Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-04-22
LEAVENWORTH WINS.
NEXT KANSAS G. A. r.. REUNION TO
BE HELD THERE.
STATE ENcAMPMENT BEGUN
ATTENDANCE NOT so LARGE AS IN
FORMER YEARS.
Sons of Veterans Have Suffered Severe
Losses During the Year-W. X. L.
in FIourishinE Condition
Other Auxiliary Or
EanfzatiOns.

cbanute, Kas., April 2l.-(Special) The
state encampment OF the G. A X. and
auxiliary organizations opened in this CITY
to-day. The attendance is not so large
as in former years. However. southeast
ern Kansas has turned out in force ana lhe
streets are well filed. Very few delegates
came from Western or Northern Kansas.
Only the more prominent members are mere
froI, tbat section. Each of the six organi-
cations convened simultaneously IN Dusl-
ness session at 10 o'clock this morning
Matters of a routine nature We're consld-
cred. Tomorrow will be the big day.
Topeka and Leavenwurth met in battle
array this afternoon before the encamp-
ment and Major Andersons band OIL MO
docs went down before the forces COM
manded by Colonel Gilpatrick. The hsht
was over the selection of a place for hold
ing the reunion next fall When the vote
was taken, Leavenworth won by a good
majority. Now Topeka threatens to hoid
a little reunion of it's own. Wichita was
selected as the place for holding the en-
campment next year.
Delegates from five of the seven congress
sional districts held meetings tonight and
elected delegates to the national encalhp
ment at Buffalo. The First and Second
districts will elect tomorrow morning. The
r.. w. Wright. of oswego, and John COOK,
of Arkansas City; Fourth, o. w. Fox, oil
Topeka, and John G. Russell, of Marion'
Fifth. 5. S. LongIey, of Greely. and William
Burke, of Delphos; Sixth, A. Sidney Chase'
of Ellsworth, and o. H. Duran, OF iona !;
Seventh. NJ. w. Sutton. of Dodge City, and
ii. q. Randall, of Mount Hope.
Colonel Whitney's Address.
The retiring state commander. Colonel
w. c. Whitney, delivered his annual su-
dress to the encampment this aiteFnoolI'
He said, in part:
With the exception of the decrease IN IN
membership, which is inevitable and VIII
of the Republic will be no more, the re-
port of the adjutant general shows a pros
porous condition. But one post has sur
rendered its charter. Four charters nave
been issued during the year. There was
only one court-martial held, and, while
many questions have been referred to
headquarters for reply, there is remark
able good feeling throughout the depart
ment.
..The list of suspended and dropped mem
bers still increases. / recommend TO post
forts to restrain this loss and especially
that post commanders should promptly
send to each delinquent comrade state
ments of his accounts and the exercise OF
discretion and charity in remitting the
dues of those unable TO pay. Let our fra
ternity grow broader and deeper. Let our
greeting be more cordial. Let the grasp Of
the hand be warmer- Let all OF the COM
rades feel that you are their friend"
Sons of Veterans Not Flourishing.
The Sons of Veterans opened their ses-
sion at the hall in the Jones block prompt
ly at 10 o'clock. State Commander Grant
Harrington delivered his annual address
Immediately after prayer. Said he:
our order from the day of its birth has
70 been passing through transition stage.
Founded upon the noble sentiment that the
-trr-
should be- kept forever green. 1t was
launched with seemingly little idea as to
the mode and manner in which its plans
were to be fulfilled. Hence our past history
has been 4 checkered career in national,
division and camp affairs. We have drawn
regularly upon the new blood. just coming
failed utterly to hold these same boys
when they became men. Our membership
has lacked staying qualities and our legis-
linton has been of the eNpediency charac-
Ter as this or that favored measure has
been presented as the panacea for our ills,
but the burning question. What must We
do TO be saved?' is still unanswered. To
my mind. one of the greatest mistakes we
have made in the past is in trying to build
up ritualistic organization. We are, in
TACT, an honorary organization. Member
ship in our order is predicated upon birth,
and the trend in the future must be to-
ward an organization modelled after the
Sons of the American Revolution. in which
the ritUalistic work is discarded. and an
honorary society. plre and simple. is eS-
ldBllSfleG. inc logic OF events points con-
clusively TO such result, and as we get
further and further away from the events
of 1861 to 1865 as Time with heavy hands
strikes from our midst the veterans, and
we see them no more. AS the magnitude OF
the struggle and the results bequeathed IL
poSterity become more and more apparent
then. indeed. viii the citizen be proud to
declare himself Il Son of ] Veteran and our
orGer w!ll glow with undiminished luster.' -
0Eartermaster o. Ii. Graves report of the
condition of the Sons Of Veterans organI-
Iic said thar something must be done TO re-
riNe interest," else the ois Ter would soon fall
to pieces. He declared the recent campaign
had n depressing effect on the order. .'It
not only affected our finances" said he.
thusiasm and stified our patriotism" There
arc only ffty-SX camps in the state ut the
present time. as compared 10 etShty-nlne
on" year ago and the membership has
fallen from 2573 to 1.i26.
Other Auxiliary Orders.
The w r. c. devoted the entire after.
noon in listening 10 the reports of the vari-
Gus officers According to the report OF
Mrs Chase, state president of the order. il
has membership of 5000 in Kansas. and is
ia a iiourishing condition
The Ladies' of the G. A. r. also spent the
day in hearing reports from the officers.
This order has a membership of 200. and is
in good condition. The Sons of Veterans
anl the Ladies Aid and the Loyal Workers
received reports. Each organization Will
eject officers for the year tomorrow. Mrs.
Chase was given n handsome gold medal by
the associate officers, appropriately en-
graVed.
Mother Bickerdyke the well known army
nurse. is not here. This is the first time
shr has missed an eucampment for many
years. She viii probably never attend an
other one. as she is in very poor health.
She is now at Bunker Hill. Kas.
Tho delegates 10 the various conventions
Were given public reception tonight by
the citizens of Chanute. Addresses were
made hv Mayor Rawlings. eN-Warder
I.yuch. pr. HoStetter and other prominent
citizoEs. The members of the reception and
executive committee appointed by the peo-
pic of Chanute TO look after the visitors
arc L. +. Keifer. D. i. McClelland. G. NJ
Dewey. c. s. Nation. r. y. Allen. s. g.
Brown. II. c. Carr. Miss NJ Cave. DIR. c.
H. Frown. Bruce Lynch, s. c. "opens and
\. W. Ashcraft.