The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-09-03


and written matter sent out has
amounted to over 250,000 pieces.
Past Commander-in-C Chief Robert b.
Beath has, at your request, prepared an
entirely new edition of the Blue Book,
which has entailed upon him an i'm
mense amount of labor that no other
Comrade could have performed as well.
During the present year Comrade Beath
has placed in the hands of the Custodian
of Records large number of books
containing Reports of National and De-
partment Encampments and other meet
ings pertaining to Grand Army matters,
which is, without doubt, the most COM
plete edition in existence, and will prove
of inestimable value to the historian OF
the future. He is entitled to the graft
tude of the comrades for his continued
labors of love for our Order.
have shipped to Comrade j. Henry
Holcombe, Custodian of Records at
Philadelphia, all Of the superfluous
documents that were in my possession,
and am now prepared to turn over to my
successor such papers and documents
only as may be necessary for the proper
carrying on of the business of this office.
| have had bound the Proceedings of the
several Department Encampments for
1895. The library of the Adjutant-
Generals Office now comprises a COM
plete record of the National and Depart
ment history, as far as it is possible to be
obtained.
In closing the business of the year, l
desire to tender my thanks to all of the
comrades of the Grand Army of the
Republic and to the members of kindred
organizations that have been SO kind to
me. e.
SENIOR VICE CoMMANDER-IN-cHE
Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief E.
II. Hobson reports in part:
al have, however, not been idle in the
discharge of my duties in laboring for
the welfare of the comrades and the
advancement of our beloved and pat
riotic Order. During the past Fall and
Spring months | attended many Reunions
held in different parts of Kentucky and
the Department Eneampment at Somer-
set.
81 also had the pleasure of addressing
large number of old soldiers and citi-
zens on Memorial Day, and am very
much gratifed to say that very great
interest and good feeling is manifested
by all classes of citizens at every reeur-
renee of our Memorial services In doing
honor to our noble dead comrades, and
wherever | have gone | have been the
recipient of many courtesies, and can
bear testimony to the fraternity and
comradeship that everywhere marked
the nobleness of the character Of our
comrades In the Order"
JUNIOR VICE CoMMANDER-IN-CHIE
Junior Vice Commander-in-C Chief S. G.
Cosgnove reports in part:
"Commander-in- Chief Walker as
signed me no duties to perform, conse-
quently was left on my own resources
as to what l should do. / visited the
annual Eneampment of the Department
Of Idaho, held at Lewiston, on the 10th
and 11th of June, where / was welcomed
by that enthusiastic Department. I
also visited the annual Encampment,
W.R.C, of the Department of Idaho, at
the same time, held at the same place,
and though the hard times kept many
an old comrade from attending this En-
campment, still, it was fairly-well at
tended, and all the comrades were en-
thusiastic in supporting and maintaining
the Grand Army of the Republic.
Their auxiliary, the W.RC, was also
an enthusiastic body of ladies, who
showed great energy in aiding and assist
ing the members of the Grand Army.
son the 18th, 18th, and 18th of June
/ visited the Department Encampment
of Washington and Alaska, held at Ta-
koma, Wash. / also made visit to the
annual Encampment of the Woman's
Relief Corps of this Department, and
also to the annual Encampment of the
Sons of Veterans of this Department. l
found great enthusiasm in all of these
various bodies.
"The citizens of Lewiston, Idaho,
We'd with each other in making the De-
partment Encampment of Idaho and the
annual Encampment of the Woman's
Relief Corps success, and the citizens
of Tacoma, in large numbers, turned out
in the parade, and showed their loyalty
to the Grand Army of the Republic in
many other ways. Though each year
shows that the old soldier is growing
older, yet at these annual Encampments
he shows that he can still step lightly
to martial music, and at Tacoma not
less than 500 old soldiers participated in
the annual parade.
During the year visited number
of Campfires, and also visited number
Of Camps Of Sons of Veterans"
Macauiay's Idea of Free Coinage.