St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-08-26
THEY FIGHT A BIT.
Sons Of Veterans Show That
They Have Some Scrap
ping Blood Left.
Sweeping Changes Made in
the Constitution and in
the Ritual.
Official Programme for the
Opening Of the Exposition
This Afternoon.
C. & G, Committeeman Look
at HOSnita1 SitnS--CitV
C. & C. Committeeman Look
at Hospital Sites--City
Hall News.

Sons of Veterans like to see great
city, its lights and shadows. That per-
haps accounted for their hardness in
assembling yesterday morning. Al
though scheduled to meet at 9 o'clock 1t
was thirty minutes later before even a
small crowd had assembled. Then
Mayor Winston was admitted. Briefly
he welcomed the young men to Mill
neapols, listened to the acceptance
of the same by Commander-in-Chief
Webb, and departed, followed by "a
hearty cheer. The business session
was begun with the report of the COM
mittee on revision Of ritual. The COM
mIttee reported that only a complete
reorganization of the fundamental and
organic laws of the order would render
possible the radical ritualistic changes
deemed necessary. The committee had
decided upon these three things:
First-That no ritual work should be pre-
pared for the military rank in conjunctio n
with the other two, as it was thought neces
sary toplan for it al entirely independent or
ganization, which would not require sepa-
rate ritual.
Second-That the order at large should
remain semi-military instead of being made
strictly civil
one degree was both unnecessary and unde-
sirable.
SFs There Was a RUmpus.
The committee then outlined the pro-
posed changes i'll, and additions to. the
ritual. The general instructions to the
candidate are to remain practically un-
changed. The EOpening ceremony is
condensed with the substitution Of sew
nf
business is slightly changed and con-
densed. The closing ceremonies are
condensed by the substitution of the
doxology for the hymn ''Redeemer."
The obligation of the G. A. X. COM
rades remains unchanged; the muster
in ceremonies slightly condensed j;
organization ceremonies unchanged
installation ceremonies much condensed
and the post system of burial service
slightly amended. 1t is proposed also
to have three instructive services, one
for each quarter, under the direction of
the chaplains representing the fOrma-
tive or revolution epoch, the conStruc-
tive or constitution epoch, the preSerYa-
tive or rebellion epoch of the cOuntry's
history.
A great storm then arose. The COM
mittee offered a resolution inStructlng
the committee to prepare ritual in ac-
cOrdance with the outline presented.
The report and resolutions were adopt
ed. Then the question was recOnSid-
cred. TwO'hOurS of angIy debate fol-
lowed. E. w. KrackOwiZer, chairman
of the committee on ritual, came in for
some warm personal rOasts. There
were three factions. One wanted a
shorter, simpler ritual: another a
l0nOnr. a
other wanted three degrees and ritual
for every degree. The question was
left open without election.
The New Constitution.
Another important report submitted
in the afternoon was that of the COM
mittee on constitution. The committee
had long report. the work of several
weeks. Summarized its main features
were as follows:
The abolition of all military titles, except
for officers of the military rank.
The establishment of a military rank within
the order
The military order itself to be semi-mil-
tary.
The grand commandery to authorize the
commandeTin-chief TO appoint command
ant and a committee of five members, who
shall be deemed committee on military
rank, who shall report at the next meeting
plans for the same.
Past officers to retain their honors, but not
their titles
All decorations to be worn in accordance
with the regulations of the United States
army.
The correction and revision of the entire
constitution of the order.
Lineal male descendants of veterans are
made eligible to membership.
These changes are supposed to great
~ strengthen the order. The report OF
the committee was adopted. 1t is a
radical departure. There will be no
more honors or titles. The past officers
are allowed to retain their honors for a
time, but it is more than probable that
even they will be stripped away in the
future. The report was accepted, and
the new constitution was taken up and
| discussed section by section. The COM
mittee has reported an entirely new con-
stitution. some of the features of the
old constitution being retained.
Discussion of the constitution lasted
all night. All of the important changes,
as adopted, are noted above.
The following members we're added to
the committee appointed to consider the
appeal from the report of the court
martial IN the matter of Col. Payne:
Lyon, of South Dakota; Morrison, OF
Montana; Stevens, of Massachusetts
Bixby, of Vermont, and Rebela, OF
Pennsylvania.
In the matter of the Addington court
martial, although it is not considered
likely that there will be an appeal, the
following committee was appointed:
Deckman, of Ohio: Stademan, of Hi
nois; O'Brien, of Nebraska: Fuller, OF
Wisconsin,; Van Houten, of Iowa.
The morning session to-day will be
devoted entirely to the report of the
committee on military rank. In the
afternoon the Sons Will participate i'll
the exercises of the opening of the ex-
position. and in the evening the camp
fire will be held.