Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-09-20
THE NEW COMMANDERS.


Col. Thomas a. Lawler, of Illinois, Chosen
Commander-in-Chief OF the G. A. r.
Resolutions Adopsed-Women's Relief
Corps Officers.
PITTSBURGH, Pa, Sept. 1.-THE COM
test for commander-in-chief Of the G.
a. &. ended yesterday morning when
Col Thomas g. Lawler, Of Rockford,
H., was by majority of eleven votes
elected over Col. L n. Walker, of In
dianapolis, Ind. The closeness of the
vote was surprise to both victor and
defeated. It took forty-fve minutes
to cast and count the ballot of 649 dele
gates Then Commander Adams an
nounced that the vote stood: Lawler,
$50; Walker, SI9-the Illinois man win
ming by the narrow margin of eleven
votes. As soon as the election was an
nounced peals of applause rang through
the opera house. When some semblance
of quiet was restored Col. Walker with
drew his name and the election of Col.
Lawler was made unanimous. In a
chief thanked his supporters, and said
advancement of the G. A. E.
Maj. A. P. Burchfield, of this city,
was nominated for senior vice COM
mander. and as there was no opposi-
ton he was elected unanimously.
For junior vice commander, Corporal
Tanner proposed Philip S. Biglin, but
when Charles II. Shute was named by
the department commander of Louisi-
ana Biglin withdrew and Shute was
elected.
o. w. Meelzs. of Marion, O., was
without opposition and was unani-
mously elected senior warden.
Chaplain L. c. Haggerty, of st. Louis,
was elected unanimously chaplain-in-
chief. his only opponent, Comrade
Sothard, of Maine, withdrawing before
a ballot was taken.
The council of administration is as
follows: Utah, c. o. Farnsworth; Cal
ifornia, Col. E. T. Blackmer; Vermont,
Ebenezer J. Ormsby; Virginia and
North Carolina, A. Hager; South Da-
kota, Gov. Charles II. Sheldon; Della
ware, Charles Zerbey; Ohio, r. A. Coch-
rane; Mississippi, T. M. Sterrett; Ne
braska, J. E. Decher; New Jersey,
Emanuel Sanols; Rhode Island, Charles
A. Barbour; New York, David S. Brown;
Michigan, George 81. Hopkins: New
Mexico, Smith FL. Sampson; Mime
sofa. Albert Scheffer; Pennsylvania,
Charles w. Gerwig; Washington, c. 81.
Holmes; Tennessee, w. 81. Veasey; Ar
kansas, A. D. Thomas; Iowa, Albert
W. Swain; Indian territory, Robert
w. Hill; Potomac, G. NJ. Hustled; West
Virginia, 1. II. Duval; Georgia. Joseph
Fl. Thibadeau; Kansas, o. III. Coulter;
Kentucky, Charles w. Rerdman; Ala
bama, G. III. Patrick; Wisconsin, o. w.
Carlson; Illinois, III. S. Deitrick; Con-
necticut, CORTLAND S. barrow; Arizo-
ma, T, Guthrie Savage; Indiana, w. H.
Armstrong; Maryland, DR.. Hugh A.
Manghlin; Massachusetts,, Allison M.
Stickney: New Hampshire, Samuel n.
Brown.
Among the resolutions adopted were
the following:
Whereas, The twenty-eighth national en-
campment OF the G. A R. has been informed of
the distress that has fallen upon many COM
rades and wards of the order through the with
drawal from them of that preference in public
service to which they are justly entitled, and
which should always be the grateful duty OF
the authorities of the national government to
accord.
public protests to the people of the United
States against the conduct of those of their
public servants, more particularly at the
tional capital, who, without nece sSity, justif-
cation or valid excuse, and contrary to the
peated declarations and assurances of the
legislative and executive authorities Of the
government, have deprived many hundreds of
honorably discharged soldiers and sailors of
the union army and navy and the widows, sons
and daughters OF those deceased, of their en-
ployment in the public offices and establish
ments for the purpose of appointing
retaining other persons, destitute of
the loyal and patriotic claims of these victims
or of superior qualifications for the places thus
taken from those to whom they rightfully be-
long.
Resolved, That we view with great concern
this attack upon those who, in the hour of the
country'S great peril, laid aside their political
preferences and became defenders of the union,
offering their lives to the nation to maintain
its institutions and preserve the honor of its
flag.
Resolved. That comrades and wards who
are holding the employment under the govern
menG should have, and thev have. the right to
demand from the executive authorities that
protection awarded them by the national legis-
lature, and any failure on the part of those
thoritieS to protect them is violation OF
the law and of patriotic principle which excites
strongest reprobation.
Resolved. That inaSTnuch the efforts OF the
national and department officers of this organ
ization against this virtual prescription of
practically unavailing. an appeal is hereby
made to the people Of the United States for an
exIHeSsion through tina columns of the public
press, the speeches and writings of public
men and the proceedings of public assemblies
upon fit occasions of the national sense OF the
gratitude and desire for justice toward the
meritorious survivors of the union forces and
those whom the deaths of husbands and fathers
have left to the generous regard Of the nation
The resolutions cenSuring Col. Aims
worth's conduct of the pension bureau