Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-09-14

PITTsBURG, PA, September "a
Business and activity characterized the
lobby OF the new Grand Opera House a.
an early hour, and long before the sec
Ond days session Of the Grand Army
convention opened there was a crowd OF
lobbyists at work In favor OF their several
candidates for Office. Those depart
ments that had candidates for national
Offices were busy buttonhoiing delegates
rs they made their way into the conven-
tion hall.
New York came out with Philip S.
Biglin for Junior Vice COmmander-in-
Chief and Louisiana had an opposition
candidate in the person Of Charles II.
Sh0te.
Both sides OF course were confident.
The two candidates for the highest Of
fee in the giving of 5he Grand Army Of
the Republic came 10 the convention
early. Colonel Thomas u. LawIer ar
rived at 9:l5 a. IN. with all MS depart
ment delega gates. They were confident
that thinge looked bright for them.
The feature OF the enCampment and
the hottest and closest contest ever
known In the Grand Army, was the
tight for the position of COmmander-in-
Chief. The contestants were Colonel
Thomas G.. Lswler, of Rockford,
-1lL.,& and i. y. Walker,
OF INDIANA. ElectiOneering OF
q most Vigorous character has been 20
ing on all week, and last night aud this
morning the friends OF both candidates
claimed q victory by a good margin.
The clOseness OF the result was sur
prise TO bot Fictor and defeated.
IL took fOl.y-lve minutes TO cast and
count the ballots Of 6f9 delegates.
Then Commander Adams announced
that the vote stood: LaWler $50; Walk
er $40, the Illinois man winning by
the narrow margin of eleven votes.
AS soon as the election was announced,
peals Of applause rang through the Op-
era house. When some Semblance Of
quiet was restored, Colonel Walker
withdrew his name and the election OF
Colonel LAWYER was made unanimous.
In brief speech the new Commander
in-Chief thanked his supporters and
said he would work to the utmost for
the advancement OF that grand OrRani-
zatiOn-the Grand Army Of the RepuO-
IN honor of the election Of Colonel Law
lsr fired salute Of II guns on the
river bank.
Colonel Lawler was born 10 England
on April z, 1874 When child he was
taken TO Illinois anu educated in the
public schools Of Rockford. AT the
age Of seventeen he enlisted as u pri-
vate ia Company +, Nineteenth Illi-
nOis Volunteer Infantry. He saw
nue. hard fighting. He com.
mauded his company for two months
during the Atlanta campaign, aud was
elected Captain by his company, and
placed upon the roll of hOeOr by Major
General RosecranS of the Army OF the
Cumberland. Colonel Lawler organ
lied the Rockford Rifles iu
1876, aud was elected Colonel aud
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 aud coal
business. Colonel Lawier has been
commander of G.. L. N5vius
Post, of Rockford, for twenty
six consecutive years. tie has also
served as q member Of the Department
Council Of Administration aud Junior
aud Senior Vice Department Command
er. After the election Of Colonel Law
Ter the convention adjourned for dinner.
Major A. L. Bu-chGeld, OF this city,
was nominated for Senior Vice Com
mander-in-Chief and, as there was DO
opposition, was elected unanimously.
Charles ShuJe was elected Junior Vice
Commander without a ballot.
For Surgeon General, Comrade G. W.
Weeks, of Marion, Ohio, was nominated
without opposition and unanimously
elected.
For Chaplain-in- Chief, Chaplain T. II.
Haggerty, OF St. Louis, was elected
unanimously, bis only opponent, Com
rade Southland, OF Maine, Withdrawing
before a ballot was taken.
General Adams returned thanks for
all the hOnOrs bestowed upon him. The
new Chaplatn-in-Chief, II. b. Hagger-
", came 20 the fOotlights 20 pronounce
the benediction and the twenty eighth
encambment was finished.
The resolutions cenSuring Colonel
AipswOrth'S conduct of the Pension
BRreau aud supporting Judge Long in
his contest with the Pension COmmiS-
Sioner, were not adopted.
Al the afternoon session representa-
tives Of the Big Four aud the Cincin-
nau, Hamilton and Dayton railroads
guaranteed a one cent mile rate for
the next eDcampment. The PennSyl-
Vania has given 4 similar guarantee.
A fitting close TO the day was the dis
play Of fireworks on the MOuOngahela
river at the foot OF Smithteld street.
The citizens committee Outdid itself
and furnished a display that has sell
|raom been surpassed anywhere. At
AHast 100000 people lined the wharf,
sdges aod housetops in the vicinity.
few trihing accidents occurred dur
the evening, but nothing Of ser
character resulted.
DID Not Hear harrison.