Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-24
A PEACEFUL GATHERING.
Scarcely Any Contest for the Various
Positions in the G. A. Z.
WELCOMED BY THE RELIEF CORPS.
An Enthusiastic Meeting Held Last Night
at Old City Hall.
INTERVIEWS WITH THE VETERANS

| history OF the fennsylNanla Uranu ARMY Vi
the Republic will convene in the Grand
Opera House. All day yesterday 'The
Bows" poured into town, and last night
fully 900 old veterans had arrived. They
came from every corner of the State, and
many were the happy meetings of COM
rades.
The Department headquarters are at the
Seventh Avenue Hotel. Yesterday was
spent in registering the delegates, and CIV
ing them their voting tickets and badges.
The headquarters presented busy scene, as
there were nearly 900 delegates Depart
ment Commander Boyer, Assistant Adjutant
| General Tom and several others were in
charge. AS the delegates were registered,
they fell back from the desks. Soon the big
parlor became crowded with gray-haired,
blue-coated old men.
1t Was a joyful Reunion.
They were meeting them, perhaps, for
the first time in years, and in some cases
for the first time since the War. All for
mality was cast aside, and the comrades
grasped each others hands in friendly greet
ing. Many of the old battles were refought
and the faces Of the old fellows lit up with
pleasure as some well-remembered incident
was recalled.
Posts l, 4, IL, 10, 81, g., 176, 312, 100, AS
| were quartered at the Seventh Avenue.
In each of the rooms a large crowd had
| gathered, department politics was freely
discussed and the punch bowl never al
lowed to go dry. The most sought after of
all the veterans was Captain John Taylor,
his rooms were constantly filled with guests.
One of his many admirers in speaking of
him said: 'He is the Quay of the Grand
Army of the Republic" The house was
decorated throughout with flags and the un-
suppressed sounds of mirth came from
every corner of the hotel. The other
Hotel, Posts 62, 46S, 149, 81, II, 169, 9, 129,
"a, 436, 296, 4OS, LOG, 454, 16 A, 4s3, 297.
16S, PAL, ia, 13 Central, Posts 9S, "a, %,
232, 10, s, 5S, Z, $50, 293, SO, 450, 2O2, AZ,
400 Monongahela House. Posts 140 63, 81,
81, As, 139, %, %, 2, 237, 311, "a. Hotel
Eiffel, 116. At all these headquarters lively
scenes were being enacted and all of the
veterans seemed to be having good time.
Many National Notables Present.
Among the noted men in town are:
National Commander Palmer, New York;
Department Commander George 6.
Boyer, Harrisburg; Hon. Samuel
B. Losch; General j. P. s. Goblin, Leba-
non; General j. P. Taylor, Lewistown;
General R. B. Beath, Philadelphia; Captain
John Taylor, Receiver of Taxes, Philadel-
phia; Major j. B. Morris, Mt. Morris; Hon.
Horatio b. Hackett, Philadelphia; Senator
s. D. Bates, Lewisburg; Colonel John P.
Nixon. Colonel S. Bonaffon, Philadelphia;
Colonel J. X Davidson, Philadelphia; Cen
eral Harry White, Indiana; Captain Fred
Boland, Philadelphia; Captain James Nc
Cormick, Philadelphia; Colonel E. P. Gould,
Erie; Colonel Thomas J. Stewart, Secretary
of Internal Affairs, Harrisburg; Past Junior
Vice Commander in Chief John f. Lovett,
New Jersey; Colonel Austin Curtin, Belle
fonte: United States Pension Agent Shell
nire, Philadelphia.
As is the custom, National Commander
Palmer will open the encampment with an
address. The regular routine business will
come up in the morning session. Just what
will be done is hard to say at this
writing, as the programme has not been
officially made out yet. 1t is anticipated
that the election, or at least the nomina-
tions, may be gotten through tomorrow.
1t may be impossible to do this, as there is
q great deal of unfinished business which
will probably be disposed of first.
The Manner of Electins Delegates.
One of the unfinished matters to be
brought up to-day is that of the committees
report on the districting of the State in the
election of delegates. 1t is thought the CON-
mittee will report favorably. Heretofore,
it is claimed, the election of delegates has
been taken out of the hands of the different
posts and put in the hands of the leaders.
In the hopes of breaking the rings power
this scheme was recommended.
The idea is to divide the posts up into
irfr io4e similar m tho Conversational
TEN, and the number of delegates will be
based on the districts represented. 1t was
said last night bitter fight would be made
bv the Philadelphia delegation against the
idea.
If the election comes up to-day it will be
gone through without much excitement.
General John P. Taylor, of Lewis
town, will have clear field for
Department Commander, there being
no opposition to his candidacy. w. o.
Russell, of the Southside. is so far without
mander He is considered an easy winner
against any one who may run against him.
The Only Possible Contest.
The only Office there may be any contest
for is that of Junior Vice Commander. For
this position ]. K. suoyer, of Philadelphia,
and J. A. Calvin, of Hollidaysburg, are the
candidates in the field at present. 1t was
whispered around the headquarters last night
that Mr. Calvin would be withdrawn
with the promise of the office next year.
Mr.. Suoyer will be the winner in anv event.
Besides the above officers, nominations will
be made for the Council of Administration
and delegates to the national encampment.
In the evening camp fires will be held at
Old City Hall and Carnegie Hall, ALLIE
gheny. Everybody is requested to come
early to Old City Hall. From 6:45 to 7:45
will be consumed in singing of
patriotic songs. The music will
be led by Comrade Redington, of New
York, whose singing has been so greatly
enjoyed at several of the Pittsburg posts
this week.
The only show at parade to-day will be an
escort of several posts, which will escort
the National and Department Commanders
from their headquarters to the Grand Opera
House.
A Resolution Concerning Gettysburg.
A matter which will be brought up at
some time during the encampment will
be a resolution requesting the Ma
tional Government to purchase the
remainder of the 25 miles of the Gettysburg
survey. General Taylor in speaking of it
said:. 'I think the Government should
make the purchase, and not only that, but
maintain it. The Grand Army of the Repub-
lie is fast dying out and after the old men are
gone, our posterity will not take the same
interest in the perpetuation OF the battle
field and its monuments as we would The
Government alone can do this, and 1 think
our request will be grati6ed."
The General also said, Another question
which will cause good deal of discussion
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