The news boy., 1894-09-22
THE OLD WARRIORS
Prove Record Breakers at Trans
acting Business.
Col. Thomas @. Lawler, OF Rockford, Ill.
Chosen Comma nder-in- -Chief-Otber
Omcers Elected-General
Orders No. 1.

Orders No. 1.
PITTSBURGH, Pa. Sept. 14.-Breakinp
oil previous records, in beginning and
ending its business within two days.
the Twenty-eighth national encamp-
ment of the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie adjourned sine die last night.
A year from next Monday the bows
in blue, crossing Mason and Dixon's
line for the first time in the history of
the order, will fraternize with their
opponents of the sixties, and thus
make visible demonstration of the Oft
repeated assertion that there is no
longer north or south, but one
country, free and undivided. And if
but tithe of the pledges apd prom
ises made by the visiting Kentuckians
are redeemed, the encampment of 'O5
will never be forgotten, either by the
Union or confederate veterans who are
fortunate enough to be among the
participants.
The encampment transacted its busi-
ness with electric speed. When the
noon recess was taken all the national
officers had been elected.
After one of the most heated con-
tests in the history of the order Col.
Thomas G. Lawler, of Rockford. ILL.,.
was elected commander-in-chief. defeat
ing his only opponent, Col. Ivan N.
Walker, of indianapolis, by the narrow
majority of eleven in a total vote of
649.
The other officers elected by the en-
campment were:
Senior Vice-Commander-M A. P.
Burchfield. of Pittsburgh.
Junior ommander-Charles III.
Shute, of New Orleans.
Surgeon-General-O. w. Weeks, of
Marion, O.
Chaplain-in-Chief-Rev. T. H. Hager-
ty, of st. Louis.
Representative to Council of Admin
istration-Charles w. Gerwig.
The new chaplain-in-chief is a men,
Der of the famous Ransom post, of st.
Louis.
The election of officers occupied the
entire morning session save ten min
utes. which were given up to a delega-
tion from the Women's Relief corps and
the ladies of the Grand Army'of the Re-
public who brought fraternal greet
ings.
A council of administration, COM
posed of thirty-five members, was also
chosen.
Equal dispatch was manifested in
the afternoon, so much SO that Gen.
Dan Sickles was moved to remark, as
he steadied himself on his crutches in
front of the footlights:
You have laid moro business on the
a BILE in few minutes than congress
has in the last two months"
Nearly half an hour was occupied in
reading the reports of the committee
on resolutions, which dealt with more
than a score of subjects.
One resolution called the attention
of state departments and posts to the
character of certain school books used
in some Of the public schools of the
country and cited report of the de-
partment of Pennsylvania setting forth
that many text books used in school
are 'worlis of Southern sympathizers
and contain erroneous misStatements
relating to the war. This was adopted,
and also resolution requesting de-
partments and posts to financially as
sist poor soldiers orphans desirous of
securing high school education.
Hearty applause greeted the resolu-
tion directing the inc oming comman-
der-in-chief to endeavor to secure the
reinstatement of such comrades as may
have been unjustly discharged from
government service. and also to pro-
tect such veterans as yet remain in Of
flee. AS rider to this resolution, the
following was also carried amid vo-
ciferous shouts:
That the Grand Army of the Re-
public, in Twenty-eight national en-
campment assembled, respectfully re-
quest the president of the United States
to issue an executive order to the heads
of the several departments of the gov
ernment, and through them to subor-
dinates having the power of employ
ment for the retention of such persons
in service who were veterans in the
war and give them preference"
1t is stated that these resolutions
created an animated debate in the COM
mittee, and the motion to table them
was adopted by majority of only one
vote.
A resolution expressing sympathy to
the family of the late Comte de Paris
was unanimously adopted by a rising
vote, and letter of sympathy was also
ordered sent to Andrew G. Curtin, the
venerable war governor of this state,
who has been una BILE to attend the en-
campment owing to serious illness.
A proposition Elat members of the
Sons of Veterans be admitted to post
meetings was ruled out of considera-
tion on the ground that it involved
change in the constitution, and that
the usual thirty days notice had not
been given to the delegates.
Nearly two hours were occupied in
an animated debate on a report from
the committee upon series of resolu-
tions submitted by Phil Kearney Post,
No 10, of Richmond, Va, which set
forth that certain published statements
made by Commander j. A. Watrous, of
the department of Wisconsin, to the
effect that the post in question had
collected moneys for the decoration of
graves in southern cemeteries and i'm
properly applied them to the erection
of hall were untrue in substance
and in fact, asking that this denial be
printed in the records of the encamp-
ment and committee be appointed by
the commander-in-chief to investigate
the truth of the charges.
Col. Watrous took the floor IN his
own behalf. and declared that he was