The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-08-28
THE VETERANS ADJOURN
After Filling the List Of Offices For
the Ensuing Year,
sOMBOFTHBoOMM1TTBERBPORTs


ment Of widows Pensions and the
EstabIishment of National Parks at
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Criticized.
Buffalo. NJ Y, Aug. 2S--The Grand
Army has elected its officers for the
ensuing year and the encampment Of
1897 has adjourned to meet at Cincin-
natl next year.
Yesterdays session lasted from 9:1J
o'clock I'm the morning until 3:45 in
the afternoon, without intermisston-
Opening under the order of business
the encampment took up the eleutirn
Of senior vice COMMUNICATIVE chief.
Comrade Alfred Lyth, of Bidwell- VIII
keson post of this city, was placed in
nomination by Major A. X Smith, the
commander of his post. and was cleo
ted unanimously, there being no other
nomination.
The election Of a Junior vice com
mander-in-chief was not accomplished
until afternoon, there being four can
didates and several Interruptions to
the proceedings Of the encampment by
speeches and the admission Of a com
mittee from the Women's Relief corps.
On the first ballot f. y. Allen, of Con-
necticut, the candidate of the naval
veterans, led, with G.. w. Carpenter Of
South Dakota second, c. l.. Knapp Of
Kansas third, D. e. Ross of Delaware
fourth and ]. B. Cummings Of Okla
homa fifth
There was evidently no desire to con-
test the election beyond the first ball
lot, as on the second the delegates be-
gan going over to Mr. Allen rapidly,
and before the roll call had been COM
pleted the adjutant general was in
structed to cast the vote of the en-
campment for him. DR.. David Mack
aye, of Dallas, Tex, was elected sur
geon general unanimously, and Rev.
Frank c. Bruner of the First Metho-
dist church of Chicago, was in like
manner elected chaplain-in-chief.
Past Commander-in-C Chief Walker n
illinois, was presented with a silv
service by the encampment, the
dress being made by William M. oil
of Boston.
A committee from the Women's r
lief corps was admitted to the ha
and presented the convention wi
several beautiful floral emblems, ar
made brief report of the work of Il
w. r. c. for the past year.
Mrs Woodley, national president
the Army Nurses, was also admittt
to the convention, likewise "Mothe
Ransom, of California, 50 years oil
the oldest army nurse living, and Mr.
William Seatt, who spoke for the co
ored veterans who were unable to a
tend the encampment.
Among the reports receiving favo
able consideration in the executive Sc
sion Of the encampment was that
the pension committee. 1t recon
mended a readjustment of widow
pensions, and presented form of prod
and application in pension claims sui
stantially the same as that embOdie +
in the PickIer bill, which has passe
the national house of representative
but has not passed the senate. II
report stated that the present con
missioner of pensions had consented
adopt new rules substantially the san
as those in force during the Harrisc
! administration. The report also re,
! commended that congress pass a ped
sion law to apply to all veterans who
have reached the age of 62 years.
The report of the committee having
| in charge the memorializing of con-
! gress to purchase several of the most
important battlefields about Frede.
ricksburg Va, and connect them by
! government roads was adopted. An
other committee reported favorably the
proposition to establish national parks
at the battlehelds of Vicksburg, Stony
River and Appomatox.
The report of the committee on text
books used in the public schools was
adopted. The report deals severely
with some of the histories used in the
south, charging that they misstate the
facts as to the cause Of the rebellion,
and present them from a southern
point of view, Regret is expressed
that, after an examination of all the
histories used in the states that were
! loyal TO the government, in the opinion
| of the committee none merits the un-
| qualified endorsement of the organiza-
! tion.