The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-03
LOYAL LEGION CONFERENCE.
Constitution Amended at the Quad
renniaI Meeting.

DETROIT, June "A hundred members
of the military order of the Loyal Legion,
all more or less distinguished as army or
naval officers during the war of the re-
bellion, this morning discussed important
questions relating to that order in the
Turkish smoking room of the Hotel Cadil-
lac, which is periodically decorated in
honor of entertaining the quadrennial con-
ference of the Legion. General Alger, sec
rotary of war, was among those present.
Rear Admiral Gherard United States
navy, who is commander in chief of the
Legion opened the conference by introduce
ing Mayor Mayberry, also a companion of
the Legion, who made eloquent address
of welcome. The mayor acknowledged that
Detroit surrendered once, but added that
she would never do it again and would en-
deaVor by her hospitality to make atone
ment. The mayor referred to Grant, Poe,
Alger and others OF the Detroit Command
cry, living and dead, who would have
joined in the welcome if they could.
After some delay the conference pro-
ceeded to business taking up the much
mooted question of what the Legion's mem
bership shall consist of when it's present
membership shall nave passed away, still
preserving the hereditary distinctions which
characterize the order. The discussion
turned cQleIly on the report OF a commit
tee of the New York Commandery by which
it is proposed to eliminate eligibility for
membership instead of permitting soldiers
who had been conspicuous by their loyalty
but who had not served as officers to be-
come members 1t is stated that the sons
of the latter are seeking to acquire the
hereditary distinction which membership in
this order conferS. The matter was re-
ferred to a committee.
Several amendments to the constitution
of the Legion were offered at the after
noon session, but nearly all OF them failed
to receive the vote of three-fourths of the
state communicates necessary for adoption.
Amendments regarding forfeiture of mem
bership which Were offered by the NeW
York and California communicates were re-
jected, also some amendments offered by
New York in respect to elections of officers
and their duties.
Amendments were submitted by the com
panions from Massachusetts, California,
Kansas and Washington by which uniform
rosettes would be worn by all classes in the
order instead of the present provision for
rosettes for nonorisinal companions of the
first class, and for companions of the sec
ond and third classes of a different design
from those worn by original companions of
the first class. All these amendments were
rejected by the conference after more or
less debating of the questions. The con-
ference also declined to adopt amendments
from the California Commandery to alter
the rules under which amendments to the
constitution may be adopted. A new sec
ton was added providing for reference to
the commander-in-chief of elections of Off
GERS in which there has been any sup
preston of facts in reference to the candi-
dates membership. An amendment sub
mitted by the Illinois Commandery was
adopted providing that boards of officers
instead of the communicates shall have
authority in cases of dismissals for arrears
of members. A resolution was adopted de-
claring that the constitution as amended
shall take effect July 4.
A general reception was held at the Hotel
Cadillac this evening at which the veteran
officers and their ladies met many old and
new acQuaintanceS.