The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-04-06
THE STATE ENcAMPMENr.
Lafayette Successful in Securing the Nez
Session for that City.

session Tor that City,
Special to the Indianapolis Journal
EVANSVILLE, Ind. April 5.-The State
q. A. X. Encampment was called to order
promptly at 10 o'clock to-day. The body
stood during the simple opening exercises
by the chaplain, @ man who has q lighting
record, and who was expelled from his
church and pulpit because he would belong
to the Grand Army. The delegates listened
with close attention while Department
Commander Cheadle read his address.
Many points in it called forth hearty ap-
plsuse. HIS appeal TO members TO report
to the Pension Bureau the Gases whore per-
sons were drawing pensions to which they
are not entitled under the laws was ap-
plauded, as was his urgent request
that ell pensioners who spend the
stipend of the government In Intoxicotion
be put under guardianship. His reference
to the establishments of q State soIdiers!
home received much approval Tho
closest attention was paid to his review of
the legislation to build monument in
honor of Indisna's dead in the war for the
Union, and to his exposure of the Langs-
dale conspiracy in regard to the dates.
Every eye was fixed on him as, with de-
liberation. he read the concluding sem
tences. He said: I'VE have been
betrayed by men in our ranks"
When he added that ''ir is our
duty to dead comrades to whom this monu-
ment is reared to fight until it is restored
to its original design" storm of applause
showed that Commander Cheadle had
touched the sentiments of the Grand Army
of Indiana. 1t was not. however. until the
Commander. in presenting papers, said
that he haS received by mail from Chair
man Ian gsdale, the report of the monument
committee, that there was scene so re-
markable for its dramatic features that
the spectators will long remember 1t.
1T RAISED A FUROR.
The announcement was scarcely made by
the commander when Post Department
Commander Carnahan. who was on the
platform with men who had been COM
manders. sprang to his feet, and. in voice
that seemed to startie the audience. shout
ed: Commander, did hear you announce
that you had a report from the monu unent
committee of the Grand ArmyT
You did. sir" was the reply.
Then here declare that the committee
has made no report. am the secretary Of
that committee. aud all notices for the
meetings of Its members have been issued
by me on the request of Its chairman. In
past yeays the COMMITTEES has met and
agreed upon q report. Ii has had no meet
ing this year. and l Genonnce the Langs-
dale report as O fraud on the committee.
and. as a member thereof, protest against
its reception"
Then there was burst of applause.
han had au beth ed II eN lar
tin was seen standing on his chair in the
midst of the Seventh district delegation.
In moment there was silence, and he said:
AS member of the monument committee
i desire TO say that L have never been
called TO agree to the Langsdale report.
AS far as / can learn. no meeting of the
committee has been held and the report is
fraud. have seen that part of it pub.
lished. and protest against it's sen time n Is
as a report of the committee"
Before the applause W hioh greeted this au-
noIncement bad subsided. Mayor Zollng.
er, of Fort Wayne. had demanded hear.
ing. Il have been q member, Of the monu-
ment committee for years." He SAID. II
have attended it's meetings. but this year
10 meeting has been called. ] enter my
protest against the reception OF tho Langs-
dale paper as report. and dissent from
it's statements"
Hon. j. 7. Layman, another member,
said Il. too. am a member Of the monu-
ment committee. and l. tOo protest against
being drawn into the Langsdale conspiracy.
When the committee appeared before tho
dollar for each soldier Indiana sent to tho
war for the Union was not too much to
vote. and 100000 was vored."
Judge Black. of Indianapolis, said that
of the different members of the monument
committee, and the no less remarkable
statements of the Ian gsdale report. as
printed In the papers. he would move to
submit the LenRsdsle report. unread. TO
the members of the monument committee
present. The motion WAS carried unani.
mously, and with loud cheers.
REPUDIATING LANGsDALE.
In the afternoon session, in behalfIof him
self and Zollinger. Carnshan aud Layman,
Hon. J. L. McMaster submitted the fol-
lowing report as that of the monument
committee:
The undersigned members of the monument
committee, To whom was referred the report
signed by G.. j. Langsdale, president purporting
to be report OF said committee, would respect
fully report that they have never been invited 20
consider the report signed by the said iangs-
dale, and have never approved or given their con
sent to any such report, are they to be under
stood as approving or consenting to the same.
Heretofore IL has been the custom of the presl-
dent OF the committee TO call Its members to-
gether for the purpose OF considering and ap-
proving the report that should he made TO the
annual department. enoampment, but such
call has been made, nor has q meeting OF any OF
the members for the purpose OF preparing or ap-
proving any report TO the present encampment
SO far as the undersigned members OF said com
mittee are informed and believe, and they here
by disavow and repudiate any report
which seeks 20 justify the action
OF the board of commissioners In placing the
dates lS46 and 1S4S upon the upper astragal of
said monument. thus divertins it from the sacred
purpose for which it was intended, and that the
same should be restored TO the object for which
II was designed by n removal OF said dates.
Every face was turned to the reader. and
when he closed @ deafeniDg shout of ap-
plause went mp. and the report was &C.
bepted by unanimous vote. When the ap-
piause bad subsided George w. Spahr, of
Indianapolis read the following pream BILE
and resolutions:
Whereas. The Indiana department OF the
Grand Army OF the Republic devised the ways
and means and secured the enactment of a law
for the creation OF monument sacred 10 the
memory OF the service and sacrifices OF the sol
diers OF the state OF Indiana in tile war for the
suppression OF the rebellion, and for the COM
memoration OF the great cause for which they
fought; and,
Whereas. George j. Langsdaie by his reports
and Speeches, always, in most emphatic terms
and language, favored and advocated the cree
tion OF such monument for such purpose only,
and In the description OF the design which W as
adopted and on which the contract for the
building OF such monument was let. the follow
ing language was used: Just below the top
10 q bronze astragal bearing the dates 1861
1862. 1868, 1854 on the several sides of the
monument, which Will he lighted at night; and,
whereas, Becaure OF such statements and
representations OF said Lanxsdale he has from