The Portland daily press., 1898-09-10

Pension Commissioner Evans Comes in
For Call Down With a Hope
That President Will Look After His
Case When He Gets War Off His Hands.
Cincinnati, September 9.-The G. A.
r. encampment opened this morning
with a small attendance and proceeded
to finish the election of officers.
The following were elected by acclama-
tion:
Senior Vice Commander in Chief-W.
c. johnson, Cincinnati.
Junior Vice Commander-in-Ch Chief
David Ross, Delaware.
Surgeon General-Dr. Pierce, Nebraska.
Chaplain int Chief-Col. Lucas, Indi-
annapolis.
The reports of committees were then
made and adopted.
When the committee on resolutions pre-
sented its report, the resolutions rafer-
ring to President Mckinley and Secre.
tary Alger were given precedence when 1t
was decided to consider the report Of the
committee ad seriatim. The resolution
referring to the President was first
adopted by unanimous rising vote in a
scene of the most enthusiastic demon
stration. 1t read as follows:
Resolved, That the 6. A. Il. has
watched with pride and satisfaction, the
wise, conservative, unsslfish, patriotic and
statesmanlike manner in which our
honored oomrade, William Mckinley as
President of the United States has met
every demand which the recent trouble
with Spain imposed upon our country !;
that his wisdom and prudence In his en-
deavors to preserve peace with honor as
we'll as the vigor and patriotic order with
which our army and navy were equipped
for the conflict, when the war became
imminent, have won our hearty and un-
reserved approval and commendatlon;
and rejoicing in the glorious termination
of the conflict in which our country has
been engaged, we hereby express our
gratitude, not only to our distinguished
comrade, the P1esidDt, but also to the
officers and men in the land and naval
forces for their heroic conduct and sub
lime achievements for humanity and the
glory of our flag and country"
AS soon as the demonstration follow-
ing the adoption of this resolution was
over, the following was read and adopt
ed by an unanimous vote without discus
sion aud with another demonstration OF
approval.
Resolved, That from knowledge of our
experience as soldiers during four years
of active service. we recognize the unfal-
tering energy and patriotic devotion with
which as secretary of war, Gen. Alger
has borne the weighty responsibilities and
performed the important duties suddenly
imposed by the recent war with Spain,
creating and maintaining SO large an
army under such unfayorable condl.
tions, the deeds of which not only shed
lustre on the American soldiers, but also
challenge the admiration of the world.
While the delegates were waiting for
the report on resolutions, the question OF
49, ynrad dnaT a n.
erwise enlisted in the Confederate army
and afterward served in the Federal
army, was precipitated by the department.
of Tennessee. The discussion developed
desire to have this plan apply to all
states rather than to Tennessee alone and
as it will require general amendments
with notice of one year, the question
cannot be decided till at Philadelphia
next year.
A resolution declaring 1t to be treason
for any member of the Grand Army to re-
fuse to do all iu his power to give employ
ment to a fellow soldier was discussed,
but was voted down.
The Ladies's Relief Corps were autbo-
rized to amend their constitution SO as
to enable to use relief funds for thesbene-
tit of soldiers of the Spanish-Amerlcan
war. :.
The proposition to make eligible to
mem bership in the Grand Army soldiers
who have served in the war with spain
was tabled.
The national council of administration
was then appointed. 1t includes the fol-
lowing: Connecticut John II. Thatcher,
Hartford; Maine, Edwin Riley, China;
M massachusetts,, W. A. Stackman, Boston;
n ew Hampshire, FL. A. Brown, Penna-
cook.
The report of they..committee on pen
sions recommended the adoption OF sub
stantially the following:
Resolved, That it is the judgment OF
this encampment that the pension laws
should be administered in the spirit OF
Justice and fairness in which they were
enacted.
Resolved, That any effort to prevent the