The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-08-31
THE GRAND b MEETING

Election Of Onicers-The Question Of His
Schools-Some Used in the South De.
nouncsd.
Buffalo, n. T., August 27.-The Grand
Army has elected its officers for the en-
suing year and he encampment has
adjourned to meet at Cincinnati next
yea
Today's session lasted from 9:15
o'clock this morning until 3:45 O'Clock
this afternoon, without intermission.
Opening under the order of the busi-
ness, the encampment took up the
election Of senior vice commander-in-
chief. Alfred Lyth, OF Bidwell- Wilke-
son post, of this city, was placed in
nomination by Major A. X. Smith, the
commander of his post, and was elect
ed unanimously, there being no other
nominations.
mander-in-chief WIS not accomplished
until this afterno6 n, there being four
d and se.eral Interruptions to
the proceedings OF the encampment by
speeches and the admission Of a COM
mittee from the woman's relief corps.
+. E. Allen, of Connecticut, the cam
date of the naval veterans, was cho-
sen on the secon ballot.
Among the reports receiving fav-
orable consideration in the executive
session Of the encampment was that
of the pension committee. 1t rec
commended a REIMBURSEMENT Of d
pensions and presented a form of proof
and application in pension claims SUBJ
stantially the same as that embodied
in the Picker bill, which has passed
the national house of representatives,
but has not passed the senate. The
report stated that the present commits
sioner Of pensions had consented to
adopt new rules substantially the same
as those in force during the Harrison
administration. The report also rec
commended that congress pass a service
pension law to apply to all veterans
who AVE reached the age of 81 years.
The report Of the committee having
in charge the m~emoraliZing Of congress
to purchase several Of the most impOr-
tant battle fields about Fredericksburg,
roads, was adopted.
The report Of the committee on text
books used in the public schools was
adopted. The reprt deals severely with
some of the histories used in the south,
charging that they mis-state the facts
as to the cause of the rebellion and
present them from a southern point of
view. A 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 unqualified
Endorsement of the organization. The
report closed with the following recon-
mendatins:
1. That this ~encampment urge the
continued agitation of the question
Of improved text books in our schools
that relate to the history of the United
States, especially as to the events of
the war of the rebellion.
2. That the national encampment au-
thorize the appointment of a perma-
nent committee On the subject of teach
ing patriotism in our schools, which
shall make a report each year.
8. That it be urged upon each depart
ment of the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie and recommended to the woman's
relief corps, the sons of veterans and
all allied organizations, that they give
direct and persistent attention to the
selection of proper text books for use
in our public schools, and the exclu-
sion or reform Of such as are improper.