-
citation.
Among the reports of the committees
made was one embOdying a bill TO be
presented at the next session of Congress
on behalf of the soldiers who were IN
prison for period of not less than sixty
days or more, providing that they shall re-
ceiye 81 for every day of their confinement
from the Government. The society
known as 1.-The Comrades of the Battle
field" which includes the blue and the
gray, met and effected national organl-
zation by the election OF Maj0r-General
Dolton of st. Louis as President. The
association will hold its next meeting In
Chicago.
The sixteenth annual reunion of the
United States Veterans of the Signal
Corps showed a membership of 512. L..
II. Fortiscue of Philadelphia was elected
President.
The Ladies of the G.. A. r. held a very
successful meeting. The order is a purely
charitable and social institution, and
was called into existence for benevolent
purposes. Ii is a patriotic association,
all the members being of soldiers faml-
lies. It's total membership is between
$4,000 and 10000, and the President states
that 260 new circles were chartered dur
ing the past year.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
Immediately after the meeting of the
encampment this morning the election of
COMMUNICATIVE was declared the
first order of business. There were four
candidates: John Palmer of New York,
A. c.. Weissart OF Milwaukee. w. r.
Smedberg OF California and S. II. Hurst
of Ohio.
Benjamin E. Bryant of Wisconsin
placed Weissart in nomination in an elo-
quent speech.
WeiSsart'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 sec
onded the nomination.
j. j. Hollingsworth of Ohio nominated
Hurst and w. II. L. Barnes of California
nominated Smedberg. The latter's nom
ination was seconded by Nebraska, Kan
sas, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, New
Mexico and Idaho,
Just before the ballot opened S. II.
Hurst asked for recognition. The State
of Ohio" said he, believes in justice and
fair play and recognition of all depart
ments of the O.. a. X. Applause.l 1t
has been conceded for years that when
ever New York became united on cam
didate, this State, which gave more men
10 the great army of the Union than any
other State, should be entitled to the
Commander-in-C Chief. New York is now
united on q candidate, and | desire to
withdraw my name and second the NOM
ination of Palmer of New York"
The election was by secret ballot, and
the announcement OF the first ballot, with
Palmer far in the lead indicated the cer-
tainty of his ultimate election.
Great enthusiasm was manifested by
the New York delegates during the sec
ond ballot, when Palmer led from the
al -l,aya ftaa,- s.lf
was still somewhat in doubt, the Califor-
MIA delegation changed its entire vote to
Palmer. Prolonged cheering greeted this
announcement. which meant Smedberg's
withdrawal and Palmer's election.
An enthusiastic delegate at this juncture
moved that Palmer's election be declared
unanimous, and it prevailed amid the
widest enthusiasm.
For Senior Nice-Commander-in- Chief
there was but one candidate, Henry NJ
Duffield of Michigan being chosen by ac-
clamation.
r. s. Clarkson of Nebraska, Peter B.
Ayers of Delaware and Albert Z. Sholes
AT Georgia We're nominated for Junior
ice-Commander-in-C Ciarkson
won on the first ballot.
For Chaplain there were three candi-
dates-S. b. Payne of Florida, d. G..
Miller of Kansas and 4. B. kendrick of
Iowa. Payne was elected.
SurgeOn-General Stevenson of Con-
necticut was reelected by acclamation.
Past Commander-in- Chief VIM. War
ner, Chairman of the Committee on Adj
dress of the Commander-in-C Chief, re-
ported resolutions, which were adopted,
petitioning Congress for legislation pro-
viding for the custody and care of the
Mount McGregOr cottage, and for amend
ments TO the revised statutes providing
more explicitly that preference be given
old soldiers in Government appointments
and employment
THE RACE PROBLEM.
The vexed trace problem" came I'D in
the encampment this afternoon and was
effectively settled for all time The
special champion of the negro race was
eX-Congressman William Warner OF Mis-
souri,, Past COMMUNICATIVE Chief, and he
is tonight receiving the tribute of the
colored veterans whose cause he so eIo-
quentiy espoused.
The matter came before the convention,
when Warner, as Chairman of the Com
mander = in Chiefs Recommendations
presented the following report:
"Iour committee has carefully consid-
cred the clear and frank statement of the
Chief regarding the diff
culties existing between the posts in the
Departments of Louisiana and Missis-
sippi. The committee has also consid-
cred all documents submitted To and the
ss1yyn GuxvA rc.-z-u uruz-. -