The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1894-09-13
down TO BUSINESS.
Delegates to the G. A. R. Convention
Take Up the Serious Work Of
the Meeting.
WALKER FOR COMMANDER.
The Indiana Candidate Said to BE in
the Lead For Head of the
Organization.


to the national encampment OF the
G. A. r. have got down to solid bust
ness basis. While 100000 persons have
left the city since the last old soldier
passed in review Tuesday, there are still
200, 900 strangers in town, the majority
of whom will stay until Saturday and
Sunday, while some will remain even
longer. The national encampment
opened in the new Grand Opera House
The commander-in-chief and delegates
were welcomed ON behalf of the citizens
executive board by Chairman Daniel Z.
RIPLEY, and also William Hamilton,
chairman of the committee on invita-
lions. Governor Pattison welcomed
them Oh behalf of the State OF Penn
sylvania, while Mayor McKenna of
Pittsburg and Mayor Kennedy OF ALE
gheny performed the same pleasant
duty on behalf of their respective cities.
Walker For Commander.
The serious business of the encamp-
ment proper then began. Since the
withdrawal of Judge Charles D. Long
of Michigan for commander-in-chief the
opinion is rapidly growing that Colonel
I. N. Walker of Indiana will secure the
coveted honor. The selection Of the
next encampment city has also been de-
ferred. While the surface indications
are that Louisville will have walk
over it is limited that st. Paul has been
doing good work in quiet, but very eff
fective way.
The fair auxiliaries of the G.. A. r.,
having recovered from the excitement
of Tuesdays parade, are also holding
their conventions. The Women's Re-
lief Corps, the Ladies of the G. A. r.
and Daughters of Veterans will discuss
serious matters, chief of which will be
their official relation to the G. A. r.
In addition they will elect national
officers.
Commander Adams Speech.
At the conclusion of the welcoming
speeches in the Ct. A. r. convention
Commander-in-Ch Chief Adams delivered
his annual address,.
Commander Adams opened his adj
dress by congratulating Pittsburg OH its
loyalty now, as well as during the days
of the war, citing it's liberalityI in car
ing for the soldiers from the West on
their way to the front, as Philadelphia
had done for those from the Eastern
states.
He then referred to the fact that four
months confinement in a hospital had
prevented him from attending to his
duties, but having received the order i'll
such excellent condition from his pre-
decessor, and being SO ably assisted by
his comrades the order had not suffered
by reason of his disability.
Beginning of the End.
Regarding the membership of the
order the commander said that on June
30, 1894, the number in good standing
was 369,083, loss during the year of
over $4,000. The commander contin-
ued:
''These figures show that the G.. A. r.
has reached the beginning of the end,
and each succeeding year will show a
gradual decrease in our membership.
The long continued depression in bust
ness has caused many suspensions, and
thesewe hope to regain when prosperity
returns, but it will be impossible for us
to recruit our ranks as fast as our mem
bers are mustered out by death.
During the year the Grand Army
has not forgotten the great work of
charity, and has expended 1903, $50. 10
for relief. While it has lost in member
ship, the interest in the order has not
abated, but has grown stronger. The
little bronze button was never worn
with more pride than it is today, and
the enthusiasm of comrades in Grand
Army work is everywhere apparent.
The Question of Pensions.
On the subject of pensions he spoke
at length, stating that while it was
question of great interest and he ''dis-
liked to consider money matters in con-
nection with our. services to the gov
eminent, the disabled condition of
large number of our comrades forces it
upon us.
By vote of the last encampment
test case was ordered to be made in the
United States, and as that one already
begun by Judge Long covered all the
points it was settled that no other
should be instituted.
Replying to the message of the presi-
dent, which stated that thousands of
neighborhoods had their well known
pension frauds" the pension depart
ment of the order had hunted down all
reported cases.
Very Few Frauds Discovered.
Very few frauds were discovered, and
when found were not cases where sol
diers had defrauded the government,
but where some dishonest agent had
worked poor, ignorant widow and put
the money thus obtained Into his
pocket.
He complained of the policy of the
pension Office, which, he declared, had,
in violation of the intended liberality of
the act of June ~, 1890, rejected every
claim about which there was the slight
est doubt, and many disabled veterans,
though their claims had been proved by
reliable witnesses, have been deprived
Of the whole or part of what they are
justly entitled to receive.
DANGER Is PAST.