The morning call., 1894-09-13
Grand Army to Meet in
the South.
HENRY WATTERsON DID 1T
His Smooth Tongue Caught the
Veterans.
SLOWLY THE RANKS DIMINISH.
The Years Begin to Tell Upon the
Brave Old Boys Who Wore
the Blue.

PITTsBURG, Sept. 12.-While 200, 600 per.
sons have left the city since yesterday
there are still 200. 900 strangers in town.
The National Encam pment of the q. A. r.
opened this morning in the new Grand
Opera-house. The delegates were well
coined on behalf of the citizens executive
board by Chairman Daniel c. Ripley and
w. c. Quincy. Governor PattiSon well
coined them on behalf of the State; Mayor
McKsnna of Pittsburg ana Mayor Ken
nedy of Allegheny on behalf of the citi-
Zens.
The annual reports OF the national off,
GERS were read. Commander : in chief
Adams reported the total membership to
be 369.034, against 397, 223 one year ago.
Each succeeding year. ne said, will sho "
decrease. The interest in the order,
however, has grown stronger. When the
last comrade is mustered out the G. A. T.
fhould cease to exist, but the Sons OF
Veterans would carry on its work. The
Pension Department of the order had in
vestigated all the cases of alleged pension
frauds. Very few frauds were discovered.
and they were the work of dishonest
agents. Adams complained that the Pen
sion Office. in violation of the intended
liberality of the act of June 81, 1890, re-
jected every claim about which there was
the slightest doubt.
The committee on legislation reported
that "ihe greatest Indifference seems to be
shown on the part of our national law
makers" toward the veterans, and urged
the G. A. r. members 10 use their influ-
ence with their Senators and Representa-
tives to give preference in every public en-
ployment TO survivors of the war.
Major A. P. Burchfield, on behalf of
the citizens. presented the COMMANDMENTS
chief with a gavel made of woods from
Fort Sumter. Appomattox, Gettysburg
aud Libby prison, aud bound with metal
from historic cannon.
Henry Watterson was introduced TO the
delegates. and in presenting the claims OF
Louisville for the next encampment, said
Il have come with message from your
countrymen who dwell on what was once
the other side of the line, but wfose hearts
beat in ready response TO your hearts, and
who bid me tell you that they want to see
you. Candor compsls me to say that there
was time when they did not want to see
yen. There was time when, without any
invitation whatever. either written OF
verbal. without so much as an in timatiou
OF hospitality, you insisted upon giving us
the honor of your company, and, as il
turned out, when we were but i'll prepared
to receive you. 1t would be pity, now
that we are prepared, now that the lid is
off the pot and that the latchstring hangs
outside the door; il you should refuse us
the happiness OF welcoming you, not with
bloody hands to hospitable graves, but as
friends and brothers, fellow-citizens, who
learned to value one another amid scenes
that left no time for equivocatiOn and
transactions applying to human virtues
the very highest test"
Louisville, KY, was unanimously Sc
lecied as the place for the nesting of the
next G.. A. r. encampment.
The election of commander-in-chief will
not be held until tomorrow.
The political situation of the G. A. r
is very much mixed. The friends of each
of the candidates for commander-ln-chie1
claim to have enough votes pledged to elect
their man, and have regularly organized
campaign committees which are hard al
work. No point is let uncovered. As
there are but two candidates the canvass
is all the more vigorous.
This evening the Walker men revised
their returns and claimed that they had a
majority of 12S They say they have
Maine. Montans, Indiana, Pennsylvania
New Jersey, Massachusetts, Delaware
Ohio, all but three; half of Michigan and
all of Nebraska, Washington, Alaska, Cal
ifornia, Department of Potomac. Missis-
sippl. Louisiana, Texas and the majority
OF Wisconsin. II their claims are true
Walkers election is certain, but the Law.
ler people claim to be able 10 beat MIN
out with New York solid, New Jersey, al
but two or three; Maryland, practically
solid: New Hampshire. Illinois, Iowa
Minnesota, North and South Dakota,
Washington, Oregon and Montana. Wis.
consin voted IS to IL in favor of Lawle r,
but its unit vote may be forced and given
to him. Lawler claims the majority OF
Michigan, all of Connecticut, Vermont
Rhode Island. District of Columbia, a little
less than half Of Ohio, all of Kansas
Florida and proba bly, half of California.
In the Pennsylvania caucus Walker got
AZ to Al for Lawler. The Lawlerites
think they can force the unit rule. q On ac-
count Of these conflicting claims the tinal
vote will be required to settle the matter
By custom the State in which the en-
campment is held is given the national
senior vice commander-in-chief. A. p.
Burchfield of Allegheny City will have no
opposition for the position.
The ladies' campaign is going on with
unabated energy, but no figures can be
given. For the Ladies of the q. A. r.
presidency, Mrs. Linhart of this city
seems to be in the lead. Mrs. Gerwig OF
Allegheny is in the field to stay, and sx-
presses herself satified with the way
things are going. Mrs. GuDtsr of Chi
cago and Mrs. Riggs OF Ohio are still fight
ing. The fight Is really between Mrs.
Gunter and Mrs. Lin.art.
The contest in the Woman's Relief
Corps has narrowed down to Mrs. Emma
r. Wallace of Chicago and Mrs. Jennie
Meyerboff of Evans vile. Ind, with chances
about even.
The Daughters OF Veterans have Domi-
mated Mrs. Walker of Boston. past depart
ment president of the Massachusetts, de-
partment,to succeed Mrs. Nellie King, and
she will probably be elected tomorrow.
The staff of Captain Jack Adams. the
!