The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-06
Grand Army Listens to Reports
of General Officers.
vEAzEY AGAINST THE NEGROES.
Despite His Advice Separate Depart.
ments Will Be Refused.
Next Encsmpment at Washington City
Captain John Palmer Likely to Be
Chosen Commander-The women's
Relief Corps.

DETROIT, Aug. 5.-The twenty-ffth an
nual encampment Of the G. A. Z. met in
formal session this morning. All that art
and cultured taste could do to make the
mammoth building attractive had been
exerted in the decorations which adorned
the interior in emblematie order Despite
the Immensity Of the hall it was crowded
to the utmost A few minutes before the
opening General Veazey and staff entered
the hall and were escorted 10 the grand
stand. The appearance of the commander
in-chief was the signal for applause. Rap
ping the assemblage 70 order he an
nounced the formal opening Of the en-
canpment and directed the adjutant gen.
eneral to call the roll of the department.
Every state and territory in the Union
was represented, and the roll showed the
fullest attendance of delegates in the his
tory Of the organization. The opening adj
dress by the commander-in-chief was
listened to in rapt attention. He said:
Comrades: This is the silver anniversary Of n
birth, not of a wedding. The wedding occurred
when the bridegroom, the youth OF the land,
enlisted in its defense. Abraham Lincoln eele-
orated the marriage naptizls, and CoInmhia was
the bride Her vesfare was the nations fag.
pledge to establish that flag over the domain
OF secession was the price of her hand. When
the pledge was g-andly redeemed through
bloody strife. through suffering and through
death, and after the victors had placed on the
brow of the bride new diadem, whose gems
were honor. valor, fame, liberty unstained with
slavery, and country united and free, the fruit
of that marriage was the Grand Army of the
Republic, an offspring worthy OF its royal
parentage
Reference was then made by the gen.
crai 10 the increasing esteem in which the
q. A. 4. is held By the people generally,
and comrades in particular. Touching al
lusion was made to the numerous deaths
IN the order during the past year. Special
mention was made of General Sherman
and Admiral Porter. Tribute was paid to
the present and prospective usefulness Of
the Sons of Veterans, an organization
which is increasing in membership yearly.
In touching on the negro question as
affecting the g. A. F., General yeazey re-
viewed the difficulties which existed over
the colored posts in the department of
Louisiana and Mississippi ever since they
were organized in 1863. Continuing, he
said:
The charge has been made from different
soQfCSe tI1t hIe OF tuceS pDett Is SO
tainted with Irregularities as TO be utterly de-
struetive OF their legal existence. Our rules
and regulations provide plain procedure for the
department TO pursue in order 10 test the valid
ity of such charges. As the department. of
Louisians and Mississippi never. 80 far as I am
informed, reaorted to that procedure, have
held, in dealing with those posts, that they
must be regarded as having had legal existence
until otherwise regularly adjudieated.
The n1s az ord Inv
ton by the inspector general into the affairs OF
this department The recommendation of the
inspector general was that this encampment
authorize the creation of a separate department,
covering the same territory as the several exist
ing departments in the South. This is sup
ported by memorials addressed to the COM
msnder-in-chief by six posts in those depart.
ments whose membership is composed of eolored
men. From various sources of Information &C
cessible TO me, believe tha. large majority OF
both white and colored comrades in the depart
ments OF Louisiana and Mississippi are strong
in the conviction that il would be for the best
interests of all TO have q separate department in
Louisiana and some OF the other Gulf states.
made up of such posts rs may apply to come
into il, and having concurrent jurisdiction with
the departments already established III such
states l have no policy 10 urge other tnan such
as will be for the best interests OF the order and
at the same time protect the rights of ell com
-
rades.
During the year now closing, the speaker
said, the G.. A. r. paid out from its relief
fund $334, 400. During the same period
the Woman's Relief Corps paid to dis
tressed comrades SIS. 900. The only new
department. chartered last year wa. that
of the Indian territory. The commander
in-chief closed his address with reference
to the observance of Memorial day and the
high principles which actuate the G.
A. r.
The declaration of the commander-in-
chief in favor OF the establishment of de-
partments of the G. A. +. for negro vet
Grams created a decided sensation. The
white posts of Louisiana and Mississippi
are overjoyed at his recommendation.
The reports of other officers of the staff
were presented and spread before the en-
campment.
The adiutant generals report for the
period ending June 80, 1901, as far as re-
turns were received, shows in good stand
ing fortv-fve departments with :. 400 posts
and 39S, ,067 comrades In good standing.
The sums expended in charity as reported
for the year ended June 50. 1891. was s234 :
coo. The total deaths for the year were
5.5S0.
The quartermaster generals report
showed assets of sa5,om
The report of the Grant monument fund
showed il had augmented but sS3. 79I dur
ing the year.
The inspector general, after detailing the
condition of the order, says in conclusion:
sOur comrades who are in the stronger
and more prosperous departments should
not be forgetful OF the necessities OF those
in the weaker and less favored territories
and should assist and encourage t.ern in
their good work whenever opportunity
offers"
The report of the Judge advocate general
derives its chief interest from MS decision
on the vexed race question. As his con-
clusions differ from the recommendations
OF the commander-in-chief, the dispute is
only further complicated. The decision is
as follows:
The question proposed is whether there csn
lawfully pe two departments covering the same
TERRITORY a. the same time, ior instance where
one department is made up OF white posts and
the other OF black posts, or one ot foreign born
And another OF nat!ve-bogn. / think the cues
tiea must be answered IN the negative The
idea IS contrary - the us2gas and universal IN
dsrst2ndiEg Of the order hitherto. IL sddltlOuaI Al
departments n states nay ee fermeG on the
lines of color or birth, they may he On nnes of
personal snfipAthies or upon dIsagresneats ct
any kind Bai wishou: Advsrt.ag further %
the obvious evils likely 70 follow from the ss-
ts6lishing Of rival departments n sny state il is
enough to sEsIe that the rules and regulations
clearly do nos provide for. nor warrant she es-
tsbhshnent OF hut one department IN any state
or territory.
The report of the surgeon general is
chiefly interesting in the statements it