The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-09-14
IT WAS 4 SHARP ( rrEsr.
Commander Lawier Was Ell z 'd by Very
 Small MsJorit,

Small MhJoriA
 Pittsburg, Sept. 13-Aft : one of the sharpest contests in the ho ory of the order Colonel Thomas CT .awler of Rockford, H., was this after. ,on elect ed commander-in-chief of Grand Army, defeating his only ops rent, Col onel Ivan N. Walker of India polls by the narrow majority of Il | Ca total vote of 64s.
 Considerable excitement attended the balloting, the candidates frequently run ming neck and neck, while twice the Indianapolis man was in the lead. His friends had 1t figured out that he had won by six majority until the result of the ballot was declared. and then the boys from Illinois in the theater, as well as in the lobby and out on the sidewalk. went fairly wild with enthusiasm.
 Lawlers election marks the downfall of the Pennsylvania and eastern ele- ment that has long been all-powerful in the high councils and control of the order, and will lead to the appointment of a new quartermaster general to suc- ceed Colonel Louis Wagner of Phila- delphia. Lawler was offered the sup port of the Pennsylvania delegation on condition that the appointive offices were given the east, but he declined to enter into any bargains, and so the eastern strength was thrown to Walk CT. The western and southern delegates however, voted solidly for Lawler.
 He was nearly forty ahead when the calling of the roll of delegates was con- cluded, but twenty-nine votes from the officers and council of administration went to his opponent, and the Rock ford veteran was literally pulled through by the skin of his teeth.
 The new chaplain-in-chief is a mem- Der of the famous Ransom post of St. Louis. When the post was organized by General Sherman he personally urged the divine to act as his chaplain, and he has been the spiritual adviser of the post ever since. The election of officers occupied the entire morning session, ,ex- cept ten minutes, which were given to a delegation from the women's relief corps and the ladies of the G. A. R., who brought fraternal greetings.
 A council of administration was elect ed, including the following: Connecti- cut, c. A. Darrow; Massachusetts, A. M. Stickney: New Hampshire, Sam N Brown; Rhode Island, Charles A. Bar bour; Vermont, B. J. Ormsbee.
 This afternoon nearly an hour was occupied in reading the report of the resolutions committee, which dealt with more than a score of subjects. A reso- lution expressing sympathy with the family of the late Count of Paris was unanimously adopted. A letter of sym pathy was ordered sent to Andrew G. Curtin, the venerable war governor Of the state, who has been unable to at tend the encampment owing to illness.
 Nearly two hours were occupied in an animated debate on report from the committee on resolutions submitted by Phil Kearney post No. 10 of Richmond, Va, and which set forth that certain statements made by Commander J. A. Watrous of the department of Wiscon- sin to the effect that the post had col lected moneys for the decoration of graves in southern cemeteries and i'm properly applied them to the erection of hall were untrue, and asking that committee be appointed by the com mander-in-chief to investigate the charges.
 Colonel Watrous took the floor and declared that he was fully justified in making the statements that had been called in question. Edgar Allen of Richmond spoke in behalf of the post, asserting that its acts had been strictly honorable and legitimate. It was final ly decided to instruct the commander in-chief to appoint committee to in- vestigate the matter, its report to be final.
 A resolution was adopted commenting the celebration of Washington's birth day in connection with the public schools as inaugurated by the com mander-in-chief in Lynn, Mass. Con- cerning the proposed monument in Washington to the memory of General Grant, the committee reported the statue and pedestal had been finished and stored pending action by the joint congressional committee regarding a date for the final installa tion ceremo- nies. Representatives of sev eral rail- roads appeared and pledged a rate of one cent a mile for the gathering of next year.
 The incoming commander-in chief and subordinate officers were formally installed with the usual ceremonies and shortly after o'clock with three cheers and a tiger for Pittsburg and its people the encampment adjourned sine die.
 Commander-inChief Lawler issued the following general order No. 1 to- night:
 Having been elected and installed as commander-in-chiefo of the Grand Army of the Republic for the ensuing year, I hereby assume command with a pro- found appreciation of the responsibili- ties of the office.
 "Comrade c. c. Jones of Rockford H., is hereby appointed adjutant gen eral and Comrade J. w. Burst of Syca- more, H., quartermaster general, and they will be obeyed accordingly.
 Headquarters are hereby established at Rockford, III.
 "AH official communications should be addressed to the adjutant general"
 At this afternoons session oA the re- lief corps Mrs. Emma R. Wallace of Chicago was elected president. The of Mrs. John A. Jnrop