The age-herald., 1898-09-10
Department Does Not Grant Them Fast .' a,1 Enough.
THE VETERANS ARE DYING FAST
There Are Six Hundred Thousand Ap- plications to be Acted On-Elected Remaining Officers-Vets of
 Spanish War Not Taken.

thirty-second annual encampment Of the Grand Army of the Republic was happily concluded today. There was a small num- Der comparatively in attendance in the morning, but later the number was in- creased and the desire to complete the work and turn to other duties was so great that every one connected with the business of the encampment felt inclined to hurry and for this reason, perhaps, the expected discussion on the resolutions from the pen sion committees did not occur.
 The rule in almost every instance was to adopt reports as presented and in this way the pension report went through with out objection, although it was modified later to take away any impression that might have arisen that MT. Mckinley was under censure. The discussion showed re- markable spirit, hurry earnestness and unusual gift of oratory. But, above all, there was a disposition to take no radical or undignified action. Commander-in-Ch Chief Gobin, with all his ruling, commanded the fullest respect of the encampment. He was prompt, intelligent and firm in enforcing the rules and in conducting the business.
 While the encampment was concluded in lIo dlltTIOOn SO lIldC lne new HdllOlldl board of administration could meet with the new commander, Sexton, for rountine work, the national convention of the three organi- zations of ladies continued not all day but until late tonight. They had much more fighting over the officers than the ex-sol- diers Their afternoon and evening ses- sions were devoted to the contest over the division of honors, and in those contests Illinois carried off almost everything The department of Illinois secured the com mander-in-chief last evening, as also the president of the womans relief corps. To- day that state secured the president of the ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic as well as the vice-president of the Daugh- ters of Veterans.
 This has been the busy day. The dem- onstrations closed with the river front parks and camps ablaze with fireworks last night, and the encampment, with the two auxiliaries of the ladies, devoted their time to business. Friday Is usually "get away day. for those who are not delegates, but the greater portion of the visiting delegates and their families are still here.
 At Camp Sherman there was the usual sunrise salute of twenty-one guns. Later the visitors indulged in river excursions to Coney Island and to trips to Fort Thomas, the geological gardens and the summer re- sorts.
 Elected Officers
 The encampment opened this morning with small attendance and proceeded to finish the election of officers. The follow ing were elected by exclamation:
 Senior Vice-Commander-in-C -Chief-W. c. Johnson, Cincinnati.
 Junior ice-Commander-in- Chief-David Ross of Delaware.
 Surgeon-General-D. R. Pierce of Ne braska.
 Chaplain in Chief-Colone Lucas of In- danapolis.
 The resolutions referring to President Mo- Kinley and Secretary Alger were given precedence when it 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 most enthusiastic demonstra- tions, andst reads as follows:
 Endorsing the President
 "Resolved, That the Grand Army of the Republic has watched with pride and satis- faction, the wise, conservative, unselhsh, patriotic and statesmanlike manner in which our honored comrade, William Me- Kinley, as president of the United States, has met every demand which the recent trouble with Spain imposd upon our coun- try: that his wisdom and prudence in his endeavors to preserve our country's honor, as well as the vigor and the patriotic ar dor with which our army and navy were tl, ,xrha fbe, lsa- came imminent have won our hearty and unreserved approval and commendation; 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 president, but also to the officers and men in the land and naval forces for their he- roic conduct and sublime achievements for humanity and the glory of our flag and I country
 As soon as the demonstration, following the adoption of this resolution was over, the following was read and adopted by a unanimous vote without discussion and with another demonstration of approval
 Resolved, That from knowledge formed of our experience as soldiers during four years of active service, we recognize the unfaltering energy and patriotic devotion with which, as secretary of war, General Alger has borne the weighty responsibili- ties and performed the important duties suddenly imposed by the recent war with Spain, creating and maintaining so large an army under such unfavorable condi- tions, the deeds of which not only shed luster on the American soldiers, but also challenged the admiration of the world"
 The report of the committee on pensions is, in part as follows.
 Your committee, to whom was referred the resolutions relating to the pension question, report that it has considered all