Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-02-22
KANSAS e. A. R.
Thirteenth Annual Meeting of the
Department Encampment.
NEWTON ALL ABLAZE WITH FLAGS.
Department Commander Keily's Speech
A Grand Campfire Held at which
Three Thousand People Are
Present.

NEWTON, Kan, Feb. 2t.-This city is
all ablaze with flags and bunting.
Streamers and flags overhang the
streets at every crossing and from all
the prominent buildings. The occasion
of all this demonstration is the thir-
teenth annual meeting of the depart
ment encampment of Kansas, Grand
Army of the Republic.
Last night there were receptions in
all the halls and lodge rooms OF the
city, each organization keeping open
house and trying to entertain their
delegates and friends The Grand
Army has its headquarters at the Ar
cade hotel, where also the w. r. @.
state officers are quartered. The Sons
of Veterans and other organizations
have their headquarters at the Clark.
The sessions of the encampment
were formally opened ut o'clock in
the afternoon in the large opera house.
After the formal opening of the en-
campment the reports of the depart
ment officers were presented. Depart
ment Com. Bernard Kelley read his re-
port, and spoke as follows:
On assuming command. with gavel In hand,
pToHnlseu 10 give tue Grhnu Army IN Kansas
the very best possible servlca How well and
faithfull; have redeemed the pledge shall
leave with my comra es to decide My effort
has been TO save the Grand Army from appall.
ing losses and disin egration, caused by the
opt ming OF the strip the rld's fair, failure of
crops, financial panic and the attitude OF the
government toward the soldiers TO unite and
thoroughly blend oil Its kindred organizations
and all soldiers into close bond OF affection
and sympathy, knowing that II united we are
invncible, but II divided, then certainly de-
stroved.
Had the Grand Army Of the Republic and tho
soldiers OF the entire country remained In unity
our enemies, north as well us south, would not
now be triumphing over us, nlllng the land with
fasehood touching the Character Of the men
who saved the nation from lraitrous hands
who sought its destruction, and who now hold
high positions in authorltyi but we can retrieve
the past II we will
do not deem II necessary to discuss the PEN
sion question at length, as every phase OF Il Is
thoroughly understood by most OF the soldiers
and the nation at large There Is no class Of
men deeply interested IN keeping the pen.
sion rol pure and free from any faint OF fraud
as the men who compose the Grand Army OF
the Republic and IL Is source of pride that,
through the commander.in.ehi and the de.
partmont commanders, the Grand Army has
been urged TO promptly report any case of
fraud coming within its knowledge
The broad statement made BY The chief exec.
utlye Of the nation that there are hundreds OF
thousands OF well known cases OF fraud upon
the pension rolls has not been justified by the
facts, based upon thorough investigation OF
the rolls Of the various agencies Out Of about
1900 suspended ut onl agency not one OF tho
suspensions was based upon fraud
The notices now being sent out by tho rom.
misslonors OF pensions to MANY pensioners,
saying that their names would be dropped
from the pc sion roll In thirty days unless they
rpuI1 rp. IA al fhaf olu 81. ~
pension by additional proof, are as cruel and
unjust us they are uupatriotic The attitude
OF the present administration toward the SOL
diers of the late war, and especially the pen.
sioner is, TO say the least, strange and I'm.
patriotic
A grand campfire was held at the
rink last evening, where nearly 5000
people gathered to hear the exercises.
The campfire was presided over by Di-
vision Commander Bernard Kelly, of
Topeka. Speeches were made by Col.
Hallowell, Gen. Gray, Maj. Morrill,,
Adj -Gen. Campbell and others. Every
speaker dwelt at length upon the PEN
sion question. The veterans declared
that it was their right to receive PEN
sions as payment of debt owed by the
government to its defenders. Ex-Com-
mander-in-Chief Warner will be here
to-day AMI make the principal address
at the campfire. The grand parade
will be held in the afternoon and will
be participated in by all the school
children Of this city. 1900
Handsome Uhurcn oGTnea.
RocKFoRD, ILL.,, Feb 9l.-The Second
Congregational church, the handsomest
edifice in point of architecture and
equipment in Illinois, erected and dedi-
Gated two years ago at cost OF over
500, 900, was completed Quilted by fire
yesterday afternoon, only the walls
and tower ia feet high, being left
standing The fire originated in the
furnace room. The loss will exceed
$4,000 with 10000 Insurance 4