Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-08-06

the Women's Relief Corps was called to
order by Mrs. Mary Sears McHenry, OF |
Denison, Iowa, the National President. |
In her address she dwelt upon the ne
cessity of keeping before Congress the
needs of the army nurses. Congress-
she said, should pass special pension
law for them, and to that end the recoru
should be completed as soon as posslDle;
&c, 900 names were enrolled, but OF le,Ooo
more there was no record whatever.
National Secretary Hannah Plimpton,
OF Iowa, presented her report, showing
total membership of 77,779, dlvidea
into 2,O22 corps, and covering nearly
every State and Territory. Owing to the
delinquent reports, which are dis
credit to the order, there had oeen a
loss Of 321 corps, representing mem
bership of 1854 during the year. Inc
general and local funds on hand aggre-
gate S16O,s26
WASHINGTON SELECTED.
The afternoon session of the national
encampment was devoted almost entlre-
ly to the discussion regarding the selec-
tion of the place for the next encamp-
ment. After long heated debate the
matter was settled on the tirst oallot oy
WASHINGTON securing majority ol
twenty-seven votes over Lincoln. Res-
olutions were unanimously adopted re-
ouesting Congress TO pass law autnor-
| izing the Interstate Commerce Commls-
sion to permit railroads TO give reduced
rates to all soldiers and sailors OF the
war OF '61-'65 attending national en-
| M
itY of Departments was continued
another year at the request
of certain departments who wanted
| to furnish further evidence before
final report was made. A resolution
was unanimously adopted limiting the
length of parades at all future encamp-
ments to two miles.
Ex-President Hayes was stopped al
the door by the sentinel to-day and re-
fused admittance because he did not
have the countersign. Gen. Alger, who
walked behind him said: Il will
youch that the gentleman is all right,
aud the who sat in the White House
was permitted to enter. Gen. Alger
escorted ex-President Hayes into the
hall and the two were greeted with ap-
plause. The location Of the next en-
campment having been settled, the In
terest of the encampment is now chief
ly centered in the election OF a COM
mander-in-chief. Capt. John Palmer,
of New York; A. G. Weissart, OF WIS
consin, and Col. w. P. Smedburg, OF
California are the leading can
didates and it is safe TO
say that one of these will be elected.
The long and stubborn contest in the
New York delegation between Palmer
aud Hedges ended to-day in victory
for Palmer, after several caucuses had
been held. Mr.. Hedges took his defeat
good naturedly, and promised to work
for Palmer. In conversation Mr..
Hedges said the Ohio delegation would
support the New York candidate after
giving their own candidate, Gen. Hurst,
a complimentary vote. 1t Is also well
"a. ..Is-s44,~I.~.H ~t--p papnSvlvania. Massa-
Maryland will caucus in favor
OF Palmer. The New Jersey
caucus last evening voted in
favor of Hedges, but Mr.. Hedges to-day
said that their support had been changed
to Palmer. Before the New York dele
CATION united on Palmer the chances
were in favor Of Weissart, and even now
he is formidable opponent. Some Of
the Eastern States which might have
supported him will probably vote for
Palmer, but Maine and Illinois have
already caucused I'm his favor, and it is
well understood that Michigan will de-
clare for WeisSert in the morning. The
States of California, Illinois, Kansas
and Minnesota have already declared
for Smedburg, and several other West
ern delegations are counted for the Cali
fornia man. Altogether, it promises to
be very interesting three-cornered
struggle, with the chances somewhat in
favor OF Palmer, since he Is to receive
the united support OF the New York
delegation. Only once in the history Of
the Order has New York had the COM
mander, ond had it been known week
ago that the New York delegation
would be able to unite on man his
election would have been conceded as
an obligation due the Empire State.
During the forenoon session of the
Encampment Commander-in-Chief Yea
zey was presented with two gavels, the
first was an Ivory one presented by
Comrade Clarkson Of Nebraska and the
d
presented by Comrade Duffield OF Mich.
The latter was made from the wood of
the old flagstaff that surmounted the
fort at Detroit 130 years ago. 1t was
this fort which repulsed the famous at
tack of the Pontiac Indians.
The Commander-in-Chi appointed a
committee on resolutions, among them
were, Department OF Potomac, S. s.
Burdett; Ohio, l. T. Mack; Indiana,
Gov A. p Hovey; Maryland, George w.
f. Vernon: New York, James S. Gra-
ham; Pennsylvania, Alfred Darte; West
Virginia, b. B. Smith; Virginia, D. r.
Wilson. The number "Queslon" was
referred to special committee consist
! ing Of Merrill of Massachusetts; Hen
derson, of Pennsylvania; Conger, of
Ohio; Linehan, of New Hampshire and
| Atkins of Ohio.