Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-03-17

JohN tatTteY-
MADI, ON, Wis, March i2.-Wednes.
day the 23d annual encampmeut of the
Grand Army, department of Wisconsin,
opened. Commander Upham, in his re-
port declared against the color line being
drawn. ANY man. said he, 'twho has
carried a musket or welded saber is a
comrade.' He treated as absurd the
jealousy felt by some persons toward the
Loyal Legion. He asked if it was reason
able to suppose body of $50 should ever
gain control over one of 14,000. He
administered rebuke to E. @ Nye, of
Milwaukee, for using the post to air a
personal feeling against the Loyal Legion,
though he mentioned no name Nye had
aroused the post ~ asserting that the
Loyal Legion is trying to rule the whole
body of the g. A. R.
Commander Upham, in continuing his
report, said the council Of Administrative
had decided the Madison post was entitled
to seniority in Wisconsin. Nye put in a
minority report on behalf Of Berlin
post and it was tabled, but
representatives of the c. G. Washburn
post and those of the Berlin post held a
conference during Thursday afternoon.
The G. c. Washburn post was very con-
clllatory In Its manner. To put an end to
any controversy at this time it accorded
to the Berlin post the honor OF leading the
column at the next national encampment
at Washington, D. c.; but at the next
Wisconsin department meeting, the ques-
ton of priority will come up for final de-
cision. Adjt.Gen. Gray's report shows
seven new posts with total membership
of IA, 443. and a gain during the past
year of 200. The mum ser of posts is a.
724. The amount expended for charity in
the year past was s., 458.
Senator S. FL. Woodwork reported for
the board of trustees that during the year
S25, 600 was spent On permanent improve
ments at the Veteran Home at Waupaca.
and the cost OF maintenance was 1926, 304
or Sl44.S4 per capita per year, or So. 78 per
week The number of inmates is 214.
The encampment came to close Thurs
day. The controversy between DR..
Carlson and E. G. Nye, boil of Milwau.
kee, for the election as department COM
mander enabled c. B. Welton, of Madi-
son, to slip into the coveted place in a
surprisingly easy manner, being elected
On the. second ballot. Other officers were
chosen as follows:
Senior vice commander-P. S. Fenton,
of Evansville
Junior vice Commanders. II. Tubbs,
of Superior.
Medical director-Dr Dantley, Of Mil
wukee.
Chaplin-M. Wells, of RichIand Cen
ter.
Delegates and alternates to attend the
national encampment were elected as fol.
lows:
At large. K. Irwin, of Tomah; 0. F.
Brown, GIenwood.
Levi F. Allen, Elkhorn.
R. B. Smith, Madison.
C. E. Merely, Reedsburg.
S. F. Rumble, Milwaukee.
M. L Snyder, Waukesha.
Lester Ciawsou, hartford.
W. Il. Blyton, Sparta.
John Bell, Green Bay.
Fl. r. Allen, Merrill.
D. J. Dill, Prescott.
ALTERNATEs.
E. B. Heimstreet, Janesviile.
c. w. Raphael, Oregon.
S. E. Shepard, Reedsburg.
Julius Lasche, Milwaukee.
C. Fl. Carbett, Palmyra.
J. NJ. Chapel, Berlin.
R. c. Jones. Sparta
E. McGlachlin, Green Bay.
W. G. Bancroft, Merrill
w. Il. Harolson, Prescott.
Commander Welton soon afterward ap-
pointed as his adiutan general, Rev. J.
q. Whitney, of Baraboo. He had several
years experience as adjuntant general, and
HI o,7for bic I,1tJoc With full
knowledge of their character. Mr. Whit
ney is the poet of the Wisconsin depart
ment. The place is the only salaried one
in the order, and paws 81 500 year. Mr..
Whitney succeeds Col. E. B. Gray.
Michael Griffin, from the committee on
veterans home, submitted the report of
the committee Among the recommends
tions made were the following: Favor
ing an annual contingent appropriation
of S., ZOO by the legislature; that unmar-
ried inmate pensioners pay to the home
all their pensions In excess of Sc per
month, and married ali in excess of S12
per month; as king the establishment by
the United States of post Office at the
home.
Senator J. E. Woodnorth was elected to
succeed himself on the board Of trustees,
and A. j. Smith was elected a member in
place of r. T. jackson, of Shawno.
Thursday evening great reception was
given to Commander in Chief Palmer. The
general said it was hard to travel and
speak but the surroundings furnished an
inspiration. He felt that be was not
elected to his present position because of
any distinguished achievements during or
since the war. He was simply one of the
rank and file who from 81 to IS devoted
themselves to the cause Of the country.
Every one of them was as loyal as the
man who happened to stand above him in
official position.
The soldiers of the union did not COM
nit depredations This was never i'm
pressed on the speaker more than when
he was forced to cross the ocean to seek
treatment In Paris hospital and wit
messed the d-vastation of the Franco Prus-
sian war. The general referred to general
order No. 4, which has caused SO much
comment. He believed nations. like
plants, could be preserved by proper treat
ment. When the young men of the south
said to the confederate soldiers. "The