Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-09-14
ILLINOIS LUCK.
In Winning the G. A. r. Conn.,
mander.
CLOSEST VOTE THAT WAS EVER CAST

Colonel Lawier Having but Eleven Major.
tty Over Walker, of Indiana-The Mar
row Margin a Surprise to Both Parties
Other Onhcers Eiect.d-rhe Council of
Administration - sketch Of the New
Chiefs Career-Exodus from Pittsburs.
PIrTsBURG, Sept. 1.-THE homeward
rush of Pittsbure's soldier visitors has be-
gun in earnest. Together with their rela-
tives and friends who accompanied them
to this city, they are leaving town in al
most as large numbers as they came down
upon the city. For the purpose of the
gathering is practically accomplished; the
great annual parade has been held: the
encampment has heard the yearly reports,
ard the place for the next meeting has been
selected. Last of all-and a matter that
attracts as much interest and attention as
the great parade-the commander -in-chief
has been elected, and his name is Lawler,
from the Prairie State. There has never
been so closely contested an election nor
one in which the winner had so short a
margin.
Both Parties Muci, Surprised.
And it was this short margin that sur
pr.seil both the candidates and their sup
portc-> E,ch had, previous to the ballot,
felt sure that he had enough votes to get
there" with hundred or so over And
the way each fisur, d. as stated yesterday
in these dispatches. gave the outsider the
impression that both would be elected
Blu: the tr- Of war shovel where they
stood, and when the ballot, were counted
I.avler had Just IL woes mora than
Wulk.r Tho ri 7 %
Walker. $40. The list of officers was com
pleted as follows: Senior vice commander,
Major {. Z. Burchard. of Pittsburg; junior
vice. Charles Shute, OF Louisiana; surgeon
general, O. W. Weeks, of Ohio; chaplain
ln-cAief. L. ii. Hagser,y, of st. Louis.
The Council of Arbitration.
The council OF administration includes
the following: Utah, {. .. Farusworth:
California, Colonel r T. Blackmer; Yer
mont, Ebaezer J. Ormsbee; Virginia and
North Carolina, \. HaCer; South Dakota,
Governor Charles II. Shelton; Delaware
Charles Zerbey; Ohio, r II. Cochraue;
Mississippi. +. NJ. Sterrett; Nebraska, J
I. De Cher; New Jersey, Emanuel Sanols:
Rhode Island, Charles =. Barbour: New
York, David 5. Brown: Michigan. George
II. Hopins; Minnesota, Albert Schaifer;
Washington, c, II. Holmes; Tennessee, W.
H Neazey; Iowa, Albert W Swain;
Potomac. q. NJ. Pusted; West Virginia,
l. II. Duval; Georgia, Jos. II. Thibadeau;
Kansas, o. II. Coulter; kentucky, Charles
W. Herdman; Alabama, q. H Patrick:
Wisconsin. o. ". Carlson; Illinois, H :
Dietrick; Indiana, ". H Armstrong.
Lawler'sFine Army Record.
Colonel Thomas q. LAWYER was born in
Liverpool about fifty years ego. He came
TO this country when he was 10 years old,
and was IL when tie war began. HIS army
service began in April, 1851 when he made
three months contract to fight for the
stars and stripes in the Nineteenth ILL.,
nois infantry. Sepe. !. Of the same yea-
he re-enlisted for three years rs "A private
IN Company L of the Nineteenth. with
which brave regiment he participated in
all the fire and fuss which the Army of the
Cumberland was fated To pass through.
He was honorably discharged Sept. IL,
lsS4. his rank at that time being sergeant
On receiving his discharge he returned to
rockford, where he has ever since made
his home and where his record as a citizen
has ever remained as free from blemish
as was his record soldier in the field.
He gets his title rs colonel from the ma
tional guard.
Looks sIuch Like Gen. Logan.
Cononel LAWYER was among the early
members OF post IA OF the Grand Army
of the Republic, which was formed in 1856.
and helped to escort General John A Lo-
gan when the general delivered an address
about that time. just here it may be
mentioned the marked resemblance in per
sonal appearance between General Logan
aud Colone! LAWYER has often been re-
ferred to by those who have seen and
known both OF the men. In sterling mental
and social traits the two men We're also
remarkably alike. Colonel LAWYER, pro-
vious to election to the communicating
served rs past and senior vice command
er of Nevius post, and he now enjoys the
unique record of not only being the COM
mauder of the oldest Grand Army of the
Republic post in existence, bat of having
filed that position uninterruptedly for
more than quarter of century