The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-09-13

tlSon welcomed them on DenalI OF the
Kenna. OF Pittsburg, and Mayor Kennedy,
Of Allegheny, performed the same duty on
behalf Of their respective cities. -,
the front OF the stage and presented the
commander-in-chief with a gavel tnat was
em5lematic OF great historic ea ln1eses I nnos ,s
mattox. Gettysburg and Libby prison, ana
is bound with metal from the historic can
non. 1t is thus symbolic OF the opening
and the closing OF the war. The wood from
Gettysburg was taken from near the spot
where the commander-in-chief was wound
ed, and as ne was prisoner IN LIBBY. mas
inscribed as follows: Presented Dy the
citizens of Pittsburg and Allegheny to Capt:
J; G. b. Adams. commander,in-chief OF
the Grand Army of the Republic, at the
encampment held in Pittsburg, 1894"
Commander-in-chief Adams called the
delegates to order after the speakers had
withdrawn The credentials of the dele.
gates having been examined, the annual
reports of the national officers were taken
up and read. Commander Adams opened
his address by referring to the fact that
rour months confinement in a hospital had
prevented him from fully attending TO his
duty; but having received the order in such
excellent condition from his predecessor,
and being ably assisted by his COM
rades, the order had not suffered by reason
OF his disability.
MEMBERSHIP OF THE ORDER.
The membership of the order. the COM
mander said, is as follows:
lone year ago there were In good stand
ing 1928. There have been gained during
the year. by muster-in. 16752; by transfer
1854; by reinstatement, 1906; by reinstate-
ment from delinquent reports, 2.519, total
gain OF S9,66l. The aggregate membership
is 4S6.sS4 There have been lost: BY death,
1888; by honorable discharge, l,756 by
transfer, 7,1S2; by suspensions, a. sos; by
reports, 1861, making the total loss 6l,SOl.
and the number remaining in good stand
ing June so, 1894. 369 0S3
These figures show that the Grand Army
has reached the beginning of the end, and
each succeeding year will show a gradual
continued depression in business has caused
many suspensions, and these we hope to
regain when prosperity returns; but 1t will
be impossible for us to recruit cur ranks
as fast as our members are mustered out
by death. During The year the Crane Army
has not forgotten the great wo"k Of Char
ity and has expended S203, 7S010 for relief.
While 1t has lost in membership the in
teress in the order has no. abated but has
grown stronger. The little bronz, button
was never worn with more pride than it is
to-day, and the enthusiasm Of comrades
in Grand Army work is everywhere ap-
parent"
After referring to the celebration of Me-
mortal day and other holidays which serve
to keep up spirit of, patriotism among
the people, Comma 1der Adams referred TO
lle w ncleI corps aS
Born under my administration when
commander of the Department of Massa-
chusetts, l have seen them grow from a
little band of earnest women, meeting at
the headquarters of that department, to
more than 10000, located wherever Grand
Army post could be found or worthy
comrade or his family required assistance
In the name of the Grand Army of the
Republic, he returned his thanks to the
corps for the assistance 1T has rendered
the old soldier and the work done for the
salute to the flag into the public schools.
Referring to the Sons of Veterans, he
commends the action of the young men in
that organization, and says that 1t twill
carry on our work when We lay 1t down.
1 do not believe they should ever become
members of our order in any way and am
of the opinion they do not ask or expect it.
l believe the Grand Army of the Republic
should cease to exist and live only in his
tory when the last cOmrade is mustered
out, but our principles must live forever
The Sons of Veterans are as loyal and true
as were their fathers, and should the coun-
try require their services, they would re-
spond promptly TO the call to arms
AS our ranks grow thinner let us urge them
to strengthen theirs, so that this Nation
men organized and officered as our order
has been, ready, as are we. to march in
support of the constituted authorities of
the United States whenever the services of
the volunteer are required.
REGARDING PENSIONS.
On the subject of pensions Mr.. Adams
spoke at length, stating that while it was
question of great interest, and he dis
liked to consider money matters 'in con-
nection with our services to the govern
ment, the disabled condition of a large
number of our comrades forces it upon us.
By vote of the last encampment a test
case was ordered to be made in the
United States courts and as the one al
ready begun by Judge Long covered all
should be instituted. In reply to the
message of the President which stated
that thousands of neighborhoods had their
well-known pension frauds the pension
department of the order had hunted down
al reported cases. Very few frauds were
cases where soldiers had defrauded the
government, but where some dishonest
ags put hs Rtos MdSw IN y
Mr.. Adams complained of the policy of
the pension office which, he declared. had,
In violation of the intended hberality of
the act of June n, 1890, rejected every
doubt and many disabled veterans, though
their claims had been proved by reliable
witnesses, had been deprived OF the whole
to receive. by act of Congress- he said,
''the pension Is now made a vested right.
bat 6n does ong o ms to a d 0S S
is examined, re-examined, reduced and
dropped the same as before, l am unable
to say what advantage the act is"
Commander Adams then urged the es-
tablishment of a permanent headquarters
for the Grand Army for the preservation
of its records. He then called attention
to the fact that the Grand Army Is al
ways on the side of law and order. and
it's members are still young enough to
protect property and support the. consti-
tuted authorities in enforcing obedience to
law. He concluded as follows: "As our
members grow less may our love increase.
Be true to the principles OF the order.
Keep sacred the memory of our dead,
stand loyalty for the interests of the liv-
ing, and above and beyond all. see to it
that the flag we love so well and followed
so long is not trailed in the dust. Place it
higher and higher until it's stars mingle
with those in the heavens and it's stripes
can be seen by all the world telling that
it is the emblem of equal rights and ma
tional unity, saved and made purer and
brighter by the loyalty and devotion of its
defenders"
REPORTS OF OFFICERS.