Morris tribune., 1895-03-06
q. A. r.
fhs Annual Encampmcnt Of the Grand
Army HYas a Success.

/ d
fhs Annual Encampmcnt Of the Crane
Army Was Success.
| The fifteenth annual encampment oi
the department of Minnesota was mosl
auspiciously opened at st. Paul. Feb
27. The capacity of Ford's hall was
tested to it's utmost. The attendance
upon the gathering was so large that
many of the delegates had to be pro-
vided with seats in the gallery. Sc
from point of numbers in attendance
the present session is one of the best
ever held by the department. And the
proper enthusiasm was not lacking. The
session was slow in opening, and it was
IL o'clock before the gavel in the hands
of Commander Van SAINT, dropped to
call the veterans to order. Mayor
Smith was introduced to the assem-
blage, and he at once proceeded to ex-
tend to the old soldiers hearty greet
ing on behalf of the citizens of st. Paul.
Mayor Smiths address was received
with storms of applause and was fire.
quently interrupted with cheers. As
soon as Mr.. Smith had retired the en-
campment was opened IN due form for
the transaction of it's regular business.
This done Department Commander Van
SAINT delivered his annual address.
After brief report from both vice
commanders, Assistant Adjutant Gen.
eral j. X. Mertz made his customary
report on the statistics of the order for
1894.
At the meeting the second day the
committee on rules and resolutions re-
ported favorably on the one recon-
mending 500 extra compensation be
granted to &. K. Mertz.
The committee on officers reports fa-
vored all recommendations and sugges-
tions made by the department officers.
On motion the report was unanimously
adopted.
An invitation was extended to the So
ciety of Sons of the Revolution to at
tend the camp fires in the evening.
The hour having arrived for the elec-
tion of officers, Comrade j. H. Baker,
in a neat and commendable address,
nominated Comrade Eli Torrance for
department commander. By a rising
vote of the encampment, the assistant
adjutant general cast the vote of the
encampment for Comrade Torrance as
department commander.
In the matter of district encamp-
ments it was decided that the district
secretaries should notify the assistant
adjutant general of the dates upon
which these, encampments are to be
held, so that they shall not conflict.
The delegates at large to the national
encampment are as follows: T.. o.
Merriam, Minneapolis; William Dunn,
Eyota; alternates, Joseph Wiseman.
Minneapolis; Robert Scarf, Pipestone.
BY congressional districts:
First District-Charles w. Ackely,
Spring Valley; alternate, Henry Rey-
nolds, Waseca.
Second Decentralization White,
Beaver Creek; alternate, j. H. Baker,
Garden City.
Third District-A. r. Foster, Litch-
field; alternate, j. H. Wyman, LIE
Sueur.
Fourth District-Henry Hasenwinkle,
st. Paul; alternate, f. L. Mallory, st.
Paul.
Fifth District. w. Mortimer. Min
neapolis; alternate, Tom Downs, Min
neapolis.
Sixth District-M. w. Bates, Duluth;
alternate, c. F. Macdonald, st. Cloud.
Seventh District-J. P. Davis, Battle
Creek; alternates, J. A. McConkey, Fer
gus Falls.
Commander Torrance, in appointing
]. K. Mertz as assistant adjutant gen.
eral, and E. n. Leavens as assistant
quartermaster general, more than
pleased the comrades of the depart
ment. The appointments are COM
mendable, as being a recognition of
their faithful services to the Grand
Army and the department of Minne-
sofa.
Past Commander Van SAINT, in sur
rendering the flag of the department to
Torrance, took occasion to
thank the comrades for their earnest
support during the past year. 1t
pleased him to know that the flag was
placed in the hands of one who would
guard and protect it with his life.