Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-04-09
ROUND ABOUT HOME.
MICHIGAN EVENTS RELATED IN
BRIEF ITEMS.
Michigan Department Grand ar.Iy of
the Republic Annual Encampment at
saginaw-Annual Convention OF the
womens' Relief Crops ALTO Held There

State G. A. II. Encampment at Saginaw
The annual department encamp'
ment of the Grand Army of the Re-
public for Michigan was held at Sagi-
nav. The sawdust city gave the old
veterans grand reception, business
houses and residences being decorated
with flags and bunting in great pro-
fusion.
The annual report of DEPARTING nj
Commander Daboll showed that six
new posts were instituted during the
year and four surrendered their char
tiers. The loss in membership by death
was 342, and from other causes 95l.
The cash on hand is Sl,105.7s. The
Alger fund amounts to S722. -. The
commander advised that the expenses
of some person be paid TO visit weak
posts and encourage them. Referring
to Memorial day the commander said
that there Is "a strong and growing
tendency TO degrade the day by making
it time of unseemly games and fantas-
tic parades, instead of a day to do
honor TO dead heroes. The Women S
Relief Corps was highly praised for
the work being done in giving relief
to needy and in teaching the lesson of
patriotism and loyalty to the youth.
He advised a closer understanding be-
tween the q. a. X. and the ). of V.
The growth of mutual respect and
friendship between the veterans or the
north and the south were gladly noted.
Regarding the pensions the COM
mander said: I'm my opinion the time
has come when the efforts of the e.. "A.
Il. shall be directed 10 the passage of
law providing for a service pension.
= {" The present laws are of great
value and doing great good, but the
time has arrived when the fact of
service should be all the evidence re
quired to entitle comrade to a Ger
tihcate.
Gen. /. n. Walker, commander-in-
chief of the national encampment, at
tended the encampment and addressed
a campfire at Arbelter hall. Mayor
Mershon delivered the address of
welcome, which was responded to by
Department Commander Daboll, by
Mrs. Knapp, president of the w. X. c.,
and by E. X. Henderson, division com
mander of the 5. of V. c. l.. Benja-
min presided at another campfire at
Teutonia theater, and delivered the
address of welcome. Secretary of
State Washington Gardner, Abbie Il.
VI IHC w II. - anu ICu -.
Stillson, of the S. of ", made responses.
The election of department officers
was a lively and interesting struggle.
There were five candidates for depart
ment commander. The first ballot re-
suited: Gen. VIM. Shakespeare, of
kalamazoo, 227; Capt A. l.. Patrick,
of Detroit, 207; Capt. James Van
Kleeck, of Bay City, ~; Maj. Jacklin,
of Detroit, AZ; Capt. &. w. Crawford,
AZ. 1t only required a second bal
lot to elect Gen. Shakespeare by ma
jority of 43 over all, Capt Patricll's
supporters being the only other votes
which adhered to their first choice
The other officers were: Lucius W.
Lyon, of Saginaw, senior vice-com-
mander; j. O. Bellair. of Grand Rap
ids, junior vice commander; j. l.. Pres
ton, of Lyons, chaplain, and Dr. Geo
III. Granger, of Bay City, medical di-
rector. The new commander an
nounced the appointment of Col. Pond
as assistant acknowledgement, and Rep
c. e. Foote, of kalamazoo, as assistant
quartermaster-gene He deferred
the making of his other appointments.
1T was decided To hold the next en-
campment at Greenville.
The parade, which is always a feat
ure of the encampment, showed the
ranks of the various posts to be grad
ually thinning. Gov. Rich and Hon.
James O'Donnell were the principal
speakers at the second evenings camp
fires.
The annual session of the Women's
Relief Corps of Michigan was held at
the same time and place. Mrs Emma
+. Knapp, of Howell, the president, in
her annual address showed that there
are now 240 corps in the state with a
total membership of 1925. Twelve
corps were organized during the past
year The per capita tax was raised
from to 9 cents, the extra cent to 90
to the home for aged members
at Geneva, Ohio. 1t was also agreed
to try and get the national crops to
furnish supplies TO poor and struggling
crops, which il can do much cheaper
than state organizations can do. Dur
ing the year II, III graves were decor
ated and the ladies devoted great
deal of their time and money TO relief
work. During the year "a, 1913 was re-
feived ard S3,970 expended, The corps
was visited by Communicating Chief
Walker, who praised the ladies for
their work, which, he said, had a
strong tendency towards keeping the G..
!. X. posts in fourishing condition.
In the contest in the Woman's Re-
lief Corps, all of the candidates for
president withdrew except Mrs.
Amanda J. Halstead. of Concord, and
Mrs Florence Rabbit, of Ypsilanti.
Mrs Halstead was elected by good
majority. Mrs. Nellie Prince Quimby,
of Saginaw, was elected senior vice
president and Mrs. Nellie Lewis, of
Traverse City. junior vice-commander;
treasurer, Mrs. Flora n. Stanley, of
Concord; chaplain, Mrs. Florence :.
Rabbit. of Ypsilanti; executive board,
Mrs. Kate X. Collins, of Howell. Sarah
j. Alden, of Saginaw, and Mrs. Ann
Griffith of Detroit