Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-02-13
STATE ENCAMPMENT
OF Maine G. A. R. Now in Ses-
sion at Skowhegan. :
Commander in-Chief LawIer Given
Soldiers Welcome.
Business Meetings - Public Exercises -
Speeches and Reception in Evening.

Skowhegan, Feb. 12.- (Special). TIL
morning of the opening of the 2Sth an
nual encampment of the Department q
Maine, G. A. r., was such perfect win
ter day, bright and crisp, but not to
cold, that it was taken as an indication
OF the success of the encampment. Ant
so indeed it was. The efficient commit
tee Of Russell Post 96, of Skowhegan, hat
made such wise provisions that everythin,
ton of the Boys in Blue and thei
worthy helpmeets, the Relief Corps
Department headquarters are at Hote
Heselton, where the work of the cncamp
nent is mapped out. Headquarters Of the
Relief Corps arc at Hotel Coburn, where
many of the noted workers are staying
There were many of the boys in town
Tuesday night, while the II A. NJ train
bl ought five carloads Of members and
ladies', and the large number in town was
nearly doubled by the laadcd afternoon
train.
| COMMANDMENTS Chief d the National
G. A. r., Col. Thomas. G. Lawler of
Illinois, arrived on the 4, A. NJ. train
from Auburn, where he hid been given a
rousing reception the night before in
City hall by Burnside Pos.
| The greatest interest aIiorg the mem
bers of the encampmcnt is the election of
department commander AMI the establish
ment of the proposed soldiers home at
| Newport Among the leading candidate
for the office of department commander
are Capt. VIM. II. Green OF EDst 2, Port
land, Col L. ID. Carver, PGt rs, Rock
land and Gen W. r. Eustis # Post AZ,
| Auburn.
| While some opposition was expected to
develop in regard to he esttalis hmcnt OF
the "homc,' "a careful canvas indicates
the strong sentiment in favor The action
of past encampments is strogly supple
mented by Commander Gilmn's address,
which we give in substance blow.
Coburn hall in which the ncampment
meets, is finely decorated VIII the ma
tional colors in honor of the ecasion, and
the seats for delegates are sranged b,
counties.
The encampment was for1hlly opened
at 10 A. M, by Department commander
J. Wesley Gilman. The of ers of the
cncampment were present, asfollows:
j. Wesley Gilman, department com
mander; James f.. Parsonsvice com
mander; Charles NJ. Chase, lnior vice
commander; Rev. Chas. Al Southland
chaplain; DIR. VIM. II. Trt, medical
director; james l.. MerricE assistant
adjutant general; A. NJ. Warm, assistant
quartermaster general.
| The rerorts of the cOmmandl adlutant
general, and assistant qtntermaster
general were laid on the tabletiIl after
| noon.
Reports Of medical directorlnd chap
lain were pI presented and alsdreport of
Department Inspector John DFtanwood.
Com, AIDE Merrick, Watson andross were
appointed a committee on creAntial.
| The matter of restoring pa4post com
manders dropped by accidentr transfer
vas tlkcn up and Comrades schas. W.
Ross formerly of Post IS, andJamcs H.
Stanwood, formerly of Posses, dds
handetD now of Post 135, wtrft stored to
former rank and hontrs. fter some
| further routine business, the aampment
adjourned till afternoon.
At the afternoon session tl1followiDg
appointment was made: Cdmittee to
nominate delegates to the r1ional en-
! campment.
Commander Gilman deliydl his an
nual address A conmitte on com |
mander's address was appoinf and the
address made the order Of u day for
Wednesday morning.
| At 8 O'Clock commai4r- in Chief |
| Thomas G. LAWYER was intNuced and
spoke briefly, being received wi applause,
He spoke of the many interting Incl
dents of the war, and warnI endorsed
the proposed soldiers home afNewport.
Quarter Master General JoHW. Burst
| also spoke briefly. lA
| The event Of the day was thkiscussion
| of the resolution introduced lComrade
Millett in relation to the sol4rs home
| at Newport, and asking aiqfrom the
| State. This precipitatcd an fncst and
| exciting debate. The resolut1 was ad-
vocated by Comrades Abel DAT of Pitts
| field, Frost of Newport, Satfo4of Skow-
| heoan and others. and was posed by
| Comrades l.. T. Carleton of Wlhrop, and
| px Governor Robe After4rolonged
| debate the meeting adiourIl without
| action on the resolution.
| In the evening Coburn hall crowded
| to its utmost to attend the ptiDn to
| Col. I4awler and to hear the feches OF
the visiting grand officers.% ~ those
fortunate enough to hold tfts were
admitted
| After music by Kendall 5 fchestra,
Department Commander Gi4n intro
duced Commander Chief Lfer, who
was given rousing weiqe Col
Lawler is an easy aud gracel speaker
and his remarks We're enthusiastically
received
Speeches were also made Quarter.
master John W. Burst of hois and
Mrs. Sarah Fuller Of Maehusetts,
whose remarks Were eloquentF taking.
The exercises were inters4eds with
music and closed with the hging OF
.America by the audiencc reception
to Col. LAWYER was then held
| The adiutans general eI ITO
| posts. 1916 members, loss dpne post I
and S54 members since the M encamp-
mentt. 2l7 of these by death + dropped !
and suspended, L
The quartermaster gene1 reported
receipts for a year. lnclud1 S5lI- 90
balance from last yeae $3174. expendi-
ture for Skr, sa6es o5; preset esources,