Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-04-09
TRUE TO THE BLUE
Grand Amy Veterans Meet
Together in illinois
TO KEEP ALIVE THEIR DEEDS
They Gather as the State Encampment.
Capt Ed. Harlan Elected Depart
ment Commsndeg.

6rniSsFrELp. III. April s.--Amid the
sblare of brazsn horns. the huttcr-'
ing of banners and cheers about ! 200
veterans of the late war marched
from the Leland hotel To the capitol
building Thursday morning and opened.
the twenty-sixth annual encampment
of the Illinois Grand Army of the Re-
public. There were ese delegates pres
ent, according 70 the report of the COM
mittee on credentials, which number
was largely augmented by arrivals dur
ing the day.
Claims Seniority.
One important question was before
the convention. 1t is the dispute rs to
the seniority of organization between
the departments of Illinois and Wis
consin. which was decided adversely to
Illinois by the committee Of the ma.
tional convention, and a committee was
appointed to look up the record and re-
port on behalf of this department at the
present encampment.
This report was presented Thursday
chairman of the committee. After
showing by the records that Illinois
was organized as u department in
April, 1864, and Wisconsin not until
May of the same year. the COM
mittee presents resolution calling for.
a committee of five 10 act with the de-
partment commander in presenting the
case of this department to the national
encampment. This resolution was
adopted and the following men appoint
ed on the committee: Ex-Gov. r. J..
Oglesby, Maj. James A.. Connolly,
Springfield; Maj. Robert Mann Woods.
Joliet; Col. Thomas j. Lawlor, Joliet,
and Gen. II. II. Thomas, Chicago.
Report Of Commander Clark.
The morning was devoted to recep-
tion of department officers. Commando.
er Clark's report compliments the
members OF the order and expresses his
thanks Tor the kindly cooperation he
has met with in the work of his Office.
He reports go posts, with 32,9s4 men,
bers, as against COS posts and s2,64l
members last year; 2,107 have been sus-
pended. 26s discharged. and At have
died during the year. Indebtedness to
the amount of S993 outstanding from
the last administration has been paid
and balance of $1,000 is reported
in the hands of the assistant adjutant
general He commends the purposes of
the organizations of Sons and Daughters
of Veterans and the Woman's Relief
Corps. The memorial hall at Decatur
is commended to the veterans as work
worthy of their support. The observ-
ance of memorial day and the visitation
of schools by the comrades are COM
mendcd
The committee on soldiers orphans
home recommends the appointment of
q committee to urge upon the legis-
lature to amend the law SO that
children may be retained in the
state institution until they reach
the age of 16 instead of IA, as
is now the law. The report of the
committee on the soldiers home was
complimentary to the management of
that institution and recommends the
appropriation by the legislature of a
sum sufficient to add to the institution
an mbly-room on the ground floor.
Arrival of Commander Palmer.
The event of the day was the arrival
of the national commander, Col. John
Palmer. who arrived on the St Louis
limited on the Chicago & Alton at 4
o'clock in the afternoon. He was es-
corted to the hotel and given an enthu-
siastic reception, which he acknowl-
edged in brief speech. At the camp
fire at night the welcoming address was
delivered by Gov. Fifer and the re-
sponse by Horace S. Clark, department
commander National Commander John
Palmer and others spoke.
Capt. Harlan Elected
SPRINGFIELD, H., April s.-The grand
army state encampment have elected
Capt. I'D Harlan, of Marshall, depart
ment commander. His opponents were
p. l.. McKinnie, of Evanston, and. "a.
ID. Cadwallader, of Lincoln.
Resolutions.
A number of resolutions were adopt
ed. They 1szfiirm faith in Comrade r.
A. Algcr and point to his splendid
record as soldier, as a complete refu-
tation Of the ISLANDERS of his enemies"
favor the appropriation by legislature
Of sum sufficient to do away with the
fee that is exacted from visitors
TO the Lincoln monument at Spring:
field: approve the establishment of a
John A. Logan memorial hall at Athens,
Tenn oppose the bill in congress TO
appropriate 500. 900 10 assist in enter
tanning the delegates 10 the national
encampment: favor the women's relief
corps scheme TO establish home for dis
abled soldiers. their wives and widows,
urge the passage of law by the legis-
lature. similar TO the New York law,
for the relief of destitute war veterans
ty counties, towns, etc: commend the
Sons Of Veterans for abolishing shoul-
der-straps and high-sounding titles;
heartily indorsc the order deprecating
the carrying of the rebel hag in process
sions participated in by grand army
posts.
wems.'s Relief Corps Meeting.
At the same time the Grand Army Of
the Republic encampment was con-
venea the ninth annual convention OF
The woman's Relief Corps was called To
order by the department president.
Mr.. Mary A. Bradley. Of Deestar.
Mrs bradley made a report show
log that during the year there
have been inspected Zoe corps IN
th. state hy inspectors srpoiased by
th. president. sixteen hundred per.
sons have ssea assisted, sneluasng cid