The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-02-17

should perish. They have no shadow of
excus' for hesitating in this redemption
of their houor The need that we keep
close together is now present with us in
the preservation of our just rights, and
let us stand by those who stand
by us and give neither faith, aid, encOur-
agement or support to our open enemies,
or yield one iot or title to the strength
ening of the hands that stay us up; not
till can be given back to him-whO for
paltry SI3 a month endured hunger,
thirst, raggedness and WEAKNESS, who
slept under the drizzling rain and risked
his very existence in the discharge OF his
duty--the comfort of home, food, raj
ment, rest, security, safety and high re-
Enumeration he gave up at that time. Not
till they can return to the wife the strong
arms that protected and guarded her
households; not till they can give again
to the decrepit parent the strong stay on
which they hoped to lean in their old
age; not till they can infuse again into
the once strong pulsating veins all the
vigOr of healthy flow lost by undue ex-
posure; not till they can blot out of the
history of the past all the solemn pledges
made on platform and in pulpit; not till
they are willing to concede that peo-
pies covenant and nations contract is
an empty delusiOn and falsehOOd. Not
till then have the people of this land any
right to quarrel with, cnrtail or attack
the pension roll as it stands to-day. Let
us unitedly strive to teach them this
truth"
The report of the adjutant general
showed that during the year nineyfour
members of the department had died,
against seventy-six i'll 1891. The amount
expended for relief during the year as
reported by forty posts was 81 ,O43.50
seventy-throe posts having made no re-
port. The report of the quartermaster-
general showed during the year receipts
of S3.456.7S, with disbursements Of ST.
4S0S3. Cash on hand S975.95; supplies
S3O3.5l. The report of the department
inspector showed that of t posts in the
department lightweight are in good con-
ditiUn, seventeen IN fair and seven in
poor condition. The post that is the
strongest both numerically and tinan-
cially is Roberts post of Rutland. Twen-
ty-nine posts are uniformed and in forty
five the officers and guards are equipped.
Forty eight posts report relief funds
amounting to S5,0ll.3S. The total amount
expended for relief during the year was
$2,325.95.
Tuesday afternoon the election of Off
GERS occurred, the board chosen being as
follows: Department commander, Geo.
w. Doty of Morrisville; senior vice COM
mander, William Cronan of Rutland;
JUNIOR vice commander, A. g. JOdoin of
Hinesburgh; medical director, j. W.
Copeland of Lyndonville; chaplain, Rev.
Henry Croker of Fairfax; delegates to
ba notirnol ,4nca Of larUa IT.
RathbOne of Ludlow, j. E. Eldridge of
War Ell, j. G. Blackmer of Manchester,
Levant NJ Read of Bellows Falls, II. G.
Hubbard of Orwell and Josiah Grout of
Derby; alternates, at-large, W. H. Gil
more of Fairlee, G.. w. Burleson of st.
Adams, NJ. J. Sargent of South Royalton,
N. NJ. Pufier of Bennington, II. G. Bates
of ST. Johnsbury, l.. b. Harris Of Lynn
don; council of administration, E. T.
Johnson of Island Pond, Eli N. Peck of
Burlington, o. NJ. Eaton, j. P. Elmer of
Brattleboro, +. S. Weston of Newfane.
The next encampment will be held in
Burlington In the evening campfire
was held under the auspices of Roberts
post of Rutland. Every seat in the hall
was occupied and the aisles were filled.
Past National Commander Veazey pre-
sided. His opening address was followed
by speeches by Go7eTonor Fuller Ma
tionaI Commander Weissart, ex.Govern-
ors Farnham and Pingree. ex-Lieutenant
Governor Thomas, Past Department
Commander Hugh Henry. George w.
Doty, the newly elected department
commander, and others. 1t was after
mid light when the exercises closed
A special train of four cars left Rut-
land at o'clock for Bennington We'd
nesday morning, arriving at IL o'clock,
bringing about 100 of the G. A. X. Off
GERS and members to visit the Soldiers
Home, as stated in these columns last
week. Accompanying them were Forbes
of the Boston Journal, Gates of the Free
Press, Burt of the Boston Herald and
Fletcher of the Rutland Herald. The
party was received by Hon. Hugh Henry,
president of the home, and Superintend-
emit Coffey, after which lunch was served
in the Home dining rooms. Many of the
leading members of the G.. A. r. and
Woman's Relief Corps were in attend
ance. The visitors inspected the Home
and other buildings connected with it,
After lunch brief speeches were made by
Colonel II. E. Taylor, Maj. John G.
Stearns and Maj. Valentine, former Off
GERS of the department; Judge Henry,
the retiring department commander;
Mrs. Calisla Jones, president of the
Womans Relief Corps, and others. Ac-
companying the party were ex-Lieuten-
ant Governor Fletcher of CaVendlsh,
Department Commander Doty, H. W.
Spafford and others. The train was in
charge of Conductor Paris. The excur-
sionists left on their special ahead of the
flyer at p. m. After their arrival in
Rutland the newly elected department
officers were installed.