The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-09-13
KENTUCKY'S ENCAMPMENT
The Ceremonies at Louisville Arc
Continued.
HENRY WATTERSON'S SPEECH
An Address Full Of Patriotism and Given
with Good Tastc-PcnsiOn Recon-.
mcndaiiOns - The Signifi.
cameo Of Memorial Day.

Louisville, KY, Sept. 12.-Rusincss
and pleasure was combined by the
Grand Army folks today. While the
delegates to the national encampment
settled down to legislate for the good
of the order. and to elect officers Tor
another year. the rank and file In
dulged in the reunions that OF late
years have become one of the most In
teresting features of encampment
week.
There were many ,ex-confederates,
too. who hunted up the reunion quar-
ters of regiments with which they had
engaged In battle and make themselves
at home with their former foes.
The delegates to the encampment
found it difficult to get down to busl-
ness after the emotion created by the
welcoming exercises. The scene that
followed the closing words of the ora
tion of Henry Watterson was thrilling.
The speaker was overcome with emo
ton and left the front of the stage
Men rose and cried and cheered by
turns. huGged each other and them
selves. and threw hats. fans and hand
kerchiefs into the air But they Were
not prepared for the touching incident
which followed.
Mrs. John A. Logan was seated a
short distance back of the commander
in chiefs stand, and as Mr. Waiter
son walked away from the footlights
with the tears coursing down his
cheeks, General I.awler took his hand
and presented him to Mrs. Logan.
Neither could speak for a moment, and
then the white-haired. motherly-look-
ing woman took 'his hand in both Of
hers, and when she found her voice,
said. tremblingly: IL am glad / have
been permitted to live to hear your
speech" That was all she could say.
Then she sat down and wept.
Mrs. CInrk's Grievances.
Meanwhile scene of a very different
nature was being enacted at the open
ing session of the Women's Relief
corps. For several years the branch of
the organization at Canton, o.. has sent
as a delegate Mrs. Ada f. Clark, and
lust as often has she been excluded on
technical grounds. the opposition be-
ing led by Mrs. Sherwood, of the same
city, an eX-president of the corps. The
feud has become a celebrated one I'm
Ohio This year Mrs. Clark came to
Louisville determined to enforce her
claim. Early this morning, accompa-
MED by counsel, she appeared before
Judge Edwards and secured the issue
of fifteen temporary injunctions re-
straining as many national officers OF
the corps from refusing her recognition
as delegate. These papers were given
to Sherifi Pfianz, and having secured
admission to the secret session in Lib
erty hall by warning the sentinel of the
majesty Of the law, he proceeded to the
platform and served the first injunc-
ton upon the national president, Mrs.
NJ. r. VI. Wallace. of Chicago. The 9TH
er fourteen women he did not know.
Mrs. Wallace, upon being asked to
point them out. refused bluntly. Dele
gates mounted chairs and begged their
sisters not to betray their associates.
But Mrs Clark had friends on the floor.
and one by one. amid a scene of wild
excitement the officials were designat-
ed until the injunctions had been
served. Then Mrs. Clark took her seat
and the sheriff withdrew.
At 10 o'clock Comma n nder-n-Chief
Lawler called the encampment to order
| and ex-Congressman Warner, of Mis-
souri,, and State Commander Kelly
were presented to extend greetings to
the delegates in behalf of the city. and
the Kentucky Grand army department.
Then. amid scene Of wild enthusiasm,
the delegates rising en- masse and
cheering and waving of hats, Henry
Watterson. whose Grafton at Pittsburg
last year brought the encampment TO
Louisville, was escorted to the foot
lights and addressed the grand en-
campment in a speech full of patriot
| ism and good taste.
The roll call having developed the
fact that every one of the delegates to
the national encampment was present,
and all those not connected with the
order having been excluded, the. COM
mander In chief proceeded to deliver
his address.
Referring to the pension laws, he
said
While we are not asking for any new
pension g!slat.on We do ask and insist
that when law s passed by congress It's
provisions as intended by 1t shall be car
red out. and not m.scOnstrued and mis-
applied by any man or set Of men or any
party who may be IN power ] am not /,
lawyer. but ! know the verdict of any
court of loyal men would be that after a
man has furnished the proofs and has
been granted a pension, that pension can,
not be taken away from him without due
process of law. I know this Is being done
however. all over the land, for have
seen the evidences of 1t in every depart
ment IN which / have been--pensions re-
duced from sl2 to So. and from 81 to So, and
many cut Off entirely. Then. again. a
three years ago Will receive a notice tina,
| his claim Is rejected then notified that his
| case Is reopened and allowed but only
| from the time Of reopen.ng. thus cheating
| a worthy man out Of $500 or so. Many OF
| our comrades thus dealt with are not able
| to bring suit to test the const.tut.onal!ty
Of this sort OF ruling OF pension com.
| missioner. ] would. therefore. recon.
mend that the incoming council of admin.
istration be empowered to select n case
md 20 hn 1,pu Ia. 81
custom of encampments to appoint com.
| mite to prepare some testimonial for the
retiring commander in chief. recon-
| mend that no such committee be appoint
| In making test case as to the consti
tutlonality of the act Of June q. 1890
Significance Of Memorial Day.
The speaker next touched upon Me.
mortal Day, yearly becoming more
sacred to the veterans and the Ameri
can people. The decoration of the
graves in the national cemeteries I'm the
| south. however, has In some places bc.
come burdensome to the comrades by
reason of their being so scattered. II
was therefore recommended that the
incoming commander In chief appoint
committee of three to urge congres.
to include in the appropriation for the
care Of these cemeteries a sum sufii
Client to defray the expenses Of holding
Memorial Day services at each of the
southern cemeteries. These expendi
lures could be made through the quar-
termaster generals Of the army.
Comrades, let us see to II that the day Il
kept as a memorial day; let us denounc,
| In our own communities any Dissertation
Of the day. such as races and games. ex
cursions. balls and other amusements-o
which there 10 too much on this day. Th
tendency is to forget the objects of II
observance and make II day Of pleas
ure and recreation.
There Is another subject that deserve
I reference. On my first visit to Wash
ington, d. G. (when did not see the presl