The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-09-07
THE GRAND ARMY.
The Old Veterans Elect New
Leaders.
JACK" ADAMS SUCCEEDS wEIssERT.
The Popular Massachusetts Soldier Made
Commander = In Chief Colin Walker
for Senior Vice Commander and j. C.
BIgges for Junior Vice Commander.

Commander = In Chief Colin Walker
for Senior Vice Commander and j. C.
BIgges for Junior Vice Commander.
INDIANAPoLts, Sept. Z. The Grand
Army people will probably finish their
business and leave for home this evening
Already the jam at the Union station of
people leaving has begun. The encamp-
ment proper shows disposition to rush
through with its business rapidly. Tho
election OF officers was brought up late
yesterday afternoon, and the following
wero elected practically without opposi-
. ton; John j. b. Adams of Massachusetts,
commanderin-chief; Colin Walker Of In
diana, senior vice commander, and j. C.
Bigges Of Texas, junior vice commander.
The new commander-in- chief, j. j. b.
Adams, or Jack" Adams as he is called
at home, is one Of the most popular vet
Grams in New England. For years he has
been identified with the Grand Army as
one of the most active and influential
members of the department of Massa-
chusetts.
In 1861, before he was 90 years of age, he
enlisted as private in the battalion which
became the nucleus of the Nineteenth
Massachusetts. lie served through the
war, rising step by step to the rank of cap
participated in every march and in every
battle of the army of the Potomac in which
his regiment took part.
He is q member of Lander post of
Lynn, Mass, the second in membership in
the country. He now holds the position
of sergeant-at-a of the commonwealth
OF Massachusetts. He will be 81 years old
In October
The only report of interest during the
session was that of the Commander-in-
chief Weissert, which was devoted almost
entirely to pensions. He says in part: II
am of the opinion that both the veteran
and his family would be greatly benefited
were the law SO amended as to be required
that the major portion of the pension
money received by inmates of soldiers
homes be paid direct to the wife or other
dependant, and l recommend this for tho
favorable consideration of the encamp-
ment."
The report of Adjutant General GRAY
showed that the order had gained sc, ,g6s
during the year, and lost by death, dis
charge and suspension 59,025. The total
membership in good standing is 397, aa3.
During the year the order has disbursed
1897, 900 in charity The Grant monument
fund has balance on hand of 5000.
An episode occurred during the after
hpoh - lihtiJ w Chust a WDOle lOL OF
trouble. The Ladies of the G. A. r." are
at swords points with the Relief corps and
has never been recognized as body by the
G. A. r. Commander Blodgett, of a
Chicago post, appeared at the door with
four ladies' and Mr.. Weissert invited them
up supposing they were Relief CORPS
women. and one OF them, Mrs Sheriff,
president of the Ladies' of the G. A. r.,
made a bitter speech against the Relief
corps.
Harrison's old regiment, the Seventieth,
with brigade associates, held meeting
and elected Mr. Harrison president. In
returning his thanks he made a brief
speech.
In the afternoon several speakers were
billed for Armstrong park. and accord
ingly some $500 G. A. r. men and their
families went to that place. where they
were forced to pay ten cents each before
they could enter the park. This seemed
hardly In keeping with II genuine Grand
| Army meeting, but the old veterans sat
| down under the trees and waited ma
| tiently.
AT last chorus of shouts went up, and
attention was called to the entrance gate
! Governor Mckinley was coming and every
thing was all right. Cheer after cheer
greeted the Ohio governor Mr. Mckinley
in part said: II think nobody in thi, coun-
try has better right to meet in this coun-
try than the Grand Army of the Republic,
who preserved for us and all mankind the
| best and noblest government on the face
of the earth. To keep the United States
forever is the business of the G. A. Il now
and of everybody"
Governor Mckinley expressed regret
when he learned thnt an admission had
been charged and he had been made use of
to further private scheme
The next encampment goes to pittsburg
| There was no other applicant