The record-union., 1897-06-03
Comforting on Questions Relating to
the Order
The rluch- footed Question of What
the Legion's Membership Shall
Consist of When the Present
Membership Shall Have Passed
Away One of the Principal Subjects
Discussed.

DETROIT (Mich.), June "A hum
dred members of the military order OF
the Loyal Legion, all more or less dis
tinguished as army or naval officers,
are in conference here discussing inn
portant questions relating to that order.
General Alger, Secretary of War; is
present.
Rear Admiral Gherardi, u. S. N, Com
mander-in- Chief of the legion, opened
the conference by introducing Mayor
Maybury also a companion of the le-
gion, who made an address of welcome.
The conference took up the much
mooted question of what the legion
membership shall consist of when it's
present membership shall have passed
away, still preserving the hereditary
distinctions which characterize the or
der. A dozen amendments had been
offered, and the opening session was
devoted to discussing them.
The discussion turned chiefly on a
report of the New York Commandery
by which it is proposed to eliminate
collateral eligibility for membership in
stead of permitting soldiers who had
been conspicuous by their loyalty, but
who had not served as officers, to be-
come members 1t is said that the sons
of the latter class are seeking to ac-
quire the hereditary distinction which
membership in this order confers. The
matter was referred to a committee.
The number of companions present
was largely increased this afternoon
by incoming delegations. Although the
congress itself is limited to three mem
~, 10 a n a M thrice
that number had arrived The ladies
of members present, escorted by an
unequal number of Detroit ladies, were
given a long drive about the city during
the afternoon. Several amendments to
the constitution of the legion were Of
fered at the afternoon session, but
nearly all of them failed to receive the
vote of three-fourths of the State Com
mandery necessary for adoption.
Amendments regarding forfeiture Of
membership, which were offered by the
New York and California Commander
les, We're rejected.
Amendments were submitted by the
companions of Massachusetts, Califor-
MIA, Kansas and Washington, by which
uniform rosettes would be worn by all
classes in the order instead of the pres
ent provision for rosetteS for nom
original companions of the first class,
and for companions Of the second and
third classes of a different design of
those worn by original companions of
the first class. All these amendments
were rejected by the congress, after
more or less debating of the questions.
The congress also declined to adopt
amendments from the California Com
mandery to alter the rules under which
amendments to the constitution may
be adopted.
A new section was added, providing
for the reference to the Commander
in-Chief of elections of officers, in
which there has been any suppression
of facts in reference to the candidates
for membership.
An amendment submitted by the
Illinois Commandery was adopted, pro-
viding that boards of officers, instead
of commanders, shall have authority
in cases of dismissal for arrears of
members.
A resolution was adopted declaring
that the constitution as amended shall
take effect July 4th.
A general reception was held at the
Hotel Cadillac this evening, at which
the veterans and their ladies met many
Of their old and new acquaintance.