Evening star., 1897-04-28
GENERAL GRANTS BIRTHDAY
Its Observance by the G. A. R. Post Bearing
His Name.
Commissioner Of Pensions Evans Out
lines His POlicy-Other Interest,"
ing Speeches Made.

The birthday anniversary of General
Grant was celebrated by the L. S. Gran;
Post, No. II, G. A. r., last evening at
Grand Army Hail. commissioner of Pen
sions Evans was present and took occa-
sion to announce his intention to pursue a
liberal policy toward the old soldiers in
the matter of pensions.
Seated on the platform were the follow
ing prominent Grand Army veterans: G. A.
Beidler, past commander Grant Post, No.
l, Oklahoma City, o. T.; H. H. Brewer,
past post commander, L. S. Grant Post
No. II; joseph Smolinski, post historian.
Lafayette Post, No. 20; William A. Cook,
Halbert B. Case, department commander,
Department of Tennessee; +. H. Matthews.
post commander, Garfield Post No -, De-
partment of Tennessee; r. F. Patterson,
Memphis CTenn) Post. No. 3: G. A.
Vaughan, past commander, Geneva Post,
No. s. Ohio; Commissioner of Pensions II.
Clay Evans. Lookout Post, No. >. Tennes-
see; Thomas S. Hopkins. department COM
mander, Department of the Potomac; j. l..
Clifford, DR.. J. F. Raub, senior vice COM
mander, Department of Potomac; Arthur
HendrICk, acting adjutant. Department of
Potomac: James E. McCabe, junior vice
department commander; H. II. Martin, past
commander, Post No. B; DIR. NJ. H. Black,
chaplain, Department of Potomac; Major
J. Thomas Turner, u. F. Chase, past post
commander. No 3. and Major E. ]. Sweet.
Post Commander Gilman presided. and
in opening the meeting said that veterans
not able to attend the Grant ceremonies
in New York thought it appropriate to
meet TO honor the dead in this city. He
thought General Grants tomb would more
properly be located at Arlington than New
York, but as it had been decided other
wise he thought it should be regarded as d
sort of Mecca.
Conirade Joseph Smolinski was the orator
of the evening and paid fitting tribute to
the life and work of Grant. Comrade A
f. H. Johnston gave some "reminiscences
of General Grant.
There was a wild scene of enthusiasm
when Commissioner Evans was present ed
to the gathered veterans, which was inten-
sified when he announced his intention to
deal literally with veterans in the matter
of pensions. After some remarks on the
character of the great general, he said:
In my official position 1 find myself con-
fronted by grave responsibilities. But |
want to say ! shall endeavor to do my
duty to the old soldiers. l am not here to
ST nd spies out through the land to sea how
l can prevent giving pensions to old SOL
diers. l simply want the government to do
its duty by the old soldiers, the men who
saved this nation. want to grant to them
such pensions as the law allows. We do
rot want any hair splitting over these pen
sion cases, but at the same time we do
not want to let the machine run away
with us. As public servant l shall strive
TO do my DUTY both by the government and
my old comrades, with full appreciation
or the responsibilities involved in the per-
formance."
Speeches We're also made by Department
commanders Thos. S. Hopkins and Holbert
B. Case. the latter of the Department of
Tennessee.