The morning call., 1894-09-14
LEADS THE ARMY.
LaWler of Illinois the
Commander.
AFTER A BITTER FIGHT.
Nothing Like 1t Ever Known
in the G. A. r.
WAS A DISTINGUISHED SOLDIER
And He Has Done His Country
Some Service Also as
Civilian.

PITTsBURG, Sept. 13.-Colonel Thomas
G. Lawler of Rockford. H.. was elected
commander-n-cbief OF the q. A. r. by a
N a jOrity of IL over Colonel /. n Walker
of indianapolis 1t was the closest con-
test for the Office in the history of the
rder. Major A. p. BurchfieId of this city
was elected senior vice-commander and
Charles Il. Shupe OF New Orleans junior
commander. Comrade S. o. Weeks Of
Marion, Ohio. was unanimously elected
surgeon-generaL Chaplain L. ii. Hag-
gerty of ST. Louis was elect d up panimously
chaplain-in-chief. his only opponent. Com
rade Southbart of Maine. withdrawing
before ballot was taken.
The council of administration is as fol-
lows: Utah, G. o. Farnsworth; Califor-
MIA, Colonel E. T. Blackmer; Vermont,
Ebenezer j. Ormsby; Virginia and North
Carolina, A. Hager; South Dakota, Cover
nor Charles Fl. Sheldon; Dala ware,
Charles Zerby; Ohio. r. II. Cochrane :;
Mississippi, F. NJ. Sterrtt; Nebrasks,
j. F. Decker; New Jersey, Eman-
uel Sanols; Rhode Island, C. A. Bar
bour; New York, David S. Brown; Michi-
gan, George FL. Horkins; New Mexico,
Smith H. Sampson; Minnesota. Albert
Scnaffer; Pennsylvania, Charles W. Gar
wig; Washington. c. II. Holmes; Tennes-
see, w. Ii. Veazy; Arkansas, A. D.
Thomas; Iowa, Albert w. Swalin /;
Indian Territory, Robert w. Hill :;
Potomac, G. NJ. Hustled; West Vir-
ginia. l. II. Duvall; Georgia. Joseph
w. Thlbadeau; Kansas, o. 81. Coulter :;
Kentucky, Charles w. Herdman; Ala
bama, G. H. Patrick; Wisconsin,, n. w.
Carlson; Illinois, III. S. Dietrick; COnnec-
ticut, S. S. Darrow; Arizona, T. Guthrie
Savage; Indiana, A. II. Armstrong;
Maryland, DIR. Hugh A. Mangnlin; Mass
achusetts. Allison NJ. Stickney; New
Hampshire, Samuel n. Brown.
The feature OF the encampment, the
hottest and closest contest ever known in
the G. A. r., was the fight for the position
of commander.i chief. The contestants
were Colonel Thomas c. Lawler of Rock
ford. ILL.,, and l. N. Walker of Indian
apolis. Electioneering OF most vigorous
character has been going on ali week, and
this morning the friends of both candi-
dates claimed victory by good margin.
The eloseness of the contest was a sur
prise to both victor and defeated. 1t took
forty-five minutes to cast and count the
ballot of $40 delegates. The mmander-
in-chief, Adams, announced that the vote
stood: Lawler $50, Walker 319, the Illi-
nois man winning by the narrow margin
OF IL votes. AS soon as the election was
announced psals of applause rang through
the opera-house, and, when some SEM
blsnce of quiet was restored, Colonel
Walker withdrew his name and the elec-
nf I MI d.
nous.
In brief speech the new comBander-in-
chief thanked his supporters and said he
would work to the utmost for the advance
ment of that grand organization, The G..
A. r. Nevin's Post of Rockford. n'honor
of the election of Colonel Lawler, fired a
salute of twenty-one guns On the river
bank.
Colonel Lawlsr was born in England
April z, 1874 When child he was taken
to Illinois and educated in the pui lie
schools of Rockford. AT the age of II he
enlisted as private in Company E, Nine
teenth Illinois Volunt teers. He saw much
hard fighting. He was commander of his
company for two months during the At
lanta campaign and was elected captain by
the company and placed upon the roll uf
honor by Major-Genersl Rosecrans of the
Army Of the Cumberland. Colonel Law
Ter organized the Rockford Rifles in 1876
and was elected Colonel and commanded
the Third Regiment, l. N. e., for seven
years. when he resigned. He was post
master at Rockford under the Hayes and
Garfield administrations. and is now in the
lumber and coal business. Colonel Law
l.
Post of Rockford for twenty-six years.
He has also served as member of the de-
partment council of administration and as
junior and senior vice-commander. After
the election of Colonel Lawler the con-
vention adjourned for dinner.
At the afternoon session of the encamp-
ment the resolution condemnicg Colonel
Ainswor,h for dischargIng veterans be-
cause Of their testimony at the inquiry
into the Ford Theater disaster at Wash
ington were taken up and discussed.
Among the resolutions adopted were the
following:
WHEREAS, The twenty eighth encampment
OF the G. A. r. has been Informed of the dis.
tress which has fallen upon many comrades
and wards Of the order through the withdrawal
from them OF that preference in the public SER
vice 10 which they are justly entitled, and
which should always be the grateful duty of
the authorities Of the National Government to
accord.
Resolved, That the Grand Army OF the Re-
public protest to the people Of the United States
against the conduct of those OF their public
servants. more particularly at the national
capital, who, without necessity. justification or
valid excuse aud contrary to the repeated de-
clarations 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, aud the widows. sons and
daughters OF those deceased of their employ
ment in the public offices and establishments
for the purpose of appointing 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 belong.
Resolved, That we view with great concern
this attack upon those who in she hour OF the
country's great need laid aside their political
preference and became defenders OF the Union
Offering their live. TO the nation to maintain IT,
institutions and preserve the honor OF Its flag
RESOLVED, That our comrades and wards who
are holding employment under the Govern
ment should have aud they have the right tC