The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-09-19
THE NATIONAL ENCAMPMENT.
The G. A. II. Elects Officers and Com
pIetes Its Business.

PITTSBURG. Sept. 13.-The election Of
officers was the first business before the
G. A. R. this morning, and resulted as
follows:
observation-disclosures G. Law
Ter Of Illinois.
Senior Vice-Commander-A. P. Burch-
fed Of Pennsylvania.
Junior Vice-Commander-Ch Shute
of louisiana
Surgeon-General-O. w. Weeks Of Ohio
Chaplain-in-Chief-T. H. Haggerty Of
Missouri.
The feature Of the encampment and the
hottest and closest contest ever known
in the Grand Army was the fight for the
position Of Ommander-u-chief. The con-
testants were Col. Thomas G. Lawler Of
Rockford. ILL.,. and Col. l. y. Walker Of
indianapolis. Eiectioneering of a most
vigorous character has been going on all
week. and last night and this morning
the friends OF both candidates claimed a
victory by a good majority. The close
ness Of the result was a surprise to both
victor and defeated. 1t took forty-five
minutes tc cast and count the ballots Of
$40 delegates. Then Commander Adams
announced that the vote stood: Lawler,
800; Walker 3l9, the Illinois man winning
by a narrow margin of eleven votes. As
soon the election was announced peals
of applause rang through the opera house.
When some semb.ance of quiet was re-
stored Col. Walker withdrew his name
and the election Of Col. LAWYER was made
unanimous. In a brief speech the new
commander-in-chef thanked his support
ers and said he would work TO the utmost
for the advancement Of that grand or
ganization-the G. A. r. Nevlns post Of
Rockford. H.. IN honor Of the election Of
Col la Of afxr-o a
guns on the river bank.
Col. Layler was born in England on
April Z, 1874. When a child he was
taken to Illinois and educated in the
public schools Of Rockford. At the age
Of seventeen he enlisted rs a private in
company 1. Nineteenth Illinois volunteer
infantry. He saw much hard fighting.
He commanded his company for two
months during the Atlanta campaign
and was elected captain by his company
and placed on the roll Of honor by MAJ
Gen. Rosecrans of the army Of Cumber-
land Col. Lawler organized the Rock
ford rifles in 1876 and Was elected colonel
and commanded the Third regiment, l.
n. G., for seven years. when he resigned.
He was postmaster at Rockford under
the Hayes and Garfield administrations,
and is in the lumber and coal business.
Col. LAWYER has been commander Of c.
i. Nevins post of Rockford for twenty
six consecutive years. He has also
served as member Of the department
council of administration and junior and
senior vice-department commander.
w. II. Armstrong Of Indiana was elect
ed a member of the council of administra-
ton.
The new commander-in-chief issued his
first orders tonight, appointing Comrade
9. G. Jones Of Rockford. H.. adjutant-
general and Comrade J. N Burst OF SYRIA
cuse, ILL.,, quartermaster-genera and es-
tablishing headquarters at Rockford, H.
In the afternoon session Of the encamp-
ment representatives of the Big -Four and
of the Cincinnati. Hamilton & Dayton
railroad guaranteed a one-cent-a-mi,e rate
for the next encampment The Pennsyl-
vanla has given a similar guarantee.
This Is the first time an encampment
has concluded its business and elected
and installed its Officers in a sitting Of
two days.
The homeward rush Of Pittsburg's SOL
der visitors has begun in earnesl. To-
gether with their relatives and friends
who accompanied them to this city they
are leaving town In aim ost as large num-
bers as they came down upon the city.