The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1898-09-13
'OLD SOLDIERS.
Sessions the 1920 En-
CdnDm6nt, 6. fl. r.,
at cincinnati.
WELCOMED BY GOV. BUSHNELL.
JAS. A. Sexton Elected Command
er-in-Chief and Philadelphia
Next Encampment Site.
THE OFFICERS MAKE THEIR REPORTS.
Retiring COmmander-in-Chief Goblin
Delivers His Annual Address and
Makes Valuable Suggestions.
Report of the Adjutant General Shows the
Membership To Re 3O5,6O3-Number
of Members Remaining Suspended
June 80, 1898, Is 36,66S.

CINCINNATI, Sept. 9-The opening of
the Thirty-second National Encamp-
ment of the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie at Music hall, at 10 a. IN. Thursday,
was the event of supreme interest to
the veterans. involving, as it did, the
question of admitting soldiers of the
American Spanish war, of the election
OF new officers and the selection Of
next years meeting place.
The civic and industrial and peace
parade was the event scheduled for
the afternoon. elaborate and pains
taking arrangements assured its sue
cess and the protection of the vast
crowds that lined the streets.
The w omen visitors got down to the
more serious business of the conven-
ton. the WOmen's Relief corps, Ladies
OF the Grand Army of the Republic
and Daughters of Veterans gathering
In solemn conclave The fireworks
will attract hundreds of thousands in
the evening.
Gen. Goblin started the ball rolling
at the public meeting and Z. r. Mon
fort started the waves of enthusiasm
by presenting to the retiring com
mander-in-chief Il handsome gaveL
xThe gavel was made OF a piece of
wood from the doorsill of Gen. Grants
boyhood home.
Speeches were made and then the
hall was cleared of outsiders. The
outpOsts were called in, their work be-
ing faithfully done.
At 1915 Col j. Milt Blair opened
the public preliminary meeting by in
Producing Gov. Bushnell The gov
-ernor welcomed the veterans, saying
he had never offered welcome more
heartily felt.
Comrades of Ohio, / welcome you
to your own; comrades of other states,
1 welcome you to the grandest COM
monwe alth of the union" said the
governor, as he closed his brief adj
dress.
Mayor Tafel welcomed the comrades
as the city executive.
Chairman NJ. E. Ingalls,. of the citi-
zens committee, spoke gracefully of
the committees that provided the
week S entertainment. He referred to
the promises made by him last year
at Buffalo, when the encampment was
invited here. When he said the time
had come to decide whether they had
been fulfilled loud applause rose from
all parts of the house.
He reused applause by reference to
the present war. He was also cheered
at the sentiment that the soldiers of
the present war should be part of the
G. A. r. He deprecated newspaper
exposures of bad management and
abuses Of soldiers in the present war.
Gen Gobin's address was full of in
terest He opposes the admission of
veterans of the American Spanish war
into the G.. A. r., and the return of
the confederate flags.
He reports a balance in the g. A. +.
treasury. The total number of pieces
of mail handled by the &. A. +. Off
cials for the year just ending was
6,566,96 The number of pensioners
is 1,O4O, 800. The pensions paid during
the year amounted to $144. 651, S79. so.
Memorial day was celebrated
throughout the nation with more than
usual enthusiasm and interest.
Patriotic teachings in the public
schools have progressed favorably.
Military drill having been added, it
has become a remarkably popular feat
ure in many of the public schools OF
the land.
1.-THE question of the suspension Of
comrades for the non-payment of dues
still prevails, and it is most difficult
to legislate in manner that will dc
justice to those who can not afford tC
pay their dues without doing great in
justice to the posts in the cases Of
those who can afford to pay them but
simply neglect to do So My observa
ton is that large percentage of the
men who are suspended for non-pay
ment of dues are as fully able to pay
as a large number of those who remain
and continue to pay.
II confide to you again the import
ant duty yet to be accomplished in this
organization. It is rapidly marching
to the sunset, and ere many years i
will be but memory-but such mem