The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-09-05
The Grand Encampment at st,
Paul Has Closed.
They Recommend Lieutenant
General For Gen. Miles.
LINCOLN'S ADDRESS
Reading of Gettysburg Speech
on Decoration Day Suggested.
Use of the Flag For Advertis-
ing Purposes Condemned.

St. Paul. Mimi, Sept. 5.-The thir-
tieth annual encampment of the
Grand Army of the Republic came to
an end yesterday after one of the most
successful meetings since the organt-
zation was established.
The weather was the best that could
have been desired. The treatment re-
ceived by the visitors, both veterans
and others, was such that all kept full
Of good feeling for their host. the
sanity city The railroads of course
were crowded, for on the largest day
the number of out Of town people
reached almost if not fully 100000,
nearly $4,000 of whom, however, came
over from Minneapolis to see the Grand
Army parade Still the railroads did
very well with such a mammoth crowd
and got off with only one or TWO minor
accidents that could not very well have
been avoided under any circumstances.
The street car service, however, in
contrast with that of the railroads was
very poor, the company seeming una
bic to do much with the crowd and at
times being completely blOckaded for
hours and this considerably inconven-
fenced visitors and residents in getting
to the various campfires and receptions
and reunions with which the week has
been full. The street railways also had
a number of accidents, the worst being
that at Hamline yesterday. The
crowds have greatly diminished and
got started for their homes or other
parts of the northwest Immediately
after yesterdays parade
Among the resolutions adopted by the
encampment were the following: Ask
ing preference for capable ex-soldiers
il government appointments; urging
en- congress the justice and propriety
CT comforting on General Nelson A.
Miles, the full title of lieutenant gener-
al and indorsing the proposed national
parks at Vicksburg and Fredericks-
burg; recommending the reading of
Lincoln's Gettysburg address as part
Ct the exercises on Memorial day; ia
voring the prohibition of the use of
national flag for advertising purposes;
csking congress to repair and preserve
the frigate Constellation and the sloop
Of war Hartford; and asking congress
to provide for a soldiers home south of
the Ohio river.
A motion was adopted formally au-
thorizing the council Of administration
to change the location Of the next en-
campment in case satisfactory rates
cannot be secured. After the council
Of administration had been nominated
the officers were duly sworn in, the
chaplain asked the divine blessing on
this and the next encanpment. The
encampment then adjourned.
The first official act of the new COM
nander-in-chief. Major ClarksOn, was
20 appoint c. E. Burmeister of Omaha
3 adjutant general.
The associated organizations held
euu business meetings during the day.
The ladies CT the Grand Army Of the
Republic elected the following officers:
Mrs. Catherine Hirst, Of Louisville, re-
elected, national president; Mrs. A P.
Anderson of Minneapolis, senior vice
president; Mrs. Sarah c. Mason Of Ne
braska, junior vice president; Mrs.
Flora George of Washington, treasur>
ar; Mr.. Thankful Of Massachusetts,
chaplain; Mrs. Laura McNair of New
Jersey, national councillor; national
council of administration, Mrs. Hops
kins Of Oklahoma; Mrs. Lydia J.Smith
# Pennsylvania; Mrs. Davey Of Min
nesota. Adjournment followed the
election of officers.
The Woman's Relief corps elected
the following officers:
Mrs. Agnes Hit OF Indianapolis na-
tional president; Mrs. Marie Hazen-
Wrinkle of St. Paul, senior vice presi-
dent
No action was taken by either of
these corps loking toward union. each
preferring its present name and mem
bership. the qualifications slightly va
rying.
The Daughters of Veterans also re-