The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-09
SEXTON WINS.
Chicago Man Made Commander
in-Ghief 6. A. r.
Philadelphia Chosen For the
Next Encampment.
EVANS is CONDEMNED.
Corporal Tanner Makes a Hot
Speech
In Criticism of the Commission
er of Pensions.
EVANS is CONDEMNED.

Cincinnati, o., Sept. 9.-The first bus
mess in order at the afternoon session
of the G. A. r. encampment yesterday
was lengthy report from the commit
tee on pensions. 1t cited the fact that
extensive investigations had been under
taken by the departments of different
states, and that after close inquiry had
been made, not a single case Of fraud
discovered which could be traced to
member of the Grand Army of the Re-
public.
The report made somewhat extend
ed comparison of the work accomplish
ed now and during the last year of the
administration of General Grant. This
showed that the efficiency of the de-
partment in the way of prompt disposal
of claims had been vastly increased.
The committee gave figures showing
that the death rate was rapidly increas-
ing among pensioners. The number
dying each year now exceeds 100000 1t
is estimated that the increase in the
number of deaths will be such that in
1920 the number of pensioners will be
reduced to a, little over 250,000 and that
in 1910 the list will be Obliterated.
When a motion was made to accept
and adopt the report, Corporal Tanner
of New York arose to discuss it. He
said that in the main he agreed with all
to that portion of the report which
dealt with the administration of the
pension office he did not agree and he
went on to speak in unrestrained crit
icism of the present commissioner of
pensions, Clay Evans. With evident
feeling he said:
Il stand ready to be responsible here
and elsewhere for all statements may
make on this subject, and I declare that
Commissioner Evans calling his chiefs
of divisions together and using lang
uage which indicated intense feeling, if
not anger, instructed them to disregard
totally every application based on deaf
ness or rheumatism. He further init
mated to them that if anyone declined
to accept his suggestion he would find
chiefs who would obey his orders.
Corporal Tanner declared that it was
his opinion that the man who would
make such an order had never himself
heard the sound of cannon nor slept
in the open air, and he was not sur
prised, therefore, to find that the COM
missioner of pensions had an army rec
ord which consisted of three months
and sixteen days as a clerk in the COM
missary department.
A delegate from Kansas followed
Tanner in the same strain. The matter
was disposed of finally by postpOning
it until after the report of the COM
Inittee on resolutions should be received.
Business was interrupted by the en-
trance of a committee of thirty ladies'
from the Women'S National Relief
tionaI president.
She requested the national encamp-
ment to give to the relief corps au-
thOritv to change its constitution so
that its funds can be used for the relief
of soldiers serving in the war with
Spain. The resolution was referred to
the committee on resolutions.
This was followed by a delegation
FROM the Sons of Veterans, Senator
Thurston of Nebraska being the speak
err He made a brief but eloquent speech
on behalf of the Sons of Veterans.
A still further interruption of regular
business was the presentation to eX-
commandments Clarkson of Ne
braska, of a magnificent silver set in an
oaBen case The ex-cOmmander with
deem feeling made a response express
ing his thanks for the high honor shown
The choice of the place for the next
encampment was then taken up. The
pending question was upon substituting !
Denver for Philadelphia. Commander
May of Denver spoke for his locality, |
saving that $50, 900 had already been /
pledged for the entertainment of the |
encampment. He promised to the dele
gates and their wives a three days |
trip through the mountains about Den
yer free of cost and gave allurlng prom |
ises for favorable railroad rates. he (
was followed by a delegate from Pitts |
burg, who made an equally eloquent |
plea for Philadelphia, balancing the
seashore against the Denver mountains |
and naming all the natural advantages !
of PHILADELPHIA When the time came |
for voting it was suggested that instead /
of voting to substitute Denver for Phil |
adelphia votes should be taken direct |
" by calling the roll and letting the |
delegates vote for their choice. This |
was done and the result as announced
was PHILADELPHIA 395, Denver 295.
A motion was made Immediately af-
terward to go into the election of COM
Although it was then
late in the afternoon the motion was
adopted, and Immediately the name of
Albert D. Shaw of Watertown, N. p,
was presented by a delegate of that
General John c. Black of Illinois,
placed in nomination James A. Sexton,
of Chicago. No other candidates were
The roll of states was called and the
vote announced, showed the election OF |
James A. Sexton, who received 424 votes (
while Albert D. Shaw received pa. Sex
ton, being called, returned his thanks
in very brief form, and the encamp-
ment Immediately adjourned until to-
day.
The communicated entered the vol
unteer army in 1861 as a private in the
Illinois. Later he attain
ed the rank of captain in the Seventy
second Illinois and still later became
colonel of the regiment. At the close of
the war he was serving upon the stan
of Major General A. J. Smith, comman-
der of the Sixteenth army corps Col
Sexton is manufacturer of stoves and
hardware in Chicago. He was post
master in Chicago during President
Harrison's term.
Holmes Gave Tt IN