The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-08-27
Commander Chief Ofthe
Grand Army.
The Next Encampment to Be
Held at Cincinnati.
New England Candidates Had No
Chance From the Start.

Euffalo. y. ", Aug. 81. Zen. j. p. >.
Goblin OF Pennsylvania was yesterday
elected commander-in chief of the Grand
Army of the Republic and Cincinnati
selected as the place of the next encamp-
ment. Thus ends one Of the most inter
estiug contests in the history of the
.irand Army.
John G. Linehan of New Hampshire
was a good third in the race, and there
was a possibility of a stampede going
mis- way, but George II. lnnis of Boston
was not in the race at any stage. lie
Aad the support which had been Pledged
to him by Massachusetts, at the last state
>pcampment, but he did not call IL forth.
Had he done so, he would undoubtedly
have found division in his own dc lega-
Non.
The nominating speech with which
Past Department Commander w. L.
wetherbee placed him before tho conven-
oion was not even seconded. and Mr..
Innis' name was withdrawn almost as
soon as IL had been presented.
Col. Linehan remained in the race. and
the first ballot gave this result Goblin 296.
Mack 253, Linehan lSl. This did not
give any candidate majority, and a
second ballot was taken. While this ballot
was progressing Col. Linehan's name
was withdrawn, and then Gen. MACK.
Ohio's candidate, was removed from the
field, leaving Gen. Goblin in undisputed
possession.
This move on the part of the candidates
from Ohio and New Hampshire simply
discounted the inevitable result. Had
the ballot been finished and counted,
there is no doubt that Gen. Goblin would
have been elected. The other candidates
noted which way the wind was blowing,
and gracefully got out OF the way.
Col. Linehan probably would have re.
tired when the first ballot was announced
but for possibility OF SO close contest
between Goblin and Mack that he might
be selected as compromise candidate.
It was case of Mack against the field.
Cincinnati had been awarded the next
eucampment. That gave Ohio one OF the
ohisf plums of tho day. The feeling that
that was enough for one state led to tho
desire on the part OF the supporters of the
other candidates that Mack should not
receive the Office OF commander in chief.
Had Mack on the first ballot shown
greater strength than Goblin, the feeling
against the Ohio candidate on the part
Of the Pennsylvanians was so warm that
they would probably have come to tho
Mack to get the office. For that reason
the second ballot was allowed to proceed
until nearly all the states had been called.
It was noticed that Goblin was tho
favorite, and Linehan's name was with
drawn, a proceeding which was dupli-
oated on the part OF Mack.
THE NEW COMMANDER.
Gen. j. y. s. Goblin OF Lebanon, Pa.
tho next commander-in- chief of the Grand
Army, was practising law when Fort
Sumter was fired on enlisted in Com pany
c., Eleventh Pennsylvania, was elected
its first lieutenant, and when the regi-
ment was reorganized as the Forty
seventh Pennsylvonia, became captain.
He saw plenty of hard fighting; was pro.
NOTED to major for Rallantry at Sabine
Crossroads and Pleasant Hill. When his
division was transferred to the Shenan-
doah Valley he commanded his regiment
as lieutenant colonel and colonel. and
received high praise from his superiors.
At Cedar Creek his brigadler was
wounded. and the command of tho brig.
sde devolved upon him. Al the conclu-
sion of the war he was breveted brigadier
general for gallant and meritorious con-
duct Returning to Pennsylvania, he re-
sumed the practice of law, locating at
Lsbanop, where he has since resided. He
joined the q. A. X. in 1867, and in 1886
was made commander for the Depart
ment of Pennsylvania. He Is one of the
trustees of the Soldiers and Sailors
Home at Erie, vice president of the
Soldiers Orphans Schools. and one of the
Gettysburg Battlefield Commission lie
Aas also been distinguished as one OF the
men who has made the superb Pennsyl-
vania National Guard what IL is.