The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-10-20
A LEGION OF
UNION VETERANS,
The Seventh Annual Eneampment at
indianapolis.

Veteran Leg ion was opened at indianapolis. lad
on Oct Il. On Tuesday the trains brought IN large
numbers and on the evening and night OF That DAY
the rush at The different depots was great ln'
astonishing before the big battle was peguh 10y 'i,t
different committees Oh Tuesday morning WINE
The other preiiminaries were being arranged by th'
National officers. On the same day the thres I'M
portaut Committees-Rules. Executive ana is''ua
RevsioIy-inet at Tie DeilsoB ana pfeliheu iSpo,''
for submission at Tie session next morning. III
the afternoon woman's auxiliary TO Eneamp'
ment SO, of indianapolis, was formed, win a mem
bership of nearly so.
tees i'm the preparation of their reports Nhlie the
Committees on the Ritual and Rules had number
of amendments 10 recommend at was thought th,'
The reports would be adopted with httie OF no oo-
lection.
The Committee on Revision of the Laws. how
ever had under consideration several radical
changes i'm the constitutional law of the order.
For n long time there has becn quite large eie-
ment of the membership which has favored
change of the eligibility clause of the Constitution
which, under its present construction, excludes
from membership thousands OF veterans with meri-
torous records, simply because they enlisted FOR
a less period than TWO years, although they may
have re-enlisted for term which kept them In
service much longer than two years. IL was as,
serted that the motives which prompted most OF
the GO and 90day enstments were lust as patriotic
and praise those Of the three year men. or
those who enlisted for The war. III was urged mat
to bar those of the short-time men who did iaith-
full service upon this purely technical ground would
be simply 10 fy in the face OF justice y 10 many
honorable and worthy old soldiers Another change
in the laws which the committee considered was
one which will provide for the admission OF sol
diers who discharged before they had seen
two years service on account OF total dlsabllltes
incurred in active service. Other amendments
referred TO the committee were the extension oil
the tenure of Office of National officers from one 10
two years, and change from annual 10 biennial
Eucampment meetings. j, wRs 6 o'clock IN the
evening before the committee completed It's work
On Tuesday evening hundrees OF names had
been registered al Headquarters, the newcomers
representing Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New
York District OF u:,bia, Delaware, Ohio, Iowa,
..,tea,G afaG utrfr Vrff I'm Na6n
day forenoon trains arrived bearing large dele
cations from Pittsburg, Dayton, Cincinnati and
Chicago.
At sharp on the morning of Wednesday Gen.
Joseph L. Palmer with his staff assembled in front
the Denison. and Staff Color Bearer q. C. james
unlured the National standard Of the Union Vet
eTan Legion, which was borne at the head of the
10 delegates who msrshaIed 10y Adi't-Gen. Nc
Keen aud escorted by Eucampment so. marched TO
Tomlinson Hall. where the sessions OF the National
Eucampment We're TO be formally opened. The in
terror of the hall presented beautiful appearance
The stage was handsomely decorated with a pro-
fusion of the National colors. aud was additionally
attractive with tasteful groupings of potted plants
and the heavy and graceful foliage of palms
and giant ferns. The Eame Of Homer c. Jones:
whose name had been dropped from the list OF
delegates by order of Gen. Palmer, was replaced.
Col Fitch, whose name was also dropped was
likewise reinstaied. both of these actions being
done over the ruling Of the Commander.
National Commander Paimers report was volu-
minous and covered much ground. He reported
that the efforts at propagation of the Order in
Connecticut, Rhode Island. New York, New Jer-
sey. Maryland, Michigan, Ohio. Illinois, and Iowa
bad been prolific OF gratifying results. He had
correspOnded with the Postmasiers Of over 400
towns having populations of 5000 and upward. and
had received ia reply 257 lists of eligible veterans.
He had directly commuui cated with $500 veterans
with a view TO establishing Encampments. and re-
plies had been received from over 500 Since his
installation, Oct. Is 1881, 20 new Encampments
had been organized and IS more were III process
of organization, with "a addition The sub
ject of correspondence; making ~ tai OF those in
which propagation had been advanced OF IS.
