The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-08-31
SONS OF VETERANS.
Twelfth Annual Meeting at Cincin-
matt.


insurance to be introduced in the Order was de-
feated. The report of the Committee recon-
mended the formation of a fraternal insurance
association to be known as the Sons of Feter-
ans Mutual Benefit Society, detailing the pro-
posed plans minutely and asking that 1T shall
be ndorsed by the Commander-in- Chief of the
Encampment as official recommendation from
the Order; submitting draft of constitution for
same That it should be a separate and distinct
organization, TO be incorporated under the laws
of the State of Tennessee, and the Order of the
Sons of Veterans to be in no way liable for any
indebtedness acts of the proposed society.
The discussion of the report was very bitter at
times and consumed the entire morning ses-
sion. 1t was favored by the Commander-n-
Chief, but even this would not save it. and on g
final ballot was defeated by a vote of SO to 20.
The support of the scheme came from the West
and Northwest. the Central and Eastern States
opposing it almost unanimously.
The Councl-in-Chief made its report, show
ing the books of the Quartermaster- General and
Adjutant-General TO be in perfect condition,
and recommending vote of. thanks to the
aforementioned officers for their efficiency and
the manner in which they had kept their books.
At the close of the morning session the an
nouncement WAS made that owing to the poor
light and acoustic properties of Pixies the
meeting place of the National Encampment
would be transferred to parlors aud 2 of the
Grand Hotel.
In the afternoon session the first business
was the report of the Committee on Constitu-
tion, Rules and Regulations. This report rec
commended that the representation to the
National Encampments should be one delegate
for every 500 memb bers, instead of one to every
1000, is now the law; that the age of
eligibility for membership shall he changed
from Is to 81 years. Both of these recon-
mendations were adopted without much of
fight. The recommendation 10 change the title
of Division Commanders to Colonel caused
bitter fight, many of the members joining in
the discussion, and it was defeated by close
vote.
The recommendation to so amend the Con-
stitution that the bonds of Quartermaster-
Sergeant and Camp Council shall not be less
than 500, except in Camps which pay benefits,
where the bonds shall not be less than $500
each, and that all OF said bonds must be ap-
proved by the Judge-Advocate of the Division
to which they belong was adopted. The rec
ommendati on that semi-annual reports of
officers be substituted for the quarterly reports
as now required by law was defeated.
The Committee on Ritual reported that they
had not found time to sufficiently examine the
rituals submitted to them contcsing for the
three prizes OF 800 each, and suggested that
special COMMITTEES of three be appointed by the
present Commander Chief, whose duty it
shall be to examine the rituals submitted to
lueIH HOW peHulUR lH INC Prize contest, TO
compile from them a ritual and present the re-
suit of their labors at the next meeting of the
National Encampment for its adoption. Sew
eral minor and unimportant changes were made
in the present Constitution. They also recon-
mended the adoption of the new United States
Army Drill Regulations in place of Reeds
Tactics, which in vogue now. The recon-
mendation that the meetings of National En-
campment be held every two years. instead of
annually as now, was most bitterly fought and
caused much discussion, but was voted down
by vote of 50 TO Az
The recommendation that the request of the
Missouri Division to have the Quartermasters
of Divisions elected where the Divisions had
established permanent Headquarters, instead
of being appointed, as now, was voted down.
The report of the Committee on Resolutions
was read and adopted. The first resolution
was one of thanks 10 the citizens of Cincinnati
the Division of Ohio. S. of V, the local CAMPS
the local committee and the press for the gener-
Gus hospitality and unusually liberal courtesies
extended by them to this National Encanp-
ment. The second was the voting of gold cross
to w. S. Oberdorf for his untiring efforts in be-
half of the Order in the State of New York 1t
was through him aud his continuous work that
the two factions i'm New York were so happily
united. The third, the voting of thanks 10
Commander-in-Chief Marvin l.. Hall and his
entire staff for their invaluable services during
the past year. Five members Of Lynn Camp
l. Division of Massacb usetis, who had been
suspended were ordered rcnstated. 1t was or
dered that Division Commanders shall report
annually TO the Department Commander of the
q. "A X. the amount of money expended by the
Division for charitable purposes. for Sons of
Veterans and GAR. Divisions were authorized
to charge profit on supplies sold, said profit
not to exceed 25 per cent.
Gold crosses were voted to Division Com
,,,., NJ iaif of t.ta tn
Harry NJ. Russell and Louis NJ. Wagner, of
Pennsylvania. This wholesale voting of gold
crosses to members caused very breezy aud
spirited discussion, and the carrying OF the
resolution carries considerable soreness with
many OF the members.
The charter of the Division of Florida was
revoked by order of the Commander Chief
The Blue Book of the Order, or the Digest of
the Decisions of the Commander-in- Chief and
of the National Encampments was ordered TO
be revised.
Three thousand copies of the report OF the
proceedings of this Encampment were ordered
to be printed. Then came up the question of
the Sons of Veterans Guards one of the most
important questions of the session. and one
which it was thought would bring on long
and bitter fight However, this was happily
averted by compromise resolution, which pro-
vdes for the severance OF all connection be-
tween the Sons of Veterans and the Sons of Vet
erans Guards. so far as authority and financial
support concerned, but allowing the Guards
TO continue an adjunct organization so long
its members are members in good standing
in the Camp, and recon mending that the
Camps bearing arms shall unite and fraternize
with the Guards; which resolution was adopted
by a unanimous vote.
Col. w. Luther Davis, Of Cincinnati was, by
vote of this National Encampment, made a life
member of the Order and given all privileges of
the same.
A memorial meeting was held in memory of
the late Past Commander-in- Chief Webb, OF
Kansas. and touching addresses full Of pathos
and feeling were made by Past Commander-in-
Chief Griffin, of Indiana, and Weeks, OF New
York. Surgeon General Wilcox read a beauti-
ful obituary Of Gen. Webb, aud "A page of the
records of this Encampment was set apart in
his memory. 1t ordered that the belts
worn by officers of Camp shall be changed from
gilt to black.
The election of officers was then held and re-
suited as follows: Commanders in Chief Col
Joseph b. Maccabe, OF Boston; Senior Vice
Commander. Col. c. T. Orner, of Illinois;
Junior Vice-Com mander Frank O. Wilk knson,
of Ohio. Counci-in-Chief John V. b. Clark
son, New York; Frank p. Merrill, Maine;
Elias p Lyon. Michigan.
Before adjournment last evening the new
Commander-in in Chief. Joseph b. Maccabe, made
the following appointments: Adiutant- General
Charles X. Darling. of Pittsburg, Pa; In
spector General, Henry Frazee, Cleveland o.;
Judge-Advocate General, w. H. Russell, Rush
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