The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1894-09-15
THE VETERANS.
They Listen TO Officers Addresses
and Reports.
A Reduction In the Membership Since tho
Last Encampment - Louisville
Captures the Next Annual
Meeting.
HEROES IN SESSION.


HEROES IN SESSION.
PIrTsBURGH, Pa, Sept. 13.-There
were no vacant seats in the Grand
opera house Wednesday morning when,
the twenty-eighth national encamp-
ment OF the Grand Army OF the Re-
public was opened formally. Precisely
at that hour Commander in Chief John
G.. Il. Adams tapped the table with his
gnvel OF cedar and gold and declared
the encampment opened. Gov. Patti
son gave welcome To the delegates IN
behalf OF the state.
These exercises oyer, the encamp-
ment went into executive session and
the delegates settled down 70 listen To
the reports of the national officers.
The closest attention was paid 10 the
annual address Of the commander i'm
chief. upon a large number OF topics.
The membership of the order, he said,
IS rs follows:
zone year ago there were in good standing
307.cea There have been gained during the
year by muster-in, 1912; by transfer, 6s5i;
ny Reinstatement, 1908 by reinstatement
from delinquent reports, 1919. Total gain, 81
COL Aggregate, 13d,ssi
There have been lost, by death 1928. by
suspension 34S05; by dishonorablc discharge,
1874 BY delinquent reports, 1901 Total loss,
8, S0l. The number remaining Ia good stand
inE June 80 1894 was 3G9,0s3
These figures show that the Grand
Army Of the Republic has reached the Begin
ming OF the end and each succeeding year win
show gradual decrease IA our membership.
The long-continued depression In business has
caused many suspensions. ana these we hope
TO regain when prosperity returns, but
IL Will hc impossible for as 20 recruit
our ranks as fast as cur members are
mustered ont ~ death, During the year
the grand army has not forgotten the great
work ~ charity aud has expended i2n 10 10
FOR relief While II has lost in membership
the interest ia the order has not abatcd, but
has grown stronger The little bronze button
was never worn with more pride than IL Is to-
day, and the enthusiasm OF comrades in grand
army work Is everywhere apparent
Ills remarks on the pension issue
were repeatedly interrupted with APP
plause. lie said in part.
"The question Of pensions is Of vital interest
70 comrades of our order While we dislike
20 consider money matters IN connection with
our services 10 the government, the disabled
condition OF large number of our comrades
forces IL upon us. The president has stated
that thousands OF neighborhoods had
their wcll-kuown pension frauds Very
few frauds have been discovered and
when found, were not eases whore soldiers
had defraudod the government 10 was clearly
the intention 81 the congress that passed tho
act Of June -. 1870 70 deal literally and Justly
by tho veterans; ana the loyal people Of tho
country were IA fun sympathy with them hut
rejection ~ claims has been the rule, an this
that the administration may make q show OK
economy and return 90 the treasury money ap-
proprnted py congress Tor payment Of PEN
sious.
In his reference TO law and order
Commander Adams made the state
ment that during the recent strike
crisis he had the entire Grand Army
Of the Republic membership OF five
states under arms, and had the men
on duty been unable 90 restore law
and order he should have called out
the Grand Army cf the Republic, and
was confident that every comrade able
20 bear arms would have responded.
Commander Adams then urged the
establishment of permanent head
quarters for the grand army for the
preservation Of its records He con-
cluded as follows:
AS our members grow less may our love in
crease. BE true 10 the principles OF the order
Keep sacred the memory OF our dead, stand
Loyalty for the interests OF our living aud,
above and beyond all see 20 IL that the nag We
love so well and followed SO long Is not tralled
in the dust Place IL higher and higher,
until rs stars minglo with those in
the heavens ana It's stripes can he seen by an
tho world, telling That lt IS an emblem ~ equal
rights and national unity saved ANA nnde
purcr and brighter by the loyalty and devotion
Of its defenders.
The address was accompanied by de-
tailed reports from all the national of
iicers OF the organization,
The report of james +. Mcech nd iu-
tant general, shows decrease OF 400
posts during the last year, or ~ least
the lack of reports from that number
OF posts According TO the figures
given, there was expended In charity
this way for the six months ending
December 81, 1898, the sum OF $780,
4s6O3 and fer the six months ending
June 80, 1894, sl03, total for the
year OF S2O3, 7sO1O,
The twenty-sevcn departments re-
porting give the following statistics;
Numberof soldiers and sailors graves
decorated by posts, e33,S5s; number OF
soldiers and sailors buried during the
year ending last Memorial day. i,622;
cemetery lots owned by posts, b32;
numbered soldiers and sailors buried in
potter's fields, l52; unmarked by proper
headstoncs, lO.2S2; number Of posts
holding sunday memorial services,
2,225; number Of posts holding Memo
rial day exercises 2,28e; number Of
comrades who took part la the ever
cises, s2,i06
Henry Wattcrson delivered On adj
dress urging the claims o. Louisville,
Ky TO the next cncampmcnt The
ovation rendered Mr. Wattcrson at the
conclusion Of his effort for hisown city
was magnificent tribute TO the elo-
quence and feeling Of the representa-
tive selected by Louisville IL was
properly voiced later by the unan-
nous decision OF the heads OF the
grand army 90 break over q precedent
and take the next national encamp-
mcnt into the erstwhilc cuomy's coun-
try south Of Mason and DiXon's line,
10 Louisville 81 Paul, the only other
contestant gracefully retired under