The Commander believed larger number of
Encampmeuis would have beer organized this
year bu; for the fact that Presidential Campaign
was under WAY. and the unusual aud general IN
terest in the recent National EucainpmeBt OF the
GAR He recommended the organization, in
spaFselyset;led districts Of bodies 20 be known
batiaiOns. TO be attached To the nearest Eucamp-
meni- lie believed this would result la largely
increased scce-sion- 10 the fank- lie also recon-
mended n change la tiSe eligibility clause Of the
Constitution. which would provide for tie admis-
sion Of veterans having IA length aud qualify Of
service equal 10 those who were admissible to the
Legion under existing rsles. He urged That two
years Of service. made before July. ieO3. ought 10
cntitle ANY soldier TO membership. aud ihsI the
should be tho where soldiers had re-
Ceived wound. in battle matter What the term
OF Their enlistment might have been. He also
recommended a change IN the ierm Of tic National
Ofcers from one to two year. aud thst the regular
National kncRmpment be held bieunnlly instead
OF every Il months IL. said that ll,e staff officers
excepting the Senior and Junior NiceC on mnnders,
should be made appointire by the National Com
aud that all individual applications for member
ship should be forwarded TO National Headqusr-
ters for approval before hnhl action taken.
Changes Ia the manner Of collecting the annual
per capita tax he advised, ard lac called attention
10 the urgent demand for systematic and
simple methods OF keeping The financial accounts
o. the Order.
The report of Quartermasier Blair showed
gratifying financial condition of the Order, with a
diminution OF expenses last year ana a balance in
The National Treasury OF S5s7.
resolution Wae passed extending The sympathy
of the Encaupment TO President Harrison for the
great sflclion with which he has been visited in
The serious sickness of his wife.
AT p N. the meeting adjourned until $50 The
next day.
As The Encampment was in progress the ladies of
the National Womans Auxiliary held their annual
meeting in George H. Thomas Post hail. 20 dele
gates being present. The President Mrs. Beighel,
Of Altoona, Pa, delivered her annual address,
which was eloquent and rcplete with interesting
information 10 the membership. showing the
auxiliary 10 be in q very good condition. with the
hattering prospects OF continued prosperity. The
report of the Treasurer proof of very healthy
condition Of the finances. with outstanding in
debtedness; with the dues and per capita tax all
paid in, and satisfactory balance to the credit of
the National body. There Is a total mbershp ms
shown by the Presidents report, Of nearly $50
with indications that this number will be doubled
during the coming year.
At 8 30 parade was formed. the route of which
led through The principal streets Along the entire
route OF procession numerous residences and busi-
ness houses had been gaily. and, in ia many in.
stances, prOfusely decorated. Over COO men were
IN line, and the formation OF the parade as
follows: Platoon of police under Capt. Dawson
and sergt Hagerdorn; Wbclaud Military Band
carriage containing Corp'I Tanner Mayor Sullivan,
and Col. w. Ii. Tucker; Columbus Encampment
No Il; Anderson Drum aud Fife Corps of
Cinciunatii Cincinnati Encampment, No 81;
Drum and Fife Corps No. 50; indianapolis En-
czmpment, No. SO; National Com mander John T..
Palmer and STAFF; Marshal Of Parade Ross and
assistants; visitors.
Fully 1900 people were at Tomlinson Hall when
the Campfire was opened. Mayor Sullivan de-
livered the address Of welcome 10 The city, and
Gov. Chase followed him and welcomed The visitors
to the State OF Indiana. Gen. Palmer responded
10 these aud after q SOLO and "A recitation Corpora!
Tanner was introduced and made short speech.
On Thursday Chairman {. r. Mckinny, Of the
Committee on Affairs, reported a number of fiatter
ing references 10 the excellence Of National Com
mnnder Palmer's administration. Attention
called 10 the TACT that under the general manage.
nent the Order had enjoy ed. during the past year
great success and had rapidly enlarged lie member
snip. nNlew OF the many recommendations made
by the National Commander, the committee sug-
gested that tile Commanders report be referred 10
special committee of three to report on the same
al The annual EncRmpmeut OF 1888 The much
mooted question Of an increase Of the per capita
tax TO ~ cents d quarter Was urged upon the En-.
campment.
Upon motion of Delegate Fitch Of Washington
~. e. The Constitution WAS taken up for revision.
With the exception Of several minor changes pro-
Niding for a new method OF collecting certain fees
and the strengthening Of several unin portant TECH
meal points In the rules of order the laws were
LETT as they were originally constructed.
The committee In Its report recommended the
admission 10 membership OF three months men
who had re-enllsted and served q months more.
This was defeated by q nearly threc-fourths ma
Joriiy. The same disposition made Of the
proposition TO make eligible veterans who had
been discharged for disabilities incurred in line