The record-union., 1891-08-07

argument made before it as to the causes
leading to the existing trouble in those
departments. The old posts, from one to
eight, inclusive, in the Department of
Louisiana and Mississippi, are composed
of white comrades. The new posts, from
nine to seventeen, inclusive. are COM
posed of colored comrades. The conten-
ton is that the latter posts are tainted
with fraud in their organization. The
remedy suggested of separate depart
ments of concurrent jurisdiction for col
ored veterans involves an amendment to
our rules and regulations.
During that fierce struggle for the life
of the nation we stood shoulder to
shoulder as comrades tried. It is too
late to divide now on the color line. The
man who is good enough to stand be-
tween the flag and those who would de-
stroy it when the fate of the nation was
trembling in the balance is good enough
to be comrade in any department of the
Grand Army Of the Republic. No differ
ent rule has been or ever shall be recog-
niZed by the survivors of the Union
army and navy. No department should
be established for any color or nation
atty.
'The platform ofprinciples of the Grand
Army of the Republic is so broad that all
honorably discharged soldiers and sail
orS can stand upon it in the opinion of
y
partment of Louisiana and Mississippi
consists Of posts, part of which are COM
posed of white comrades and others of
colored comrades, is no sufficient reason
for making the radical change in our
rules and regulations. Our fraternity,
charity and loyalty should be witnessed
by our deeds, as well as our words.
1.-The recommendation of the Com
mander-in-C Chief is based upon the fact
that seven of the cOlored posts of the
Department of Louisiana and Mississippi
petitioned for separate department.
Comrades representing part of their posts
appeared before the committee and
claimed in their argument that it was
their understanding, and that of many
other colored comrades, that they were
only petitioning for a department to be
created in the State of Louisiana, the
same as in other States, in which depart
ment all comrades, white and black,
should be equally entitled to member
ship, and further that they, and those
represented by them, are opposed to the
creation OF a separate department.
''In view OF the facts submitted to your
committee it is of the opinion that il
would be ineXpedient to place authority
with the COMMANDMENTS Chief to organ
ize new or provisional departments in
State in which there are organized de-
partments.''
This report was signed by William
Warner, John II. Rea, Lucius Fairchild
and Henry Painter.
a minority report was presented by
". S. Decker Of Colorado. He concurred
in the recommendations of the Com
mander-inChie and recommended that
the rules and regulations be changed SO
as to authorize the Commander-in-C Chief
to organize department in the depart
mentS now existing whenever satisfied,
upon proper representations. that they
may be organized without detriment to
the G. a. Il. or any department organiza-
ton.
Mr.. Decker accompanied his minority
report with speech Of some length. He
dwelt on the race distinctions in the
South and said: 'If we do not settle this
question now it will be here continually
until settled according to the condition of
affairs found in Louisiana, Mississippi
and other Southern States"
Major Warner said: when these black
men and white men shouldered their
muskets in defense of the Union it was
not question Of etiquette and sociability,
but OF patriotism and loyalty. The black
man fought for the flag that never, up to
that time, had protected him in anything
but bondage. This organization had
better bury the old flags, the comrades
had better tear the buttons from their
breasts than now, as our heads are silver
ing, to go back on the principles for
which we bled." Applause
EX-Commander in Chief Fairchild
comrade Northcott of Virginia and two
colored members spoke in favor Of the
majority report.
Mr.. Graham of Louisiana recounted
some of the trouble OF his department
He said no colored post had been recog-
nlzed until recently, when charters were
granted by the department commander,
who became offended because members
of the order refused to attend the funeral
of jeff. Davis. Several hundred men had
been admitted within few days, and the
time was too short to make any examina-
ton into their military record or char
acter.
By 0iUG Uoce vote the majority report
was finally Overwhelmingly adopted.
THE NEW COMMANDER.
Captain John Palmer, the new Com
mander-in-Chief, was born on Staten
Island, March %, 1912, and has a splendid
war record. He served during the war
in the Ninety first New York Volunteers.
taking part in all it's engagements. Since
the war he has engaged in fresco painting
and the decoration business at Albany,
\. Y. AS member of the G. A. r., he
for several terms was Commander of Lew
Benedict Post, No. 5, was elected Com
mander of the New York Department,
and in 1879 was elected Senior Vice Com
Hldlluer-In-CnleI, all OF winch important
positions he filed with credit He is said
to be forcible speaker and model pre-
siding officer.
LADIES OF THE G. A. r.
DETROIT, Aug. 6.-The fifth National
Convention of the Ladies of the G.. A. r.
to-day received fraternal greetings of the
q. A. K. Encampment, and elected Off
GERS for the ensuing year as follows:
National President, Mrs. J. NJ. Cartledge
of Kansas; Senior Vice President, Mrs.
Alice Bishop of Massachusetts; Junior
Nice-President, Mrs. Nettie Sanford
Chaplin of Iowa; Treasurer, Mrs. Anna
Grubb of New Jersey; Chaplain, Mrs.
Alonzo Page of Illinois
BRIEF NOTES
An unknown tough assaulted and beat
John Schnott, a laborer, on Front street